Guelph Junction Railway staff explore shared funding opportunities for future trail railway crossings in the City of Guelph as part of future budget processes.

31:29Okay, okay, I'm gonna call to order the meeting of City Council as

31:36shareholder of the Gulf Junction Railway Limited

31:39Those joining us from home if you could make sure your cameras are on. Thank you

31:45So first I will go to disclosure of pecuniary interests anyone

31:51Seeing none

31:53We'll have the confirmation of the open minutes for the meeting from June 24th 2025

32:01Councillor Allt seconded by Councillor Caden

32:05Any discussion or questions?

32:09Anyone opposed okay that carries. Thank you. So we have one item

32:15For discussion here today, and that's the annual report and financial reporting

32:21To the shareholder of which City Council is acting as so we're first we're gonna have a presentation from Jean Matthews

32:28And then we'll have delegations and questions

32:31Thank you. Mr. Matthews. You just want to wait a minute till people sit down

32:50The meeting has started so if you could move quickly to get to your seats. Thank you. I

33:29Have a feeling that I should be saying all aboard

34:17Okay, welcome everyone. Okay, Mr. Matthews. I think you can start now

34:24Good afternoon chair downer members of council and members of the public

34:28I'm here in a new capacity from my previous times in front of you

34:31And I'm happy to be here as our chief executive officer of the gulf junction railway

34:36On behalf of the gulf junction railway board of directors

34:39I am pleased to present the

34:412025 annual report for gulf junction railway limited in

34:462025 gjr continues its commitment to safety

34:49customer service and

34:51responsible financial management all aligned with the city's strategic priorities under future gulf our

34:57Objectives remain the same to ensure the safe efficient movement of goods along nearly 40 kilometers of track

35:04Connecting wealth economy to regional and national markets

35:08We achieve this through strong partnerships

35:11Continuous reinvestment in infrastructure and a focus on supporting the businesses that rely on the railway to operate and grow

35:18I'll begin with a brief overview of gjr's financial performance

35:26Despite economic uncertainty and tariff related impacts across the rail sector

35:31Gjr closed the year with net comprehensive income of 2.4 million. This is slightly below 2024

35:38But importantly it is 412,000 ahead of budget

35:41Demonstrating disciplined cost management and stable revenues

35:45Working capital remains strong at 5.4 million which supports ongoing capital reinvestment and long-term sustainability

35:53Gjr invested 1.9 million in capital assets in 2025

35:58Increasing the net book value of property plant and equipment by 1.3 million

36:03net capital investment represented 23 percent of revenue

36:07Exceeding our long-term target of 16 percent

36:10Based on these results gjr has declared a 240,000 dollar dividend to the city of gulf

36:15Representing 10 percent of net comprehensive income the maximum under gjr's dividend policy

36:26Gjr continues to serve over over 40 customers 12 of which generated the majority of revenue

36:32These customers ship essential goods such as agricultural products

36:36Industrial inputs and recyclable materials all of which support local manufacturing and employment

36:43Early in 2025 new tariffs from the us created uncertainty across the freight sector

36:49as a result gjr saw 4% decline in car loads

36:54moving

36:555,632 cars for the year

36:58Even with this decline gjr outperformed the broader short line and class 1 industry

37:03Which saw an average 7% drop in volumes this speaks to the strength of our customer base and the reliability of our service

37:12The rail cars we moved diverted the equivalent of

37:1622,528 truck loads from local roads

37:18Producing congestion congestion lowering emissions and extending the life of life of municipal road infrastructure

37:29Gxr continues to operate the railway under contract and in 2025

37:34We extended their agreement to 2027 to maintain continuity and service reliability

37:40Gjr delivered a significant capital program this year guided by transport Canada regulated inspections and our lifecycle asset management approach

37:49key achievements included

37:522285 track ties

37:55164 switch ties and 14 headblock ties replaced

37:59350 tons of scrap ties removed equivalent to roughly 5,000 ties

38:041800 tons of ballast installed to improve drainage and tractor stability

38:09Major projects included the Corwin siding expansion a 1700 foot siding accommodating 29 cars now nearing completion

38:18full reconstruction of the Victoria Road grade crossing to transport Canada standards

38:24Grading at PDI Victoria to support future yard expansion

38:28Rail upgrades from 100 pound to 115 pound rail at key locations to improve durability and performance

38:35These investments will ensure g our remains safe reliable and well positioned to support customer growth

38:45Gjr continues to play an active role in city building and community connectivity in

38:502025 construction was completed on the Woodlawn to Wilwich multi-use trail

38:55Creating a needed multi-use path corridor and preparing for future g2g connectivity opportunities

39:03We also saw advancement with the g2g end of track connection

39:06This community led project was supported by a rail safety audit early design work and ongoing engagement with property owners and trail groups

39:15Within the gulf innovation district ggr collaborated with city staff and trail organizations to address informal trail crossings

39:23update mapping on public apps and

39:25Signage to reduce unsafe access points while looking ahead to the future for more permanent safe options

39:33At the Heffernan Street Bridge ggr partnered with the city to deliver accessibility upgrades supported by TransCanada Trail grant funding

39:41We also expanded our community rail safety education programs including school presentations summer camp sessions and new look listen live

39:50decals at multi-use path crossings

39:53These initiatives reflect our commitment to safe integrated transportation corridors

39:58That support both goods movement and active transportation in

40:062025 ggr prioritized continued alignment with the city's strategic priorities and transparency of responsibilities a

40:13deliverable of this commitment was of this commitment was the development of a mandate of the board of directors

40:20Which formalized the objectives that ggr be an economic development tool for the city?

40:25Operate as a for-profit business providing value to the city in the form of dividends and other benefits and

40:31Restrict ggr business activities to railway related operations

40:36other benefits include trail and protective and pedestrian connectivity throughout the city

40:42Public-facing safety awareness efforts and cross department of departmental training opportunities supporting workers safety

40:50The mandate outlines over-icturing principles for the relationship between the city and ggr that the board is the primary decision-making body

40:59Ggr business operations and that ggr be guided by the principles of transparency and accountability

41:04And that the measure of shareholder return be measured by both dividends and long-term strategic gains

41:12Strengthening relationships with city of Gulf colleagues to improve operational functionality and

41:17Infrastructure investment alignment for the benefit of residents and ggr customers remains an important government focus

41:28Looking ahead to 2026 ggr will continue to focus on strategic reinvestment and community partnership

41:34Our priorities include

41:37completing the core of inciting expansion

41:40advancing trail connectivity projects including g to g and g i g and g i d initiatives

41:46monitoring tariffs impacts and adjusting capital plans as needed

41:51supporting customer expansion and new business development

41:55Continuing to invest in infrastructure to maintain safety and reliability

41:59ggr remains committed to supporting economic development

42:03sustainability and community building across Guelph and the surrounding municipalities

42:12Ggr success is built on strong collaboration with city departments

42:16As such it is important to recognize the work of other city teams that contribute to the good news story of Guelph Junction Railway

42:23Under the city of Guelph and ggr shared services agreement the legal and finance departments both contribute considerable time and expertise to the railway success

42:33economic development and transfer and tourism

42:35Parks engineering and transportation services also share in the day-to-day

42:40Collaboration that ensure that ggr's work aligns with broader city building and economic development goals

42:47On behalf of the board of directors. I appreciate everybody's efforts

42:51Okay, thank you. Mr. Matthew in conclusion

42:59Ggr remains a dependable and well-managed asset that supports local local industry

43:04Strengthens our transportation network and contributes directly to the city's long-term financial sustainability

43:10We look forward to strengthening relationships with ggr's customers and Guelph residents to achieve the city of Guelph strategic vision of providing an inclusive

43:20connected

43:21Prosperous city where we look after each other and our environment. Thank you

43:26Thank you, mr. Matthews and congratulations on your new role

43:30Thank you

43:31It's it's interesting it has gone to the manager of parks. So I'm pleased about that

43:38So as with tradition that will

43:41Will let you take a rest and then we'll invite our

43:46Delegations up to speak to us. There's six of them and just remember you have five minutes each at the

43:5530 seconds before

43:57So you're here about letting you know that you've got 30 seconds left for your your delegation

44:02So first we have willow hall. I think everybody's here. There's nobody joining on law. It's willow hall here

44:10So it's willow hall and Cindy McClain

44:38Welcome

44:39Okay, you guys can hear me. Okay. Yes

44:43Okay, good afternoon chair ggr shareholders ggr leadership staff and members of the community

44:56My name is willow hall

44:58I'm the executive director with gdg rail trail and I'm here today to speak on behalf of gdg rail trail Inc. The registered charity

45:04I want to speak specifically on the Guelph connection project within the context of this annual

45:10Shareholder meeting of the Guelph junction railway. I want to recognize the unique structure of this meeting

45:15Ggr is a corporation owned by the city of Guelph and today the members of council are sitting here in their capacity as shareholders of

45:22Ggr

45:22So my comments are directed to the chair and shareholders of the railway corporation and they focus on ggr's role in helping move this

45:29Community-led city supported project forward

45:32The Guelph connection project has been led by the community for many years with support from volunteers local

45:38organizations trail users accessibility advocates active transportation leaders and residents who want to see a safer and more direct connection

45:45between Guelph and between downtown Guelph and the start of the gdg rail trail

45:50This project is also now strongly supported by the city in the 2025 2026 budget Guelph city council

45:57unanimously approved funding for preliminary design

46:00Engineering and permitting work that decision was an important step and move the project from a long lasting community vision

46:06into a more formal design and technical review

46:10Over the past 12 months a significant amount of work has been completed to move the project through that process

46:16This has included technical design work environmental and accessibility

46:20Considerations rail corridor review and the direct engagement with ggr on railway operations and safety

46:27Is it is important to say clearly that this process has not always been simple

46:31There have been technical questions operational concerns and points of tension that required time clarification and persistence

46:37That is not unexpected for a rail with trail project. These projects require careful balancing of public access active transportation

46:44railway operations safety liability and long-term maintenance

46:48The important point is that these issues have been worked through in a structured way community leadership city support

46:55consultant expertise and ggr operational input have all been brought into the process

47:01As a result the project is now moving is now in a much stronger position than it was a year ago

47:06One of the most important outcomes has been alignment around the preferred trail placement and setback

47:12That clarity matters it gives the design team a practical basis for moving forward and helps ensure that the project continues to account for both

47:18trail user safety and railway operations

47:22Another important milestone was the completion of the rail with rail with trail safety audit the audit

47:27The audit reviewed the corridor and and identified potential mitigation measures to support safety for both future trail users and rail operators

47:36This work was shared with ggr and received as part of the ongoing review process

47:40It provides an evidence-based foundation for the next stage of the design

47:44We know there are broader conversations happening in gulf related to railway operations land use transportation planning and the role of ggr

47:52My purpose today is not to speak to all of those issues. My purpose is to provide a project specific update for the gulf connection project

47:59The work is moving forward key technical issues are being addressed and ggr's review and engagement have been part of that progress

48:06This thursday we have an important meeting where the 60 design will be presented and discussed with ggr

48:12That is a significant step following that stage the project will move toward the 90 design tender package development

48:19And securing the construction funding required to complete the project the goal remains construction completion in

48:262027 which is essentially meaningful as as it marks the gulf's bicentennial

48:31Completing this connection in that year would be a strong legacy project for the city a safer more accessible and more welcoming link between

48:38Downtown gulf and the regional gdg rail trail corridor

48:42I also want to recognize the community members and volunteers who have helped carry this project forward

48:47Cindy has provided excellent project management skills along with important guidance on accessibility

48:53Andrew k and lorenz have contributed as g tuck representatives keeping active transportation and the community connectivity central to our discussions

49:01Andrew g has earlier supported environmental coordination and analysis

49:06Bill mongol from the gulf trail hiking club

49:08Has provided valuable project history and insight and he has supported communication and public awareness

49:13I also want to recognize the late john fischer's who's john fischer whose work

49:18and commitment helped helped form part of the foundation of this project

49:23This project exists because the community kept showing up

49:26It has advanced because the city invested in it and it's now moving through the necessary technical and review process

49:32Because the required stakeholders including gjr are at the table

49:36So today my message to the chair and shareholders is this the gulf connection project is progressing the community leaders remain strong

49:43The city support has been essential the technical work is advancing and the rail with trail safety work has been completed

49:50Stakeholders have aligned around the preferred setback and the project is moving toward the next stage of design

49:54We look forward to continued engagement with gjr through the 60 percent design

50:01Five your five minutes are up 27

50:04Thank you

50:05Got it

50:07Any questions got on speed?

50:09Yeah

50:11I was gonna get that well done. Are there any questions for mr. Hall?

50:16Okay, seeing none. Thank you very much. Thank you

50:19Oh, oh, so

50:22Councillor Caron has a question

50:25Thank you. Uh, the g2g trail is a long trail. Um, just wondering about your experience with

50:33Crossings because one of the things that that's being talked about today is

50:37Along the rail line and crossings and access and sidings and I just wondered in other municipalities if you have

50:44Any comments that you could share with us about those?

50:49Conflicting or complimentary uses?

50:52Yeah, great question. Um

50:54You know a number of farm crossings as it exists as you can imagine the railway went through these sometimes segmented these farms

51:01So farm crossings do exist and we work really with individual landowners on solutions that include

51:07Verge clearing like clearing some of the brush to make better sight lines

51:11signage and when necessary other mitigations

51:13There is actually one other rail crossing up near god rich where they still have the rail line going down to the salt mine at north harbour road

51:21And that one it's it's maybe a little bit more established, but I know in the in the last couple years

51:26They redeveloped that whole area to make it a safer crossing

51:30So I think there's some learning that maybe we could reach out to the town of god rich on we g2g wasn't directly involved in implementing that

51:37Um, but I know they were they were involved in

51:41In completing that and making it a safer kind of connection. Okay. Thanks very much. Thank you

51:48Are there any other questions? Okay, semen. Thank you

51:52The next uh delegate is frank schoenhofer. Thank you madam chair and good afternoon

52:24Gjr shareholders and staff. My name is frank schoenhofer. I'm a volunteer trail coordinator with the gulf hiking trail club

52:31We've been building and maintaining trails and leading hikes on them in the gulf area for over 50 years

52:38Many folks here will recall our former club president the late john fischer

52:42Being a regular delegate at the gjr annual meeting and advocating for greater cooperation and collaboration

52:50Between this city-owned rail line and the regular citizens of gulf who are healthy walkers and bike riders

52:55The gulf hiking trail club is a recognized third party trail partner in the gulf trail master plan

53:03That master plan clearly indicates that trails are essential to everyday life for recreation health and wellness and mobility

53:11It's a city council approved strategy that guides how we plan build and maintain gulf's uh trail system

53:19So the gulf hiking trail club is proud to be a third party trail partner here with the city

53:25That master plan acknowledges the valuable contributions made by community groups like ourselves and our friends at gorba

53:32Who create and manage these community led city supported trails?

53:37Which connect to the rest of the city's trail network and are maintained by our own volunteers time and efforts at no cost to the city

53:46One of our trail sections has run for many years alongside the gjr train track between victoria road and stone road

53:53close to the aramosa river

53:56It's our radial line trail which goes all the way from downtown gulf over to lime house

54:02It's a very popular and well used walking path

54:06Some of that trail is also shared with the aqueduct trail

54:10Which is also very popular and well used especially by the bike riders

54:16Both of these trails cross the gjr train track between victoria road and stone road

54:22And have done so safely for many years

54:26Decades in fact

54:28There's plenty of great visibility in both directions along that train track

54:32And the trains are plenty noisy enough that they can be heard long before they actually arrive at these crossings

54:39Your agenda package for this meeting has a map on the second last page

54:44showing these crossings

54:46Mark number one on that map is the radial line trail crossing and number four on that map is the aqueduct trail crossing

54:55Uh, and please note the title on that map safe rail crossings

55:01But this past mentor the gjr suddenly put up signs at these crossings saying

55:06This is not a trail no crossing trespassers may be fined

55:12Your agenda package has a photo on the very last page

55:16Closing these long-standing trails within the city is totally at odds with the gwaeuf trail master plan

55:22We're supposed to be collaborating to create trails and maintain them

55:26To support active transportation

55:29Not to close off vital portions of those existing trails

55:34Although there have been no documented safety incidents at those track track crossings

55:40We would agree that these crossings could be improved straightened out leveled out

55:45To bring them up to the safety standards of the dozens of other track crossings throughout the city

55:51Hundreds if not thousands of people cross the gjr tracks

55:55safely every day

55:57At many locations throughout the city from woodlawn road all the way through the city down to york road

56:04Surely we can work together to make some improvements if needed

56:08To our trail track crossings down there beside the gid innovation district

56:15One focus of the gwaeuf trail master plan is improving existing trails

56:20As an action of the master plan the trail system will be examined for opportunities for continuous improvement

56:28Especially focused on safety and functionality

56:31Such as improve crossings of major barriers at key locations

56:37Work with community partners on community led city supported projects

56:42So rather than closing the trail what's needed is an upgrade

56:47To a formal and safe crossing

56:50We understand the city is now taking steps leading toward that formal crossing

56:55And if the safety of the community is truly the priority this needs to happen expeditiously

57:03In the interim we're asking that these signs be removed and the trails be reopened as they have been for many decades

57:11Let's build trails and maintain them not close them

57:16So i'm asking the gjr shareholders and city counselors today

57:20To please support our efforts to reopen the radial line trail

57:24And the aqueduct trail

57:27And please take steps to ensure that a safe crossing is built as quickly as possible

57:33Thank you for your time

57:35Thank you. Any questions of the dunk council goer?

57:40Thank you very much for your delegation. I really appreciate it

57:44Wanted to ask as part of the wolf hiking trail club

57:47Were you notified in advance of the science going up with an explanation of why the the science were going up?

57:56Yes

57:57Yes informed is probably the right word. We we were invited to a meeting here at city hall in

58:04March 2025 just over a year ago

58:07Um with gjr and the city trails technician

58:11They did inform us that they plan to close

58:15The radial and aqueduct trails

58:18They said that a trail crossing is not aligning with their mandate

58:23That crossing would be complicated and expensive

58:27And that all costs would have to be paid by us the trail user groups

58:33So so i wouldn't say that that's collaborative

58:37I mean in the summer of last year they did put up

58:40Those signs that you see on the top of the posts about danger active railway

58:46Which is the same as the ones throughout the city

58:49Indicating that the rail crossings at the trail

58:53Are similar to the ones in the city

58:55So we thought that was good

58:57But then in december they

58:59Pushed the boundary there and added those other signs that say this is not a trail, right?

59:05So they also

59:08Modified the entrance grades there to make the trails less walkable

59:13So yes to answer your questions. We were informed or notified about those decisions

59:19But i'm just going to say that those were pretty unilateral

59:23Decisions, uh, there was no public input sought no forum

59:27For for public discussion. Um, no heavier say

59:32No collaboration. Okay. Thank you so much

59:34Thank you. Thank you chair. Okay, councillor alton and councillor classon

59:39Thank you very much chair downer

59:41Through you to mr. Shane hafer

59:44Mr. Shane hafer. I was wondering if you could please

59:50Help me out help me understand. What is the practical impact of that sign on people walking

59:58And riding on that trail to your knowledge has it had any impact at all?

1:00:05Well, the number of times i'm out there

1:00:07I do see people going across anyway because I think everyone generally perceives it's safe. It's been safe for decades

1:00:14So what is the problem here?

1:00:17You can cross that track in mere seconds, right?

1:00:21You're not going to be run over by a train. They're noisy

1:00:24And you're clearly informed that this is an active railway. So that should be good enough

1:00:29Okay, in my opinion

1:00:31just and again

1:00:33From my time and my misspent youth in the 1970s

1:00:37I seem to recall that the aqueduct radial trail was celebrated as a connection to the bruce trail. Am I correct in that?

1:00:46Um, I don't know that the aqueduct trail goes to the bruce trail

1:00:50But the original intent 50 years ago of the radial line trail was to become a side trail of the bruce trail

1:00:58but

1:01:00I think we were advised by philip gaussling himself one of the founders of the bruce trail that

1:01:05Probably this isn't going to work as a side trail for the bruce trail

1:01:08And maybe you folks here in wealth should create your own hiking trail club

1:01:11And that did lead to the formation of our wealth hiking trail club and again just

1:01:16I just refreshed my memory. This is often the glove mercury actually

1:01:22Did the city not endorse that principle at that point?

1:01:26I'm pretty sure we've been endorsed for the whole 50 years

1:01:30Okay, um, just another question. Um, I fondly remember john fischer and I think this was after his time

1:01:37But there were many many meetings

1:01:39with staff

1:01:41That I believe there was one in march of 2025

1:01:45I was wondering if you could outline

1:01:47Whether there was anything within those meetings

1:01:49Where you were possibly informed about what might happen with those trails

1:01:54Uh, yeah, that's similar to what I uh answered to the previous question there

1:02:00We we did have a meeting here at city hall with uh,

1:02:03gjr and the city trails technician

1:02:06Where they informed us that they want to close those trails. They said they were not legal

1:02:12and I'm not sure what making them legal does but

1:02:15Um, we did try to say well, let's make them safe. Let's make them level

1:02:19Let's make them bend at a right angle whatever you need to conform to safety standards

1:02:24But they were pretty sure that they weren't going to spend a nickel on that and

1:02:28We the trail users have to pay for all of that including the studies the design the construction. So

1:02:34So just then clarify that was this about money or about safety or both?

1:02:41I'm guessing it's mostly about risk and liability

1:02:45Um, but for sure it's money because they said they weren't going to pay anything towards this so

1:02:50Okay, we don't have that kind of money. Thank you and last question with regards to safety

1:02:56I think that I heard you say that you're unequivocal about uh, uh,

1:03:00Safety is is that correct? Uh, and if that's the case, how could crossings such as that be made safer in the opinion of

1:03:08You or perhaps any organization you're representing?

1:03:12Um, both of those crossings actually went into the train tracks for short distances

1:03:18And um, we all agreed at that

1:03:212025 meeting that that's not a good idea

1:03:24Um, so we did realign our radial line trail

1:03:27It's up just the first one in from that wooden trestle bridge

1:03:31And we made it come down a bit and then cross at 90 degrees so that when you come to the tracks

1:03:36You're forced to be looking in both directions

1:03:40Um, however, the aqueduct one hasn't been modified and it still kind of goes

1:03:45Through the train track a bit. So that's where I think

1:03:48We need to have a safer crossing and make that trail come in bend at 90 degrees

1:03:53Cross the track maybe put in filler or whatever they do there to make it like level so you can ride across instead of lifting your bike

1:04:00Over the tracks

1:04:01That's the kind of thing that I think is needed

1:04:04And just again, I guess the last part of my last question. Is that something that would be common or familiar?

1:04:11In other trails elsewhere in in Ontario or canada

1:04:15Oh, I'm pretty sure that is. Yeah, I think that's a pretty good standard

1:04:19Like I mean you look at all the crossings in the city and they're all built up like that like you approach the track

1:04:25You're at the same level. There's the track then there's

1:04:28Filler in between the tracks so you can ride a bike or even push a stroller across there

1:04:32So it's all level and if you're approaching the track at 90 degrees

1:04:37And it's pretty easy to look both ways

1:04:39So I think that's pretty standard

1:04:42Thank you very much

1:04:43councillor classon

1:04:45Thank you through you madam chair to the delegate

1:04:49Um, I just want to echo my colleague councillor Allt

1:04:53For yourself and for the previous delegate with regard to the work that john visher did

1:04:58Um, uh for the city and for the trails in gual if I think john was an amazing advocate and he's deeply missed by all of us

1:05:05And so I just want to say thank you for for speaking his name in these chambers and and and remembering his work and contribution to the community

1:05:13And so I think in in that spirit

1:05:16My question is around the future for the the crossing. Is there a hope that you'll be included as

1:05:22The city works through the feasibility study

1:05:25And and potential selection of of uh, of a crossing

1:05:32Um, I believe that there is a study in progress

1:05:36Um, or at least going to get in progress real soon about looking at this crossing or these crossings

1:05:43To see how they could be made safer

1:05:46And I think what I've described verbally I think is likely going to be the outcome

1:05:53If that answers your question

1:05:55I think so

1:05:56And maybe maybe just for fun the last one

1:05:59What what would john fincher say do you think right now?

1:06:04I'm pretty sure john fincher would want us all to collaborate

1:06:08And work towards the objectives in the gulf trail master plan, which is work to work together

1:06:13To build and enhance and improve and maintain our trail network

1:06:18And we certainly do thank him and thanks for mentioning him as well

1:06:22Um, he laid a lot of the foundational groundwork for this kind of collaboration

1:06:28Yeah, that that does answer my question. Thank you

1:06:33Thank you. Are there any other questions? Okay, see none. Thank you

1:06:39Hi

1:06:42Oh

1:06:43council coran, sorry

1:06:46Thanks, uh, and thanks to the delegate great presentation

1:06:49One of the things you mentioned um is the signage and removal of the signage. So I just wanted to

1:06:55Ask the signage currently directs people to stone road

1:07:00Could you describe the experience of crossing stone road?

1:07:04All right, that was not meant as comedy. I just I just want to take a note to stop your feminine. I mean

1:07:14I appreciate not like outbursts like that at this point and the

1:07:18In the meeting we're just want to have respectful dialogue here today

1:07:21And we talk about collaborative efforts and the

1:07:24Most that we can do around collaborative efforts is to be respectful of everyone in the room here

1:07:31Thank you chair downer and that that was the intent of my question

1:07:34Just that if we're directing an alternate crossing with the current signage

1:07:38I just want to be fully aware of what that of what that what that may mean for for trail users

1:07:44in a respectful way

1:07:46If you're on the gid side and you're on the aqueduct trail

1:07:51You approach the train track and then cross it and now you're on the river side

1:07:56And then yeah, you can get down to gulf. I mean to stone road

1:08:00And then you turn left and follow stone road duck under the bridge and come out on the far side

1:08:06And our our trail continues eastward from there

1:08:10Or you can double back on the or side trail on the far side of the river

1:08:15So that's feasible, but when you're on the gid side, there is not a good way to get to stone road

1:08:25That's bush there and the cliff comes in pretty darn close to where the track is

1:08:28So there isn't a pathway there

1:08:31You've got to cross that train track well before you get to stone road in my opinion

1:08:37Okay, thanks. That's helpful. That's my recollection as well

1:08:39But I wasn't connecting the two sides of the trail. So so thanks very much

1:08:45Happy to go for a hike anytime

1:08:49Okay, sorry

1:08:51Is there anyone else? No, thank you. Thank you for your delegation. Thank you. Okay, and we now have uh, james fiddlesov and

1:08:59um

1:09:00Cosmo coreri will be in the wings

1:09:07Uh clarifying question. I sent some correspondence ahead of time. Does that display on the screens or does that is that just listed in

1:09:14Your package in front of you? Okay, so it won't be referenced to the folks behind me, but it will be to you

1:09:19Yes, it's in the package. Thank you. Luke. Can you all hear me? Okay? Um

1:09:30Good afternoon and hello again

1:09:32Council and staff. I'm james. I co-own speed river bicycle and I also serve as chair of the gulf trail user groups coalition

1:09:38aka g-tuck

1:09:40Communicating frequently with city parks and gjr staff regarding trail connections throughout our beautiful city

1:09:45I've got three references today to help provide context for for you

1:09:49The first is a map of the gid lands and the aqueduct trail showing sites that were identified by city trails staff to be implemented as safe crossings

1:09:57Please note the date of this document is november of 2022 and that four years later

1:10:02Staff are quoting that we may have a crossing in place by 2028

1:10:06One is of the sign that greets you when you approach the most popular rail crossing on the aqueduct trail

1:10:11That's the sign that was referenced earlier that says this is not a trail

1:10:15And the last are recorded minutes between g-tuck members and gjr trail staff prior to the 2023 gjr annual meeting

1:10:22I've highlighted in that reference for you

1:10:25There is a minute in there that says gjr staff sites a potential 1800 foot siding alongside the current trail

1:10:30As a business owner i'm inclined to look at this through the lens of a corporate ownership and direction

1:10:34We have one corporation the city acting with ownership over another the gulf junction railway

1:10:39The question we're seeking an answer to today is what is the purpose of city ownership?

1:10:44If city priorities are not reflected in gjr decision-making

1:10:48If a private party approached the city looking for a permit to store chemical trucks in the natural heritage system flood plain

1:10:54They would be laughed out of this building

1:10:56The gjr plans to do the very same

1:10:59Yet no one is laughing

1:11:02Let's not make assumptions. Let's be blunt about why we shouldn't store chemical tankers in the flood plain flood plains flood

1:11:07You don't want anything there to contaminate the water

1:11:10Everything in the water and downstream is at risk

1:11:13The speed and aramasa rivers are tributaries to the grand river which cambridge takes a quarter of its drinking water from

1:11:19And brandford 100 percent of its drinking water from

1:11:22The risks here far outweigh any possible gain as an accident would be catastrophic

1:11:28If safety is gjr's priority this simply does not align

1:11:32Walker 10 is held up as an example of what happens when there is an inadequate

1:11:36Accountability and oversight throughout a system and the current gjr system opens us up to exactly the same type of disaster

1:11:43If safety is the priority how is closing a trail with 95 years of accident free use and diverting trail users to the road

1:11:49The most dangerous place for people outside of a vehicle to be safer than installing a crossing

1:11:55The map I showed you illustrates that for four years the city has known where safe crossings could be located

1:12:01Those crossings still remain unbuilt yet the same corridor continues to be protected for potential future railway expansion

1:12:08The public is being asked to give up existing access to something that they use every day today

1:12:14For infrastructure that may or may not be built

1:12:17someday

1:12:19When a private developer process proposes new infrastructure in a flood plain or a natural heritage system

1:12:24They're required to demonstrate conformity with the official plan and undergo public review

1:12:27So why should a municipally owned railway be exempt from those same expectations?

1:12:33The good news in all of this is that the difficult work has been done

1:12:35We have an excellent existing official plan and other supporting council adopted plans and policies

1:12:41Like the natural heritage strategy and the trails master plan and this makes the direction that you give today to the corporation

1:12:46You're responsible for much easier

1:12:50One require op conformity direct gjr to demonstrate how future siding products conform with the city's official plan before

1:12:57before advancing them

1:12:59to require transparency

1:13:01Require future railway expansion proposals to be publicly disclosed

1:13:05Before significant design work or land protection

1:13:07Decisions occur and three require the same process as any other developer

1:13:12Require gjr expansion projects to undergo the same environmental review planning review and public consultation

1:13:18Expectations applied elsewhere in guelph

1:13:20The question before council is not whether the railway should succeed

1:13:23The question is whether a city owned railway should be held to a lower standard than every other landowner and developer in guelph

1:13:30If the answer is no and I believe it to be

1:13:33Then gjr should be directed to demonstrate conformity with the official plan engage the public

1:13:38Transparently and follow the same due process expected of everyone else

1:13:42Thanks again for your time and i'm happy to take any questions if you have them

1:13:46Thank you. Are there any questions of the delet?

1:13:52Frank covered them all for me. I don't see it. Oh, that's been pretty thorough. Thank you. Thank you for your time

1:13:58Okay cosmos curary

1:14:02And meg thordburn is in the wings

1:14:12Hi, thanks for having me. I'm cosmo query lifelong resident of guelph and a frequent trail user and I'm here to speak to the same

1:14:19Issues that james is speaking up

1:14:21Um, I believe the issue before us is larger than just a trail crossing

1:14:24It concerns the stewardship of this historic public corridor and the responsibility of the guelph junction railway

1:14:30Has a municipally owned railway to act on the best interests of the community that ultimately owns it

1:14:35The history of the community of the corridor is clear

1:14:38The tronald suburban railway arrived in guelph 1917 when the railway operation ceased in 1931

1:14:44Residents continued to use this corridor as a walking and cycling route for more than 90 years

1:14:49The public has used this trail openly continuously and without interruption

1:14:53In 1970 the route was formalized through the guelph hiking trail club as a feeder trail to the bruce trail

1:14:58Then it has appeared

1:15:00Maps guidebooks municipal planning documents tourism materials cycling maps and countless other public documents

1:15:08The city of guelph has repeatedly recognized and documented the radio trail as part of the trail network

1:15:13This is not an informal shortcut or recently created path. It's a historic and well-established community asset that has served generations of residents

1:15:22But today we're being told that this trail is somehow not a trail

1:15:26The access points have been altered signs have been installed

1:15:29References to the trails have been removed from mapping platforms and a route that existed in practice

1:15:35For decades has been erased without any meaningful engagement with the people who use it

1:15:41Much of this is done under the guise of safety and is why many of us are here today

1:15:46If safety is the primary concern then the obvious question is why focus on eliminating access rather than solving the safety concerns

1:15:52That have existed for decades and installed proper crossings

1:15:57The reality is that the trails existed for long before the current controversy

1:16:03What has changed is the willingness and to recognize and accommodate a route that residents have used for generations

1:16:10As shareholders of the guelph junction railways, you should be asking whether this approach reflects the values and responsibilities of municipally owned

1:16:18railway

1:16:21The gjr is in a unique position. It exists because of the people of guelph

1:16:26Its assets or public assets its decisions should be guided not only by operational considerations

1:16:32But by the broader public interest

1:16:35It should be working with the community to preserve access while addressing these legitimate safety concerns

1:16:41Instead many residents feel they're being presented with a decision that has already been made behind closed doors

1:16:47There's growing concern that the future rail sidings and development plans may be influencing these decisions

1:16:53If that's the case and the public deserves honesty and transparency

1:16:57Major changes affecting this public corridor that has existed for nearly a century should be discussed openly

1:17:02And not discovered through new signs and blocked access points

1:17:07The province has directed the city of guelph to grow significantly in the coming decades and that growth will require more active transportation routes

1:17:13More trail connections and greater access to natural areas not fewer

1:17:18The radio trails exactly the kind of corridor cities across north america are trying to create and protect

1:17:22It provides connectivity

1:17:24It encourages walking and cycling and provides access to the aramasa river

1:17:29While preserving a piece of guelph's transportation history

1:17:32It's a valuable public asset that should would be nearly impossible to recreate today

1:17:38So the question is simple. Are we planning for the next 100 years? Are we sacrificing a century old asset to accommodate short-term priorities?

1:17:46Previous generations preserve this corridor and pass it on to us. We now have the responsibility to do the same by providing

1:17:53transparency and accountability

1:17:57The gulf junction railway has a choice to continue down this path that seeks to erase the public access

1:18:02Or it can work with the community to protect and enhance the corridor that belongs to the people of guelph

1:18:09I urge you to choose the letter. Thank you

1:18:13Thank you. Are there any questions of the delegate?

1:18:18Okay, seeing that. Thank you very much

1:18:22Meg Thorburn

1:18:24With andrew crocker in the wing

1:18:34Good afternoon. I'm meg Thorburn and I'm here representing the gulf siken club and the gulf off-road bicycling association

1:18:41Which has more than a thousand members in total

1:18:46A lot of us are here because of

1:18:49As we've heard a wonderful man who loved the trails

1:18:53John fischer from the gulf hiking trail club

1:18:56a quiet

1:18:57gentle

1:18:58Generous man a man always with a kind word

1:19:02and a strong but gentle demeanor

1:19:05I only saw him angry once and was dealing with these issues

1:19:09In the meeting room in this very building. He slammed the table and exclaimed just get something done

1:19:17No more context is needed. Let's step back and look at the big picture

1:19:23Gjr is not just a for-profit entity. Let's be honest if it was

1:19:28We should expect a far greater return on investment and a far better dividend yield

1:19:32From an investor's perspective, especially considering its appreciated capital holdings. Well, I'd choose something else

1:19:39So beneficial value to the city is another critical pillar of its being

1:19:46We want the gjr to do well

1:19:48We want it to make our city better

1:19:51However, if it turns our town into a rail yard to increase profit, have we really benefited?

1:19:57The gjr should have a strong community component. It should strive to be an asset of high moral standing

1:20:05One that we can be proud of

1:20:07If giving up a piece of land or changing part of its operations makes the whole city better

1:20:13Then those are the choices it needs to make

1:20:16Even adjusting its operations should be considered

1:20:19It shouldn't be an untamed beast that cares only for its survival or growth at the cost of the quality of our lives

1:20:27As you heard the gjr had a meeting with two g

1:20:31Hiking trail club reps back in march 2025 regarding the radial and aqueduct trails

1:20:37No other community group was invited. None of the minutes were forwarded. In fact, I just read the minutes for the first time this morning

1:20:44The assertions and demands made by the million dollar corporation the gjr

1:20:50To and of the not-for-profit volunteer wealth hiking trail club

1:20:55Were the extreme opposite of collaborative

1:20:58Trust me while the language used by gjr sound standard if aggressively heavy-handed

1:21:04What's glaringly absent was the desire to lend a hand

1:21:09At no time does the gjr or trail staff say hey, these are historic trails of huge beneficial value to the city

1:21:18Which is one of the gjr stated

1:21:20objectives

1:21:22We have money. How can we help?

1:21:25The trail closures happened without a comprehensive plan. No detours. No proper execution

1:21:31After 95 years of action on of no action on improving the crossings

1:21:37Gjr's solution is to shut it down. Why?

1:21:41The question has been asked

1:21:43Does gjr have siting's plans?

1:21:45Siding's planned for this area the answer from staff was that there is no plan

1:21:50Yet in a 23 2023 meeting which I did attend

1:21:54The gjr manager stated that an 1800 foot siding is staked and located in the flood plain of the gid lands

1:22:01The area these trails cross

1:22:04Maybe no plan, but certainly

1:22:06thinking about it

1:22:09The flood plain

1:22:12Okay, james stole my thunder on this but the flood plain

1:22:17And we're in climate change and floods are really happening and we're talking about maybe storing empty chemical tankers there

1:22:27I mean really again james also said if safety is a priority

1:22:31As they always say how can this possibly be considered?

1:22:36When considering siting's in this flood plain was the risk assessed or discussed for a flood?

1:22:41When considering siting's was the official plan

1:22:45Which greatly restricts the journal permitted uses within the natural heritage system and would never allow a new

1:22:51Railway any new railway infrastructure such as siting's even recognized?

1:22:56We request a strong motion

1:23:01That does not allow siting's to ever be built in natural high heritage areas and that all subjects easy

1:23:06Sightings be subject to council approval. Thank you very much for your time

1:23:13Thank you. Are there any questions?

1:23:19Did I councillor class and did I see your hand go up? No? No

1:23:23Okay, thank you. Thank you

1:23:26Okay, our final one andrew krueger

1:23:30Hope i've said that right

1:23:42My name is andrew krueger. I'm an engineer, but I don't operate trains

1:23:47I am semi-retired and I've been working on the g2g project for a while now

1:23:53Filling the position left behind behind by john fisher or trying to help fill the position

1:24:01Left behind by john fisher

1:24:04Here's a list of facts about the g2g project as relates to gjr

1:24:10The project was the the trails master plans number one priority project

1:24:16The project has been on the books for 21 years

1:24:20The original due date was 16 years ago

1:24:24We have been working on this project with the gjr for seven years

1:24:29In my professional opinion a realistic length for this project should be two years

1:24:35The willage to woodlawn multi-use

1:24:39Path project confirms confirms that

1:24:43The trails department said they were not going to fund projects for this project for 10 years

1:24:50Since nothing was happening john fisher approached councillor downey

1:24:55To take on the project as a community led city supported project

1:25:02Economic development said the g2g project was not a priority

1:25:09The gjr moves tracks

1:25:11Around within its corridor with no engineering drawings surveys environmental assessments or permits

1:25:20The rules governing railways allows the gjr to build

1:25:26The g2g trailway beside the tracks if it had wanted to for far cheaper than what we are undertaking

1:25:34According to the annual reports the gjr has the money to build the g2g trail

1:25:40That would have been a great community benefit

1:25:46Here are a few other facts trains on gjr tracks are limited to 16

1:25:51Kilometers per hour by comparison an average jogger is

1:25:5612 kilometers per hour a reasonable sprint

1:25:59Is between 24 and 32 kilometers per hour?

1:26:03A slow bike travels at 20 kilometers per hour

1:26:06And a fast bike at 40 kilometers per hour

1:26:11But back to what I was

1:26:14The other facts as a community led project. We are subject to a project charter while the gjr never is

1:26:23We had to hire a company to survey the land the gjr said it did not have a survey

1:26:30We had to hire an engineering company to create an engineered design

1:26:36We had to hire a rail safety audit company to confirm the obvious

1:26:41Being next to a train that goes 16 kilometers per hour

1:26:46Fixed through rails is far safer than sharing the road with cars passing at 80 kilometers per hour

1:26:53With no barriers or guarantees of safe driving against inattentiveness drunkenness texting, etc

1:27:02We meet weekly each other and regularly with

1:27:07partners and stakeholders

1:27:09We have held annual update meetings for the public

1:27:15Three layers three levels of government have expressed

1:27:19The desire to have the trail open and ready for the

1:27:232027 gulf bicentennial

1:27:26The bicentennial committee approached us regarding an event between goddourage and gulf on the gdg

1:27:34The gdg works with multiple menace qualities in ridings up and down the trail

1:27:41Other than gulf city council. No one from any department has ever asked how they can help get this project done

1:27:50We have spent thousands of taxpayers and donors dollars on this project and hundreds of community hours

1:27:58What are we asking for today?

1:28:00a firm guarantee and assurance

1:28:03That the land in the rail corridor identified for the gdg trail be fully reserved for no other use but the trail

1:28:13Thank you

1:28:16Okay, thank you. Are there any questions councillor?

1:28:20Thank you very much chair downer through you to uh the delegate mr

1:28:25Crook or mr. Crook are you said something that could be considered to be fairly

1:28:29contentious

1:28:30Uh, the gg quote. I think this is almost a direct quote

1:28:34The gg ar moves tracks around without any engineering drawings permits and what I I have to ask you

1:28:41And I hope you don't mind and I'll ask staff as well

1:28:44Um, is a speculation hyperbole or is this confirmed and is this then possibly also a professional statement of yours?

1:28:54um

1:28:56I'm going to say it's speculation

1:28:59Okay, thank that's fine. Thank you very much. It felt important that I did ask that I might not now ask staff

1:29:05But thank you very much. Okay. Are there any other questions?

1:29:11mayor Guthrie

1:29:12Let's join us

1:29:14Thank you and through you chair

1:29:16you mentioned uh the delegate mentioned

1:29:21Paying for surveys design and or rail safety audits

1:29:26But I want to confirm that was money

1:29:30That was put in last year's budget

1:29:32That you used in partnership with the city

1:29:36Is that not correct including money that was put in the budget for this year perhaps?

1:29:42Yes, that's correct. Yeah, I just want to make sure that was on the record

1:29:46that

1:29:47You did have a you did get money from the taxpayers of wealth which you mentioned at the end of your delegation

1:29:52But I wanted to make sure it wasn't solely coming just from the gjr group and we are very thankful for that

1:30:00Okay. Well, thank you. I just wanted to confirm that it wasn't other money that we weren't aware of

1:30:05Some other pot of gold somewhere. So thank you very much

1:30:12Are there any other uh questions? Okay. Thank you

1:30:18So i'm just going to go to um the ceo

1:30:22Uh gene matthews to if he wants to address anything that has been said by the delegations

1:30:28Then we're going to just to sort of give you sort of an idea of how we're going to go then then i'm going to be asking for questions of

1:30:36staff

1:30:37Any comments we could move to the motion to receive this report?

1:30:41And then I know that there are four counselors that wish to bring motions forward and we would we would do those

1:30:47So it just told that but I know how how we're going to proceed from here

1:30:51So, okay. Mr. Matthews over to you. Thank you chair downer. So first of all, um, I'm glad you clarified my

1:30:58My comments here are as the ceo of gulf junction railway

1:31:01And it is a role though. It's new that I I do take quite seriously

1:31:06For the needs of gulf junction railway and the expectations of our community

1:31:11Not just as a parks person. Um, although a lot of our community here today will know me in that capacity through

1:31:18Collaboration through professional disagreement and then coming back to that alignment

1:31:23Many of the traits that I have brought to that role

1:31:26The community will see me bring to the ceo ceo role of gulf junction railway

1:31:31I do want to start by saying that I agree so much with what we've heard from many of our delegates today

1:31:37Well, there are a few things that I would like to clarify in the moment. So first off

1:31:43To say again to our community and to the shareholder and council

1:31:47council gulf junction railway

1:31:49In the gid property. So the aqueduct trail

1:31:54And the radial line trail

1:31:57We are supportive of a formal trail crossing in this area

1:32:02I have visited that site with some of our trail community members had a great site visit

1:32:07Or we talked about how we could achieve this we talked about the challenges we talked about what we're going to need to do

1:32:13To achieve this I've expressed at that time and following that community engagement

1:32:18Like so much that our parks department does gulf junction railway now being a part of our parks department

1:32:23That trail community can absolutely expect

1:32:27That high level of community engagement as we establish the formal crossing in this in this area

1:32:34The rail safety audit that was mentioned and it is accurate

1:32:37This project has been identified as a project by me

1:32:41Gualt junction railway staff and city of gulf staff were provided direction

1:32:46From me in both capacities to pick this up as an active project again

1:32:51Our community is aware of that our first piece of that project is a feasibility study

1:32:56Which will identify where the crossing can go where it should go

1:33:00I want to clarify too that not all crossing is made the same and we know that

1:33:04Train speeds are different

1:33:07Crossing habits are different

1:33:09Elevations are different site conditions are different

1:33:13So it is important that we have a rail safety crossing study in this specific area for the users who are going to enjoy it

1:33:20And because it's a mandate an expectation of transport canada

1:33:24So that work we are hoping to be wrapped up by q4

1:33:27I'm going to trip on my ears here this year q4 2026

1:33:32What the shareholder and council will see then is next steps in budget process

1:33:36We know the budget challenges that we have with us

1:33:40Our our expectation is to deliver clarity to council and the shareholder

1:33:46But those costs may be I want to highlight it's a challenging site

1:33:49The city of gulf staff or the city of gulf we do not own property on either side

1:33:54Of railway as we know if we're going to establish a formal crossing in the area

1:33:59It's going to create a change in thinking and that's another thing I want to clarify

1:34:03And I do acknowledge that the community did hear over a year or so ago

1:34:08The approach that gulf junction railway would be taking I am here to say and less than amber and I've talked about this

1:34:14Park staff and I've talked about this that is changing

1:34:17We intend for this to be a city led project to deliver us

1:34:22To go to the extent that we can to deliver this crossing not expecting the community to fund

1:34:28In terms of the trail group

1:34:30They led aspect of things to fund the project or pick things these things up

1:34:34They will be engaged

1:34:35But is our expectation that this will be a city led project

1:34:39Not a requirement or expectation of our very valuable and very important

1:34:44Trail club users and again, we are anticipating good strong collaboration

1:34:51The so that work that contract should be awarded in the coming weeks. We can expect the community to be engaged

1:34:57I want to talk about signage and signage matters

1:35:01So we do recognize that we are not meeting the community's expectation with this signage

1:35:07Our intent with this signage, which is advised by illegal and is based on

1:35:13In some of our cases decades myself

1:35:16Of risk management and trail management experience

1:35:19Are aims to communicate clearly with people who are using that trail

1:35:24They are they are leaving a trail and they are entering an active railway and a railway corridor

1:35:30The elevation changes are different. There are multiple informal crossings in that area

1:35:36That places a strain on the railway and the train operator to make sure they are being aware as they pass through that area

1:35:44As to where people may or may not crossing that area

1:35:48Most importantly, everybody we can agree crosses

1:35:52Trails differently

1:35:54I have different mobility needs than less may have here

1:35:58Our goal with that signage is to be clear that they are leaving a certain condition and coming to another condition

1:36:05The same with site mapping our goal with mapping and to have that accurate in the community

1:36:09Is so people can plan their trip and adjust their plan accordingly

1:36:12We recognize that moving to stone road is not ideal

1:36:16I come back full circle

1:36:17That is why we are committed to delivering the council and the shareholder that feasibility study so we can get a clear picture

1:36:25On what is what needs to happen

1:36:28In that in that crossing

1:36:30The funding mandate as I mentioned has changed. I want to touch on that again

1:36:34It is not gulf junction railways expectation or park stuff expectation

1:36:39That's a community should they want to advance this be expected to lead that

1:36:43Early days as a key example that we can build on and we can consider that

1:36:49Railway safety audit that I mentioned is being funded by

1:36:53Unspent capital in our parks department and by capital funds of gulf junction railway

1:36:58So it's nascent days. It's early

1:37:01I think it's a it's a quick win and a quick demonstration of that changing mandate and that changing approach

1:37:06from gulf junction

1:37:08railway

1:37:10um

1:37:12I want to quickly shift to uh the g2g um project so

1:37:16We've as the community has been hearing from me since I started with the city in 2019

1:37:21I'm putting my park sat back on here for a moment

1:37:23Our park staff has not been able to advance that project because we not have had funding for that project

1:37:29That project sits outside of gulf's urban boundary as willow has said it is a very complex project

1:37:35Through the mayor strong budget. We have seen funding be applied to that and the community

1:37:42G2g willow and cindy gjr parks legal

1:37:48Everybody should be very proud of the success and the progress that we've made to date to get close to

1:37:53Delivering what I have expressed as a priority as the project sponsor

1:37:58For this project on behalf of the city

1:38:00That cost certainty as certain as we can for council and the mayor to make good budget decisions on that project

1:38:06So again, it hasn't moved because we haven't had funding to do that

1:38:10You do see in the in the well, which to woodlawn trail connection

1:38:13Which was great collaboration with our parks department and gulf junction railway

1:38:17How quickly things can move uh when we have funding

1:38:21Behind the scenes. I think it's fair to unless we would agree that was a challenging project too

1:38:26Many of the projects that the community and and the and the frustrations and challenges that the community experiences

1:38:32Internally we have those two uh with our partners, but we work towards resolution so we can get these projects um delivered

1:38:38That's things like property

1:38:40uh ownership ingress and egress um to the uh to the uh to the trail so

1:38:46Again, I recognize that the g2g trail and the g id and aqua talk trail crossings are very important to the community

1:38:54I know that because I hear from them. I'm engaged with them. I visit the site

1:38:59With them it matters to me because council has adopted

1:39:03A well-informed gulf shaw master plan that we heard about tonight

1:39:07It's my goal to make that more relevant more apparent to our gulf junction railway team along with all other strat documents

1:39:14And other operational needs um across the city

1:39:20Okay, thank you for that

1:39:23so

1:39:24Let's start with questions of staff just um

1:39:28Are there any questions so far?

1:39:30Mayor Guthrie councillor caton councillor ote

1:39:35Great. Thank you and through you chair to staff

1:39:38I just had a this is an

1:39:41off the cuff on the fly

1:39:43question, but ggr

1:39:46has

1:39:47roughly been

1:39:48paying a dividend in

1:39:51On average of it's quite small, but it's it's a dividend nonetheless

1:39:56Can uh you or finance staff?

1:39:59Just confirm with uh with with everyone

1:40:03What the kind of rough amount has been over the last few years on average?

1:40:08What the expectation is moving forward?

1:40:11And where that money where that dividend flows to

1:40:14Then I'll have a follow-up after that. We're going to have our cfo. Uh come on down and add some content here

1:40:29Hey through the chair. Uh, yeah the the ggr dividend policy

1:40:33was originally developed to balance

1:40:36growth for ggr and growth for the shareholder i.e the city

1:40:40Under the policy the allowed dividend percentage is anywhere from zero to 10 percent each year

1:40:44Um through the past couple years we've seen ggr grow significantly

1:40:49And staff and uh the board has approved the maximum dividend of 10 percent each year

1:40:55That roughly amounts to anywhere from

1:40:57150 000 in 2020

1:40:59two or 2023 um and then more recently 240 000 for 2025 year end

1:41:06And we we hope to continue that

1:41:09annual maximum 10 percent allocated each year

1:41:12Great thank you and thank you for answering that question. So it was succinctly exactly what I asked

1:41:18So thank you very much

1:41:20So my follow-up question and if it's a takeaway so be it

1:41:24But um back to the g to g trail

1:41:28Is there anything stopping us?

1:41:31as shareholder

1:41:33to direct that the full amount continue

1:41:37and that

1:41:38The dividend that comes forward

1:41:42automatically

1:41:43repays

1:41:44Any funding from council towards that specific trail connection project

1:41:50in other words

1:41:52The next council could go into the budget

1:41:55With an eyes wide open moment of x amount of dollars required

1:41:59We don't know the exact amount but x amount of dollars required

1:42:03And let's pretend it's a million dollars

1:42:06And let's pretend that ggr gives a dividend of a hundred thousand dollars a year

1:42:12That the dividend would be what pays back

1:42:16The upfront investment of the million dollars over a 10-year period

1:42:21As directed by the shareholder and confirmed by council

1:42:25so that

1:42:26the trail is

1:42:29prioritized

1:42:31And um but yet is paid back through the dividend and not through taxes

1:42:38So uh through chair downer to mayor guthrie um

1:42:43I'm just going to jump in here from the

1:42:46city budget side. The dividend that is

1:42:51Approved by the board so that 10 percent the city budgets for that money annually

1:42:57It is budgeted for within our infrastructure renewal program

1:43:02So any shift away from that funding because it's already accounted for in the city's capital planning

1:43:09So if if that is the intention you will you will create a gap in the city's capital plan because we've already used that funding

1:43:18So I would suggest that um, it's definitely something that council can look at and you could you could direct us to consider

1:43:25um

1:43:27A policy to to dedicate that dividend revenue differently

1:43:30However, that will leave a funding gap because it is already accounted for in our capital planning

1:43:36Okay, well well stated Tara. Thank you

1:43:40Um

1:43:42With that, um, I'll stop there. Uh, madam chair. Thank you so much

1:43:47Okay, thank you councillor Caton and all the house

1:43:50And then you through the chair

1:43:54um

1:43:55So we've heard from staff

1:43:57That no trails were being closed and then we heard from delegates that they were told trails would be closed in a meeting

1:44:04And then grade differences have been increased in that one crossing in the gid area

1:44:09Can you speak to the differences in those statements?

1:44:15through the

1:44:16chair to council

1:44:19um

1:44:20I think I can so and and I and I say this first that

1:44:24I want everybody to be reminded our goal is to achieve a formal crossing in the area

1:44:30What we're talking about right now is current state and we're looking towards moving to a better state

1:44:35For our trail users. So to be frank the

1:44:40Railway corridor and rail bed. It is not a trail

1:44:44It is not designed as a trail

1:44:46It is not to the same standard as the trail that people are leaving from that tertiary trail into the rail bed

1:44:54We do not want to have any miscommunication or any uncertainty that when people

1:44:59Move on at their choice and we obviously prefer not to

1:45:03To move on to wealth junction railway property and the corridor that they are going to be experiencing

1:45:09The same trail experience that they're leaving uh, councillor Caton. So it may be us parsing words or being overly technical

1:45:18But the rail bed corridor has not been designed as a trail crossing

1:45:22Not been there's not a formal agreement to the trail crossing

1:45:25We absolutely recognize that people may be crossing there right now. I recognize that

1:45:31I visited the site with one of our community members and um, I think through

1:45:37Good spirited conversation and good laughter while we were out there

1:45:40There were probably 20 or 30 people that used that crossing, but it's not

1:45:45Or pardon me the cross wealth junction railway, but it is not a trail

1:45:50It's not designed that way and it's important for wealth junction railway to reasonably manage the risk for people

1:45:57Entering onto their property that is our goal and our aim with that signage

1:46:02again, our aim is to

1:46:04Establish a formal crossing in that area so we can move forward and and and in a good collaborative way

1:46:10Um, move on to the next opportunity for trail connectivity

1:46:15Thanks, um through the chair. So I understand the signage and warning people that you know, this is a risky area

1:46:22If people are choosing to cross

1:46:25But I heard that the grade was increased

1:46:28Before the crossing so wouldn't that increase the risk for people who are

1:46:34Choosing to use that regardless of the risk posting

1:46:38again our good risk management practice and this does speak to

1:46:43um

1:46:44Sometimes collaboration doesn't always get to alignment and and and things can feel a certain way to people in those conversations

1:46:51and I recognize that

1:46:53but

1:46:54Good risk management practices and conversation with legal department our legal department and being trail practitioners

1:47:00Some form of trail hardening can be a good idea to reinforce to people who may or may not be choosing to

1:47:07Access another property that things are changing

1:47:10It's not a good risk management practice to make it easier for people to ingress or onto a property where there's not trail connectivity

1:47:18It's that moment of decision where that that

1:47:21Person using that trail knows something is different here. This is not a continuation of that same trail

1:47:28that they are on if it was to

1:47:32um

1:47:33It is not what we see in metro links with the you know very high fencing as an example that type of trail hardening

1:47:40That's not the approach that we are taking here

1:47:43We're taking the approach to inform people if they're looking to move on to that property the gulf junction way property

1:47:49They are experiencing something different

1:47:53Thanks. Sorry. I got a couple more. Okay. Don't be too tired of me. Um

1:47:58through the chair

1:48:00Has have there been any fines at that area?

1:48:05To my understanding no

1:48:09Okay, just a few more

1:48:12Why why direct to stone road to cross if there's no direct path to do so on the gid side?

1:48:19Is crossing stone road

1:48:21safer

1:48:25Through and chair downer to uh, councillor kate and i'm not in a position to comment on what is safer

1:48:32Um, or or what is less safe our goal with directing people away from gulf junction railway property is to give options

1:48:40And that's another good risk management practice when somebody comes up to a risk

1:48:45It's not enough to say here's a risk

1:48:48Decide what to do. It is a very good up practice to say here's a risk. Here's what you may do instead

1:48:54Now I will recognize in our signage. It is gulf junction railway centric because the signage is sitting on gulf junction railway property

1:49:04Okay, and one last one from me

1:49:06Um, and it's not trail related

1:49:09I I'd read that the operational emissions from just one train are worse than those of like a hundred

1:49:17heavy duty trucks and

1:49:19With the environmental impact and rising unstable costs of fuel

1:49:23I was just wondering our electric trains a part of our future expansion plan for ggr

1:49:33Um, I'm you at this. Sorry through you chair to councillor. Um

1:49:39There is, uh, um advancing research actually with lithium ion battery

1:49:46locomotives

1:49:47There's very unique circumstances where these work

1:49:51Right now although they are being piloted

1:49:54In the western provinces. So we're getting a good look at whether they can hold up to the cold weather

1:50:01of canada and and our

1:50:04Environment, um, mostly though they are used in like closed loop

1:50:13Um

1:50:15Shunting services so in in

1:50:17Um, just yards where they can

1:50:21Recharge in between their

1:50:24Trips so longer distances are yet to be really figured out, but it's it's something that we're certainly

1:50:31looking into

1:50:33and in terms of the ghd emissions actually the

1:50:38There's a big push from the provincial government at least here

1:50:43for increased funding due to um

1:50:47The reduced ghd emissions that come from

1:50:51traveling by rail so

1:50:53We we can look at it in the sense of each rail car takes four trucks off of the road and their emissions

1:51:01Um, but we could also look at it in a bigger picture

1:51:04So for instance the canadian rail lines all of them together in all of canada are responsible for less than 2% of our total ghd emissions

1:51:13and that was something that was um brought out by

1:51:17I believe it was the rail association of canada. There was a neat infographic

1:51:22um a few years ago, so um

1:51:24Short lines and class ones alike have been working very hard towards the reduction of ghd emissions and overall are not responsible for

1:51:32most of our country's

1:51:35Emissions I know that they can seem particularly nasty out there

1:51:40Uh in the colder weather, there's a locomotive idling

1:51:45Which is certainly something that we look into

1:51:48How do we reduce that using locomotive shelters buildings so that they can stay warmer?

1:51:54And we don't have to worry about that or adding additives to the fuel to keep it from needing to idle and throttle like that, but um

1:52:03Yeah, those are these are the current situations. Um

1:52:07And I am on the rail uh research advisory board where we are talking about actually the one of the main

1:52:13um

1:52:15Projects right now is this lithium ion battery?

1:52:19Uh locomotive so

1:52:22Thanks, it's very exciting that there's new technology that's kind of

1:52:26In progress and that people are testing in our weather. So I'm glad to hear that

1:52:30That's something that we are researching and is a future possibility

1:52:34Thanks, and through you chair down or if I can build on what amber has said there, um

1:52:39We don't own the trains. They're provided by our service provider gxr

1:52:42So to the extent that we can influence innovative technology, uh, we're certain to do so

1:52:49Okay, thank you, uh, are there any more questions?

1:52:52from you

1:52:53Okay, councillor alts and then I have a howzer

1:52:57Thank you, uh, uh chair downer

1:52:59I have to say this is probably the most well attended

1:53:03AGM of golf junction railroad in the history of the railroad

1:53:07I am going to go beyond the the AGM and also some of the concerns about

1:53:13Trails, but I do want to start with some questions about trails

1:53:18Through through you to mr. Matthews

1:53:23If you could please

1:53:25Identify what kinds of environmental regulations

1:53:28Cover the development of sightings that would be appreciated

1:53:36Okay through you chair to your counselor. I'll

1:53:41So I I I'm wondering if you're speaking specifically to

1:53:45Well, okay overall, um sightings

1:53:49So regulations, um

1:53:51Allow a railway to

1:53:54construct additional track

1:53:57within railway property

1:54:00Without the need for um additional permits

1:54:04Or any kind of rezoning as long as it is located within the current federally

1:54:09That

1:54:11federally

1:54:12recognized

1:54:14goodness transportation corridor

1:54:17Those kinds of expansions can happen that does not include structures

1:54:23Only the expansion of tracks

1:54:26The railway has a responsibility to involve the direct landowners on that are affected by

1:54:36The building of a new sighting

1:54:39And so they have to be in agreement and we have to make sure that

1:54:44Drainage proper drainage and all that kind of thing is happening for so there's no

1:54:49Additional impact to their property with the expansion of our track within our property

1:54:56Um, so certainly if we were looking to expand outside of the railway corridor

1:55:00It would follow any of the regular process that we see for for development

1:55:05um

1:55:07In the flood plains, uh since that was brought up as a concern

1:55:12um, we

1:55:14the the

1:55:16Conservation authorities regulate any development of flood plains and that includes railways

1:55:22So even though we are federally regulated, we are not exempt from the provincial

1:55:28Environmental and flood plain controls

1:55:30so, um if we were looking to build a sighting in an area that was designated

1:55:37as flood plain

1:55:39We would need to obtain a permit under section 28

1:55:44through the conservation authorities act and um, we would have to

1:55:49Satisfy everything under that for that permit in order to move forward and of course, um any of our sightings are

1:55:56put through the board

1:55:59And are decided upon through oversight. Um, we can't

1:56:03undertake a capital addition like that without

1:56:06putting forward a a

1:56:09business proposal formally

1:56:11And thank you for that. So just to clarify then from what I understand we would uh as a council

1:56:18um as the shareholder then be aware if any

1:56:23Request went to the grand river conservation authority for a site for a sighting or any development on the flood plain

1:56:33Yeah, yeah, sorry. Um, it has not occurred. We we we are not making any such

1:56:38Motion at this time, but yes, yeah

1:56:41Thank you. And sorry. I'm sorry. That through you to staff

1:56:46Through staff of gjr staff of the city, I'm not certain which

1:56:49um

1:56:50quest another question related to that that came up as a consequence of your answer is that you said

1:56:56Irrespective of zoning. So I want to unpack that a bit irrespective of zoning and official plan

1:57:03Irrespective of zoning. What does all that mean?

1:57:06Uh, yeah, so the the transportation corridors, um, so there's a a list of them found

1:57:13I know half the part of me. I don't have all of the official papers citations here, but they

1:57:19um, you you can find a list of all of the federally regular like

1:57:24Transportation corridors gjr being one of those

1:57:28And they fall under a specific

1:57:31Zoning type as a transportation designated transportation corridor that allows

1:57:37Certain activities or expansions such as sightings within them

1:57:42as their own so it as you say irrespective of the zoning around the railway corridor

1:57:48Which is why the it's a provincial

1:57:52I don't have the exact citation here. Um, it's an

1:57:57Act that

1:57:59highly encourages municipal planners to

1:58:02um, keep this in mind when creating zoning plants and planning for the future because the transportation corridor

1:58:10has um, these exemptions built into it

1:58:15Thank you very much. Um, just to reiterate another question then that I asked to one of the delegates

1:58:20I wasn't going to ask but I think I probably should has there been any track that has been realigned

1:58:25Or any sightings that have been established without

1:58:29engineering

1:58:31drawings engineering specifications

1:58:37counselor ult

1:58:39We have surveyed everything that we have built to ensure that we are building upon our railway line and we build our

1:58:47grades as per the cn

1:58:50specifications to ensure that our track is built

1:58:53Strong and is supported well

1:58:56So just to follow up. Does that mean that engineering specifications are followed?

1:59:01That's correct. Okay. Thank you

1:59:04Moving on to

1:59:06To others on staff. This is either for our our c.a.o. Or perhaps for our legal staff

1:59:13Gj our objectives and principles is found in the mandate of the board of directors one point to be

1:59:19Gj are as a municipal economic development corporation will be guided by the principles of

1:59:24transparency and accountability

1:59:26And and I welcome that but I also want to know in

1:59:32In practical terms, what does that mean for both council?

1:59:36Acting on behalf of the city and for members of the community to understand what uh,

1:59:42Transparency and accountability mean

1:59:47Through the chair to counselor down. Sorry through the through the chairs of counselor ult

1:59:51um

1:59:52The principles of transparency and accountability are are things that the shareholder can direct gjr on so through approval of things like

2:00:00um, the strategic plan that is contained within the annual report and things like that

2:00:05um, and some of the the work that gene mentioned in terms of gjr's projects

2:00:11With

2:00:13Parks collaboration with the city so that type of transparency can be implemented at those micro levels

2:00:19At the higher level the principles of transparency apply to things like open meetings that we're having right now

2:00:25The fact that governance changes applicable to gjr are also done in in open

2:00:30And there is obviously public reporting on gjr's financial performance and all of the other content that you see in that annual report

2:00:38so if council has

2:00:40you know

2:00:42specific

2:00:43Expectations or desires for that type of transparency and accountability

2:00:46Council can give that direction to

2:00:49The chair of the board

2:00:50Who is the primary liaison between gjr and council?

2:00:54And so that there can be information sharing outside of these formal shareholder meetings

2:00:58And then there could be further mechanisms for for public transparency if there's specific interests

2:01:04So there's an abstract answer, but we have seen some concrete examples of having transparent discussions

2:01:09About gjr's work. It was not a bad answer actually, but i'm going to follow up on it

2:01:14So we are currently in a position as the shareholder to direct the cao

2:01:22I understand to say that gjr could or could not do

2:01:27Well, i'll just take an absurd example

2:01:29Prepare the infrastructure for high speed rail between milton and wealth

2:01:34Through the chair to councillor Allt so that is a different direction than directing something related to transparency and accountability

2:01:41So i'd say transparency and accountability is primarily about information sharing

2:01:46And reporting so i believe what you mentioned in your question was was more operational in nature

2:01:53And and that might be the rub right there differentiating what is operational and what is perhaps policy directed

2:01:59Can we i'm going to ask you to go on a bit about that one because i'm sure many people don't understand that

2:02:06Apologies, could you please repeat the question?

2:02:09I think that's really getting to the rub many things are operational and sometimes we're dealing with policy

2:02:15And and i think for the public sometimes there are problems

2:02:19Understanding what the difference is and what our role as the shareholder is versus the role of staff

2:02:26And i was wondering if you could maybe unpack that a bit certainly thanks for repeating that through the chair to you councillor Allt

2:02:32gjr is a corporation

2:02:34So there are layers of governance the city is the shareholder council represents the city as shareholder

2:02:40And so the shareholder can make very high level decisions about gjr in terms of its board

2:02:45The number of directors board composition all of those high level governance things

2:02:49As well as those overarching principles and objectives that you see in the governing documents of gjr being the shareholder declaration

2:02:57and so

2:02:58Council the shareholder are really intended to remain at that

2:03:03High governance level and the purpose of the board

2:03:06Is a subsequent layer of governance the shareholder empowers the board to you know, and the board actually has a duty

2:03:12To oversee the the business and affairs of the corporation

2:03:15They have duties at law and they have duties as set out in those governing documents, which are established by the shareholder

2:03:23And below that there are also officers of the corporation who are kind of the the doer level but not necessarily the on the ground

2:03:30So we have a ceo. I am the corporate secretary for gjr and justin way is the cfo

2:03:37so that layer of governance plays a

2:03:39Still a fairly high level role in gjr

2:03:43Operations and business activities and then below that obviously we have the wonderful gjr staff who are highly effective

2:03:51In what they do and and as you've heard really ingrained in the safety and and all the regulation related to gjr

2:03:58So I hope I've answered your question in terms of layers and I would I would suggest that there's different

2:04:04expertise at each of those layers and it is important to have that expertise at those appropriate levels

2:04:10And and maintain sort of the importance of

2:04:13Operational decisions at the staff level and governance and higher orders or order decisions at the board and shareholder level

2:04:20Thank you for that and and through through chair down or to

2:04:25Staff I think this is probably for ms. Baker

2:04:28One of the things that I think is happening is is that I think we're having a

2:04:32A challenge with communications of intent with regards to gjr and also with regards to trails

2:04:37And I will be bringing a motion later about this

2:04:39But the other thing that I'm wondering about is whether in fact there would be a requirement for council acting as the

2:04:46trustee as

2:04:47As the shareholder to even consider a workshop on

2:04:51confirming the purpose or changing the purpose of

2:04:54of gjr

2:04:56as required to reflect

2:04:58community standards community

2:05:00expectations and

2:05:02I don't know whether to ask you to answer that or whether to say that's a that's a takeaway for some time over the next year

2:05:11Thanks and through the chair to councillor Allt. Um, I think

2:05:15I

2:05:16I'm definitely not opposed to to that suggestion if if the shareholder

2:05:20Wants to have that discussion. I think maybe there's a timeliness to it as you

2:05:24as we transition

2:05:26To the next term of council because there will also be some onboarding and kind of

2:05:30Education opportunity at that time too and maybe then there can be a bit of a discussion about the mandate

2:05:37If there are something in the mandate document

2:05:40That as it relates to the objectives and the principles

2:05:44In that section that council may want to

2:05:48I guess

2:05:48Yeah, workshop and and consider changes if if it's required

2:05:53Thank you very much. Appreciate that because I do see that the mandate is is fairly specific to economic development

2:06:00And and for the most part what I've heard from the delegates is not about economic development

2:06:04But it's about community development and I wonder whether we need to address that more fully

2:06:09Last question and I think this is again for miss charles

2:06:13through chair downer

2:06:16What should I understand about the principle of managing risk and the the legal duties both of gjr

2:06:23And the responsibility of council as shareholder

2:06:26Especially when it comes to some of the specifics that we have been discussing here

2:06:32Through the chair and a counselor all so in terms of risk and liability the

2:06:36Responsibilities for for those aspects of the business lie at various levels

2:06:40All levels I would say so they're primarily the board of directors

2:06:44Have very specific duties relating to risk assessment and risk management

2:06:49Of the corporation and you'll see those those kind of concepts in the position descriptions that are attached to the materials today

2:06:56So that really happens at the board level. It is

2:07:00in consultation with subject matter experts that are officers of gjr as well as you know, it's a skills based board

2:07:06so there are people with

2:07:08specific specific skills that that enable them to do that kind of risk assessment risk management

2:07:14And obviously in consultation with gjr staff who have that operational knowledge of those on the ground risks

2:07:21We've been talking about a big one today in terms of public safety

2:07:24And so I would say risk assessment is fundamental to gjr. It is throughout the fabric of the governance and operations

2:07:32And as the shareholder

2:07:34Certainly you should have a view to risk management and safety and liability and all of those things when you are directing

2:07:41The board to do specific things

2:07:43And also keeping in mind that if you to the extent you

2:07:46Direct very specifically the board to do certain things or direct very specific things at the operational level

2:07:53There's always a risk that you're sort of undermining that function of risk assessment risk management

2:07:59and balancing of operational risks with you know

2:08:03The benefits that gjr brings through its business

2:08:06Thank you. I was I assume that you as our legal counsel would would caution us in that situation

2:08:12At least I hope you would because I don't want to go to jail

2:08:15Um, thank you very much. I don't have any other question

2:08:18I do have a have a motion that I think will address some of the community concerns that will come up

2:08:25Great. Thank you

2:08:26At council hauser and then karan galler in class

2:08:32Thank you chair downer to staff most of my questions have actually been covered

2:08:35But I just had a question about the signage and I'm wondering if we could possibly do better

2:08:40um, I understand like

2:08:42covering legal and risk and everything but in what you've been saying is we're just trying to reiterate

2:08:48There is a change you're going to a rail bed from a trail

2:08:51Is there not a way to like take away the threat of fines and like the outdoor school is convinced that it's completely closed

2:08:58And that they're not allowed to use it because that's kind of what the sign says

2:09:02But if they're allowed then maybe it could just say, you know, use at your own risk

2:09:06You're entering an act of rail line. Like is this something we could consider?

2:09:10through the mayor or through uh,

2:09:12And chair downer to council hauser we can take that back. Um, I do recognize that again

2:09:17We have some misalignment with the community

2:09:19I would say though that our intent will remain the same

2:09:22We want to make people aware that there are risks that are good that they're going to encounter

2:09:26But in light of the delegates this evening the conversation here this evening

2:09:30Um, and wanting to continually to improve our collaboration improve our communication. Let staff take that back

2:09:36I want to be clear. It's not not a commitment to change. It's a commitment for staff to have that conversation for sure

2:09:42I appreciate that. Thank you

2:09:44Hey, thank you, uh, council crown

2:09:48Yes, thank you. And and the most of my questions have been answered and one of them was a councillor housers question just now about

2:09:56about kind of that that community piece because the outdoor school uses it for for uh,

2:10:03uh, not only programming but you know to get to the boathouse and get to different locations and and uh, and we want them to

2:10:10We don't want them to change their their programming. Um, my only remaining question that hasn't been

2:10:16addressed is

2:10:18Um, and and there's been so many things on the agenda today. There's the safety of the crossing. There's been the

2:10:24Consultation, there's been the governance model

2:10:27There's been, you know, all the great dividends and all the advantages of having our own municipally

2:10:33Owned railway and I don't want to take away from all of the good things that the g a ggr brings to our community

2:10:40in the form of dividends and

2:10:42and transportation

2:10:45But I do want to talk about

2:10:47future sightings or any future land use. So

2:10:51in any other

2:10:54situation

2:10:55changing land use or changing use an amendment to a zoning would go through a fairly robust

2:11:02public process

2:11:04and one of the reasons that I understand that

2:11:08G jr was moved to parks out of economic development was to recognize that linkage with trails to recognize the use of public space

2:11:17And so as we develop

2:11:19future crossings and future sightings

2:11:23What is the best way to make those developments and those changes more

2:11:28transparent to the public and I think of mr. Mouth uses as gm of parks

2:11:34We do a lot of consultation for parks equipment design

2:11:39So can you talk about the public consultation piece that you use with your team in parks?

2:11:46through chair downer to council

2:11:49so with my

2:11:50general manager of parks had back on as you mentioned

2:11:54the community

2:11:55And council sees us really embrace we we love and I mean the word love

2:12:01Community engagement so we engage from everything from where we're going to put community garden gardens in our parks

2:12:07And as council knows

2:12:09It's sometimes surprising the misalignment that we have with the public

2:12:13And where we put community gardens and how we do that all the way through to playgrounds and playgrounds are a great thing to reference

2:12:19Where we will engage the community in terms of what kind of playground design

2:12:24Fit they see for their park

2:12:26But there are some regulatory csa needs that we can't engage

2:12:30Our community with there are some just some hard and fast rules that we've got to follow

2:12:33But yet we still take the opportunity because we're expected to by our executive team or expected to by our community council

2:12:41To have that engagement

2:12:42So we still do that all the way through to our larger longer term strategic documents

2:12:48And I reference our gulf trail master plan

2:12:51So there were so many community names mentioned tonight that were so instrumental

2:12:56In creating that plan it was so valuable and that engagement was meaningful and again being the sponsor

2:13:03Of that initiative and helping the staff get that to the finish line with council

2:13:08Um, there were some tough conversations. There was some real points of of debate as to what we wanted to establish in that strategic plan

2:13:16so

2:13:17Those are some examples, uh, councillor Caron that we really do value in our parks department and that we engage

2:13:24I do frankly think that that model can fit here

2:13:27Wealth junction railway as I mentioned there are some things that we you know would be difficult for us to engage on

2:13:33The regulatory compliance needs that we may have but in terms of trail accessibility trail crossings

2:13:39In an effort to move towards more transparency

2:13:43um, I do think that engaging our

2:13:46Policy around community engagement that we have corporately

2:13:49Could be a real opportunity for us to achieve to a success

2:13:52And you would have a general manager of parks and a c. E. O. Of gulf junction railway

2:13:57Making sure we had that accountability moment or moments to ensure we were meeting that expectation

2:14:02Through adherence to that policy councillor Caron

2:14:05Thank you. I really appreciate that and I really appreciate that that's kind of now very much in the public realm that we've made that commitment

2:14:13My second question and I don't know if this is for you, mr. Matthews or for for clerks, but in provincial

2:14:23Legislative

2:14:25hierarchy

2:14:26Certain acts always take precedence over other acts and and the planning act the heritage act the the

2:14:34Source water protection act. There's there's always a hierarchy

2:14:38In gulf we have another we have layers of master plans. So we have a trails master plan

2:14:44We have a river, you know, we've got master plans for active transportation. We've got

2:14:50Um, and we've got the gjr

2:14:52When the master plans don't align

2:14:55Do we have a hierarchy for that and the reason I ask that is that our trails master plan?

2:15:01shows these trails

2:15:07So how do we how do we?

2:15:09align

2:15:10those

2:15:11Various documents or is that what what miss baker was saying is that we're going to take this away?

2:15:16And we're going to make that future work

2:15:18So through chair downer to council and I may look to some of my colleagues here because I don't want to speak outside of my depth of knowledge

2:15:24So I'll use the gulf trail master plan as an example for me

2:15:28Um, it is less about hierarchy and more about opportunity

2:15:32So and the person to make sure that we are engaging those opportunities would be again

2:15:38My role with gulf junction rule were away being accountable to the shareholder that's council

2:15:43And my role as gulf general manager of parks being accountable

2:15:47To colleen into the executive team. So and I would assume that if I

2:15:53And it's been since february since all of the change

2:15:56That in a year from now

2:15:57I'm going to have given some examples of opportunities for change

2:16:00That if the shareholder felt that that we weren't meeting that expectation

2:16:04I'd hear about it in a few different ways

2:16:08um

2:16:08With my city of with my general manager of parks had on if I weren't meaning that collaborative expectation that the executive team saw

2:16:17The opportunity for in this departmental realignment and again using that gulf trail master plan

2:16:23If they weren't seeing the benefit in the alignment the collaboration regardless of hierarchy

2:16:28In the gulf junction really operations and that gulf trail master plan. I'm confident

2:16:33I would held be held be held to account and that would miss the expectations of the executive team

2:16:38So it's not a work around there councillor chron in terms of hierarchy. It's more about

2:16:43Expectations with the realignment. Um, that's been offered us here

2:16:47Okay, I really appreciate that um and to the chair. I do have a motion when the time comes

2:16:53Great. Thank you

2:16:55councillor Goller

2:16:59Thank you. Uh, and through your chair to to the um to the board and to the staff

2:17:04First of all, thank you so much. I think you're doing an excellent job. Um,

2:17:08Bringing the economic benefit to the community and maintaining an excellent safety record, which is what we asked you to do

2:17:14So I think that that's that's fantastic

2:17:17Um, I I do just want to clarify to make sure that that I got this

2:17:22There was no trail closure, but we said you cannot

2:17:25Walk over the train track and use the train track as a trail. Is that is that correct?

2:17:30Through uh, chair down at a councillor

2:17:33As difficult as that sounds in the moment. Yes, that is correct. Okay. Okay, and I completely understand from from the

2:17:40The risk management why that was done. Um, could you help me understand?

2:17:44What triggered the review to to to look at that because this you know, it has been going on for for decades

2:17:52What triggered the review of that location and how did that?

2:17:56How did that thought process go to let's

2:18:00Close it off and put barriers versus let's put a proper

2:18:05Crossing at the moment. So through a chair down or councillor Goller that speaks to the resources that gulf junction railway has

2:18:12So I don't have the exact date, but I believe our safety officer position was established in 2023

2:18:19Um, so that with the hiring of that position, which is a noble endeavor for us to have as you know, as safe as we can railway

2:18:26In the city of gulf and functioning with the city of gulf that is when this body of work really started to gain traction

2:18:33And this was one of those topics and there have been a few that have been rightfully so picked up by that position

2:18:38So I acknowledge that

2:18:40For a very long period of time the community has been assuming it's it's we're absent

2:18:45We're not paying attention to it

2:18:47That really speaks to pace and capacity and resources that we have to reasonably

2:18:52Manage the risks that gulf junction railway faces

2:18:55Okay, okay that that helps me understand. So there's a new position that was looking at safety all along the

2:19:00Railway and they identified this and brought that to to your team that's

2:19:05That's correct. Okay. Okay. That that really helps me understand that and I

2:19:10I heard you correctly earlier that now you have given direction to

2:19:14Put in one trail crossing

2:19:16Help me understand why one and not two because there's two connections, you know at either end

2:19:23Why one so through the chair to council. So again, it's a complex piece of property as I mentioned

2:19:29There is the block plan the planning process and development process that is occurring

2:19:34And development is yet to happen in that area

2:19:37I do not want that to be an excuse or a reason why we do not move a connectivity solution forward

2:19:43So for me at the moment it is more around economic feasibility and ability to get this project done

2:19:48However, you do raise some point in point that we do have to

2:19:52Two trail needs in that area and there's going to be a real important opportunity

2:19:55For our trail community myself ggr and our park staff our project lead to engage to establish this crossing

2:20:03I do not expect that that will be the when we have this crossing established

2:20:07I do not expect that that will be the last end of trail

2:20:10Crossing conversations in this area and I look forward to future conversations. Okay. Thank you very much and just

2:20:18through through the chair

2:20:20In terms of the timeline you said that you you have given already given direction for staff to work on this

2:20:26When can we expect that connection to actually get built? I I understand there's a process to this

2:20:32When will that connection be be placed? So through chair down at a councillor Goller all budget pending, of course

2:20:37But that feasibility is planning to end

2:20:40And wrap up q4

2:20:422026 the year that we're in right now from that plan is refined. There's a budget process upcoming for the city that needs to be engaged

2:20:50our

2:20:51Budget confirmation and budget approval the year 2028. That's a pretty broad window right now where we would hope to achieve project completion

2:20:59Okay, okay, and then so that I heard from

2:21:03From some of the the residents that have been looking into this other trail crossings as I understand that have cost in the

2:21:10Area of 50 grand is that is that what we might reasonably expect or or significantly more here through chair downer to councillor Goller

2:21:18I think it would be irresponsible to speculate. I do want to highlight again

2:21:23That not every crossing is created equal. So the crossings beside behind river run for instance and and

2:21:31A member of our trail community that I have a great deal of respect for he and I had a bit of a walk around a couple of months ago

2:21:37And those kinds of crossings because of their ingress and egress

2:21:41Their sight lines level ground a trail but right up to them. Those are probably into that 20 to 40 thousand dollar range

2:21:50What we are talking about in this location

2:21:52Is not that okay, okay, and and thank you for that and in terms of the timeline

2:21:58Is it in 2028 versus 2027?

2:22:01Just because that's when it's lining up to the budget process

2:22:04So could the next term of council actually put it into the 2027 budget to get built in 2027

2:22:11So through the chair to councillor Goller, there still is other approval processes through transport canada mto

2:22:17That we need to achieve after that feasibility and you know working through those other regular regulators that we have

2:22:24You know those timelines will be beyond our control

2:22:28So we are beholden to those timelines as well the most reasonable expectation that we can give right now

2:22:34Pending budget approval and conversation is that 2028 completion as our trail community knows

2:22:41Through whether it's trail

2:22:44That that we've been able to achieve completion on like well, which to wood lawn or the silver creek underpass

2:22:49Feasibility that's ongoing right now. There was some engagement with our trail community

2:22:54this month

2:22:56On that

2:22:57Which we can also give the community updates as to our timeline and our expected timelines of completion

2:23:03The trail managers on both sides of the crossing very much can expect to be engaged in aware of our progress and aware of our timing

2:23:10Okay, thank you. Thank you very much. And thank you for doing that engagement. I just for my clarity

2:23:15You mentioned in the reports that there was engagement with the local groups in advance of this closing

2:23:21Could you tell me a little bit about what what that looked like?

2:23:24Absolutely, so through chair downer to councillor Goller in collaboration

2:23:28We recognize that that doesn't always mean that conversations are easy

2:23:32It does not always mean that we get to the same expectation from those conversations, but

2:23:37In and around march as was referenced absolutely. There was a meeting

2:23:41Where expectations were made clear? I think from gulf junction railway staff and expectations and the disappointment in the expectations were expressed

2:23:50From our trail community. So we've we've heard those there was also an ongoing discussion

2:23:56Around mapping and why we need to you know, it's not something that we hide or we do secretively

2:24:03But there's ongoing conversations around mapping and making sure that we get accurate mapping

2:24:07In the public realm and those conversations can often create misalignment too though

2:24:12We do attempt to make those those communications clear and because I really enjoy it

2:24:18I also make myself available to our trail community to get out to see the lived experience

2:24:23Of our trail users to see the disappointment when we don't have that alignment and talk to solutions. So

2:24:30And we have a trail

2:24:32Experts in our parks department who are also quite engaged

2:24:34We don't always get to yes as we know the conversations of course can sometimes be misaligned and be challenging

2:24:40But we do endeavor to very much make ourselves

2:24:43available

2:24:44To our team from my role through to the people delivering the projects and the services and operations. Okay. Okay. Thank you for that

2:24:52and through the chair

2:24:54Moving on from the question of the crossing

2:24:56It's my understanding that that looking at this that you're exploring the the potential to expand sightings to allow for more

2:25:04industry use

2:25:06our

2:25:08sightings allowed in floodblades and are they allowed to store

2:25:13Cars that may be holding chemicals in those sightings

2:25:19Okay, through you chair at councillor goller

2:25:23We so again, we would not be able to

2:25:26Build in a floodplain without getting obtaining the permit through that act the conservation authorities act section 28

2:25:33If for whatever reason we satisfied all of those

2:25:37Points obtained the permit went through the whole process and built the sighting there

2:25:43Gjr is particular about where we store certain

2:25:48Goods and what we haul

2:25:50So dangerous goods obviously. So there's security sensitive dangerous goods, which we choose not to

2:25:57haul on our line

2:25:59We do handle certain levels of dangerous goods, but we do not bring those through city limits

2:26:06They are brought well by gjr. So we get them delivered to the north industrial

2:26:12Or in the southern

2:26:15Ends of the city because we don't want to haul certain dangerous

2:26:21Hazardous goods through through the city and for that reason we also don't haul fuel

2:26:27So we designate our sightings for particular

2:26:32Goods that that we are moving

2:26:35And certainly if there was

2:26:38Um, if this is a designated floodplain area

2:26:42That would play into how do we utilize that sighting but future planning isn't just about

2:26:48The storage of of rail cars in this area. It's also about creating passing tracks

2:26:54So ideally we're looking at being able to have a spot to park

2:26:59Spare locomotives or to move a locomotive to the side to allow another to pass through for smoother traffic

2:27:06So it's not just about the storage and it's certainly not about the storage of chemicals

2:27:10It's it's just identifying areas where we can expand to help better serve the gjr

2:27:17Including, you know passenger service in 2050. So

2:27:22That is fair that is fair and as I understand that you have already explored the possible locations should

2:27:28A sighting be put in this area that we're talking about between victoria and stone

2:27:34Would that necessitate the permanent closing or of one of those

2:27:39Desire trails that are there or would they be allowed to continue?

2:27:44Through chair downer to councillor Goller

2:27:47In a very collaborative way amber and lesson. I have talked about that

2:27:51And it very much is our commitment and I know it may feel like a moment of faith right now from the community

2:27:56But that any sightings that do go in this area any works that may or may not be planned

2:28:02Would law north in that corridor

2:28:05Very much trail connectivity is top of mind and present for us and to build that leap of faith

2:28:11These as we've heard this evening these sighting agreements these business plans

2:28:15They go to our board of directors for commentary and for decision-making. So there are

2:28:20Higher order moments of decision-making beyond my role

2:28:24In collaboration with others on the board to make sure that those connectivity and other opportunities are given

2:28:30Consideration and right now those conversations are happening and are actively happening councillor Goller. Okay. Thank you very much

2:28:37I really appreciate that all that information. Thank you chair. I do have a motion that I want to bring later on

2:28:43Thank you councillor classon. Thank you

2:28:49Through you chair, I think most of my questions have been asked

2:28:54But I do want to just clarify something although I think they have been answered

2:28:59But maybe less directly. So I'm just going to ask them directly. There was a

2:29:03Delegate who brought up

2:29:06That they're in 2023 a sighting was staked in the flood plain

2:29:10at the rail in in the victoria to

2:29:14college

2:29:15Not trail. Can you just confirm that please or not?

2:29:21to councillor classon uh the stakes that were in there were locations where

2:29:27GGR would find would be this most suitable and safest crossing for the trail connection. Thank you

2:29:34Really appreciate that uh less

2:29:37um, and then

2:29:39Finally just to clarify with regard to the feasibility study

2:29:42I do appreciate that councillor Goller asked with about when it is anticipated to be built in 2028

2:29:48um

2:29:49I just wanted to ask about the the funding for it. So is the city funding the

2:29:56feasibility study and and will you be also asking us to fund the crossing?

2:30:02through councillor downer uh to councillor classon so for the feasibility study

2:30:07And we are still we have not awarded that work yet. So I don't have a defined cost to offer

2:30:11I will when that is available

2:30:13But I've made it very clear to our gulf junction railway team and our parks department through unspent capital

2:30:20In our city of parks or city of parks

2:30:23I wish a city of gulf parks department

2:30:26And gulf junction railway that we make that a priority in our budget

2:30:35Okay, okay. Thank you. Um, and I do have a follow-up question with that with regard to the feasibility process

2:30:42The landowner I believe on either side is fusion. So will there be um

2:30:48collaboration with them and maybe an ask to work with them on facilitating the crossing in this area

2:30:56Through chair uh downer. Yes, we they can expect a form of collaboration

2:31:04and any any any thoughts to asking them to

2:31:09Provide the land for it. It would that be an additional cost to the city? Maybe I'm going to granular

2:31:14So maybe I'll just leave that as a comment for you

2:31:21Um, I think that's all. Oh, no, I have one more. Sorry. Um, just to I just like to clarify

2:31:28On the g2g

2:31:30What is the next step in that process? You said that we don't have the funding for that project at the moment

2:31:36So I know that the community has provided. We've talked about all of the various

2:31:40Um, you know the rail safety document. We've talked about all the different steps that have been taken to date

2:31:46What will what will be the next step?

2:31:52Through chair downer, uh to council class and I think willow

2:31:57Um

2:31:58I'll go and then we'll let willow go so um as the project sponsor

2:32:03For me and then we'll hear from our project lead

2:32:05Um, we have a design meeting held scheduled for thursday that is going to be a big moment

2:32:12There's still follow-up conversations that we're having with our team members on that

2:32:16There was a nascent conversation around potential grant opportunity partnership today

2:32:20That willow and cindy uh and I had from the city's perspective the next moment will be once we have that detailed design

2:32:27Which informs budget that's when we'll be bringing that to council through budget process

2:32:35Thanks gene

2:32:36great great question there through the chair to

2:32:40counselor

2:32:42The as gene mentioned the the current place and where we're at with this project is we're getting to design and cost certainty

2:32:50Moving through a 60 we've gone through a 30 percent. We're moving through a 60 design

2:32:54Getting buy-in again at that point from all the stakeholders

2:32:58Including ggr and then we'd be moving to a 90 design and tender package

2:33:03So that's in one avenue of the design work another avenue is formal agreements with

2:33:09Two landowners that need to be that need to be created as we cross their property

2:33:14With this current design and so those would move in

2:33:18At the same time as as conversations with ggr about you know setting the length

2:33:24And decide whether there needs to be any illegal process similar to Woolwich to Woodland as an example

2:33:30To you know, either transfer the land to the city or if it's already in the city's hands

2:33:34To do any kind of paperwork on on the internal end

2:33:37So then once once all that is kind of sorted

2:33:40Then we move into as as gene

2:33:43Had kind of referenced into a conversation around funding where you know gdg's current

2:33:48Recent track record with leveraging

2:33:51Philanthropic donations. I think it's going to be to to the benefit of the the city and ggr as well as

2:34:00Gene mentioned

2:34:01Looking at different kind of grants and community funding kind of options there

2:34:05I think if you think about this as a as a true private public philanthropic partnership

2:34:10It's how we ran a lot of our other really successful projects with municipalities

2:34:14So I don't think this is any different. We're not certainly handing it all over to the city and expecting them to foot the bill

2:34:19I've we as we've done in the past through

2:34:21The last two years we've been raising funds through different community organizations and grants through trans canada trail and others

2:34:28And supporting with our own donations

2:34:30Um to participate in this collaborative effort community led city supported kind of project

2:34:34So I think that you know construction 2027 is awfully obviously we're going to get to that point and the and but those are the steps leading up to construction

2:34:42And I expect those to be complete. Uh, hopefully by the end of the summer

2:34:48Thank you

2:34:49Thank you for the update

2:34:52So are there any other questions?

2:34:55at council gives

2:34:58Yeah, thank you through you chair downer

2:35:01To staff perhaps this is for gene

2:35:03Um, I just want to understand I want to make sure that we're staying in our

2:35:08Sort of functional lanes here as a board of directors for ggr

2:35:12So the the dividend has been directed to be handed over to the city

2:35:17The city has been received that dividend that goes into the city's

2:35:21general

2:35:22Revenues or wherever they go it goes into the capital works budget

2:35:25That capital works budget is debated on during budget time on where those priorities are

2:35:30And uh, you know as part of our our collective plan

2:35:33That money is set aside

2:35:35ggr as we as a board of directors

2:35:38Are not in a position today to direct the city where to spend those funds. Is that correct?

2:35:45Through the chair that's correct council kitchen

2:35:49Okay, thank you

2:35:50So I've heard already some speculation about wanting to fund this bridge crossing with the dividend and that's not our role today

2:35:58I just want to make sure that's very clear

2:36:00We can request the city

2:36:02Prioritize the bridge cross or the trail crossing with the use of the dividend funds

2:36:07But we are in no position to dictate to the city how they prioritize their city capital budget. Is that correct?

2:36:15I just want to make sure we are maintaining our

2:36:18Pat on when we're if there's motions coming forward about how to fund this and that and where to park

2:36:22That's the city's role. We are not sitting as the city board of directors today. We're sitting as the ggr

2:36:29We can request the city, but we can't direct the city

2:36:32Um, yeah through through

2:36:35Chair Downer, I think I think it's a little complicated if you're

2:36:39Directing yourself

2:36:42As the city so I know that gets a bit complicated. I I think in we typically try to

2:36:48Um

2:36:49Yes, keep if I think it would be more appropriate if you have if you have direction for a city

2:36:54It's more of a city council type motion not a sitting as a shareholder

2:37:00And try to keep the motions as a shareholder directed to the ggr board

2:37:05As you described and and that's why I'm trying to focus our conversation perhaps the conversation of

2:37:11Where funding comes from and what the dividend is used for is a city council discussion and perhaps not today's discussion

2:37:21I'll just

2:37:23Emotions I'll just I'll just leave that there through the chair. I would concur that anything about the use of the dividend

2:37:31Is is not

2:37:33Council the shareholder

2:37:35decision or direction today

2:37:38Thank you. I appreciate that clarity

2:37:42Are there any other questions?

2:37:45before we move on okay, so

2:37:47Uh, what we're going to are there comments, but first I'd like to have the motion to receive the

2:37:54Uh, the ggr and a report an audit of financial statements put on the floor

2:38:00Councillor hauser and councillor Goller now. Are there any comments?

2:38:05Before we move on

2:38:09Yes, there was a lot of questions asked. Okay, so is there anyone opposed to the receiving of this report?

2:38:15Seeing none. Great. Thank you. So

2:38:18Uh, I sort of did poll council about whether they wanted to break now because we have sat for three hours now

2:38:23But we're going to carry on because we have a lot of people here today

2:38:28Uh to the motions, but I would ask my council colleagues

2:38:31To be very as brief as possible like, you know expeditious in your motions. We've asked a lot of questions

2:38:38We've already had sort of discussion type questions

2:38:41um

2:38:43Because we're already 45 minutes late for our council meeting which was to start at six

2:38:49So brevity is important

2:38:52Okay, so we're going to go first to councillor uh, councillor Allt

2:38:57council coran council bluestill and council galler for motions

2:39:02Thank you very much chair

2:39:04Downer if I could please have the uh the motion slash motions on the screen

2:39:09um, I think that they are

2:39:12probably extensive

2:39:14Enough that I shouldn't read them, but if you wish I shall and perhaps I better ask mr. McMahon about that

2:39:22Through you madam chair. There's no requirement that motion through it verbally council. Thank you. Uh, the motions are essentially

2:39:28requesting

2:39:30an increase in the board to consider a community membership

2:39:34On the board and the intention of this is primarily to provide for greater communication and

2:39:39and

2:39:40expressions of communication between both board and the public

2:39:44I do want to thank mr. Matthews staff and delegates for outlining the financial and other goals

2:39:49They see coming from the the gulf junction railroad

2:39:52I believe these motions are complementary with the principles of city building and interestingly are surprisingly

2:39:58Close to the principles of a b corporation, which I think that we all wish that uh that guelph and maybe gj

2:40:04I would get to uh, they are also complementary with much that we would find within the

2:40:10Certificate of continuation the bylaws and the shareholders agreement and I could point to various sections

2:40:15I'll just state very succinctly that within the shareholder agreement 2.03 4.03

2:40:22And one might even argue 11.01

2:40:25As well as the duties of

2:40:29The mandate of the board of directors

2:40:311.2

2:40:32I have a seconder and councillor Goller and I would ask for support for these and I apologize for being succinct, but I'm

2:40:39listening to the boss

2:40:42Good that's good. Um, are there any questions or comments? Okay, mayor gretzry

2:40:49Thank you and through you very quickly. There's nothing here that I would not support because

2:40:55I believe we kind of supported something like this a few years ago at maybe a higher level so fair enough

2:41:03Um, and I think it was you councillor downer or chair downer

2:41:07If I recall in a meeting maybe three years ago or four years ago that we

2:41:13That we talked about this very thing

2:41:16So I guess my question is am I is my memory correct?

2:41:20And number two if it is correct

2:41:23Why hasn't that been acted upon

2:41:26To date why do we have to do a motion now?

2:41:32Okay, the motions I put forward a number of motions at gj or annual general meetings and

2:41:39Certainly one was to have coordination with the trail groups in in

2:41:46Engulf, um

2:41:48There was uh, something uh, I do remember that

2:41:52Around a governance there was issues around governor discussion. I don't know if we actually gave direction, but councillor all wants to speak

2:42:00Yeah, I thank you very much for that mayor guthrie. I do recall it as well and the the reason that the the

2:42:06Motions are frame the way that they are is to make certain that this is time definite to next year at the agm

2:42:13The problem with those motions before was we requested it and then they did not get built upon

2:42:20So this one, uh is in some senses in cooperation with our staff as well who helped me with this

2:42:26Uh are stating very clearly that over the next 12 months

2:42:30We will determine how best to ensure that there is community input on a board that has become more than just a

2:42:37A board for the for-profit principles of gulf junction railway

2:42:41But is now seen as a community building board for such things as trails and recreational space

2:42:50Okay, well, I don't think we should presuppose what

2:42:53At future potential independent member of the public

2:42:57Should their role should be I think we should allow your motion

2:43:01To play out to determine what the role of that independent member might be before we jump the gun on that

2:43:08However, back to my original comment. I agree with this. I'm gonna support it

2:43:13I just think that beyond council or downers original motions around partnership with trail groups and stuff like that

2:43:19I am pretty sure that there was a motion to look at independent board members to come back on here

2:43:26So I'm just I I'm gonna support this

2:43:28But maybe as other comments or questions happen on this

2:43:31Maybe the clerks or someone in the executive team or somebody else

2:43:35Can either correct me or remind me if I'm if I'm if I'm saying something wrong here

2:43:41I feel like we're voting on something that was already done

2:43:46And yet has it been fulfilled that part's important

2:43:50So I'll leave it at that. I'm gonna support this, but I think we've already been here a little bit on this issue already in the past

2:43:56Just may I got through I think we did do a motion on governance like asking staff to do a governance review

2:44:03And so the review they've come back with and that's identified within the report

2:44:09That there has been work done on governance in the past year

2:44:12I don't know if we specifically said that I think we talked about it

2:44:16But I don't think we specifically directed to have

2:44:20Community members on it. So this this will do that

2:44:23Okay, councillor busatel and then councillor Gibson

2:44:27Thank you and through you, madam chair just something a clarification that I need

2:44:30I don't have a difficulty with the motion as written here

2:44:35But what I just heard from the mover is

2:44:38Trails mentioned in there and so I have a question to the mover whether or not the intent is to change the mandate

2:44:45Uh in this

2:44:48Because I am not okay with changing the mandate. I think

2:44:52Being very clear that the mandate remains doesn't raise

2:44:57unrealistic expectation of community directors or independent directors

2:45:04And thank you through you chair down or to council and members listening. In fact, it doesn't change the mandate at all

2:45:10I went through the bylaws

2:45:13And the shareholder agreement quite carefully and that there is room

2:45:17There's latitude within the bylaws and the shareholder agreement already for this and really the principle and perhaps

2:45:24I could have miss charles

2:45:26Comment on this the principles are contained within the responsibility of the shareholder to provide direction

2:45:33To the board for the purposes of the operation of gjr. Miss charles. I don't know whether

2:45:39I've succinctly explained it or not

2:45:42Thank you through you chair. I can add to that

2:45:44So the governing documents of gjr do contemplate that the board

2:45:49composition could include what is defined as independent directors

2:45:52So that is essentially people who are not members of council not city employees

2:45:56not city consultants or agents and the shareholder can

2:46:02By resolution the shareholder sets the number of directors

2:46:05Within the minimum and maximum number that are established in the certificate and articles of continuance

2:46:11And so the board is currently at three

2:46:13But the shareholder can direct that to a to a different number and the board can also

2:46:17Sorry, excuse me

2:46:18The shareholder can also determine what the composition of that board of directors is

2:46:22subject to anything that is specified in the shareholder declaration for example that

2:46:27There'll be certain city staff positions be part part of the board

2:46:31So the mechanism is already there in the governing documents and it has been for

2:46:37For a long time. I'm not fully

2:46:39Familiar with the history that some members of council have been referring to

2:46:42We can certainly go back and look at that as part of the exercise

2:46:46Of bringing back to council, you know information about the implications of including independent directors on the board

2:46:53That would be a fundamentally different

2:46:55governance beast

2:46:57And you know, there there will be

2:47:00There would be many changes, but I do know that there is history of having independent directors on the board

2:47:04So certainly there's probably resources we can look back to so um in closing

2:47:10I think I've answered your question counselor all but

2:47:12The motions as I see them are really for the board of directors to provide counsel with information about how the shareholder could

2:47:20In you know appoint independent directors and that will be done through some kind of methodology framework process

2:47:27That would ensure that those

2:47:29Directors who are appointed by the shareholder meet the requirements of the governing documents

2:47:33So gjr is to have a skills-based board

2:47:37The people would have to have the capacity

2:47:40experience

2:47:41to be able to exercise the duties of a director and

2:47:44Fulfill all of the obligations in corporate law and also in those governing documents

2:47:48So it's it's not a popularity contest and I read these motions as being the the means by which staff will give you that information on how council could

2:47:56Responsibly appoint independent directors to the board

2:48:02Okay, thank you council. Thank you. No, that that was great. Thank you. Okay council Gibson

2:48:08Yep, thank you through your chair d'Avair. I'll support the motions and I do support councillor else rachael for

2:48:15For what he's brought forward my it's a it's a polite disagreement

2:48:19In my comments as a as a member of this board

2:48:23I I will support the motions because the the core mandate of the board has been

2:48:28Protected it's a skills-based board

2:48:31The mandate is on economic development and I'm assuming health and safety is a primary function of the board as well on top priority

2:48:38Where I disagree was the commentary around it becoming a community focused board and more and more focused on trail connections

2:48:46Um, that is not the mandate of this of this board and I just want to protect that as much as it might be an unpopular opinion in the room

2:48:53The the mandate of the board needs to be maintained as a skill-based board

2:48:58core function of the of the railway

2:49:02Again, I think of health and safety and I think of economic development first that being said if there is advisors out there that have the skill-based

2:49:10Expertise and can contribute in a way that also speaks to so community benefit

2:49:15I'm supportive of that but thank you for thank you councillor for the language specific around maintaining the mandate of the board

2:49:21And as as a board member, um, want to congratulate ggr on the successful year and thank you for a very positive report

2:49:29And thank you. Are there any other questions? Okay, it's I'm going to take the vote now. Is there anyone

2:49:34opposed to those motions

2:49:38Seeing that those have passed

2:49:41Okay, uh, let's go on to councillor Caron's motions

2:49:47Okay

2:49:49My motion was primarily focused on the fact that we have a very successful railway. Um, that is, um, under our parks portfolio

2:50:02and that the expectation in the community

2:50:06for any project expansion growth, um, related to to parks and, um,

2:50:13And, um, basically any other department on campus, whether it's forestry or or planning, we have robust community expectations on engagement.

2:50:24So the motion I've crafted with the help of mr. Matthews. Thank you. Mr. Matthews is to expand and make very clear

2:50:31What the community engagement expectations are when wealth junction railway has expansion projects. So, um, on the on the screen

2:50:40Uh, that wealth junction railway expansion prop projects within city limits included but not limited to new sidings change of use or storage

2:50:49Be subject to city of wealth corporate policy and procedure community engagement policy

2:50:55Uh, dated june 27 2023 in a manner that reflects ongoing accountability towards the policy

2:51:01demonstrated by the city parks department and I have I've supported mr. Matthews

2:51:06I don't know if you wanted to add any comments, but I'll put that on the

2:51:09motion council crown

2:51:12All says he'll second it. Thank you, councillor Allt

2:51:15And uh, we'll uh, we'll put that on the floor for consideration. Thank you. Are there any questions?

2:51:22Comments

2:51:24mayor guthrie

2:51:26Through you chair, can I please have staff respond?

2:51:29to this

2:51:32Any concerns

2:51:33through chair downer

2:51:35to mayor guthrie

2:51:37No concerns again reflecting that there are sometimes that we whether it's a piece of legislation

2:51:43Where we can't engage and I don't mean to crib there. There are certainly all kinds of opportunities

2:51:49For us to engage councillor crown had a good conversation around this and I think we have alignment with the intent of the motion

2:51:56And thank you and through you chair to the mover leon. I'm sorry if you don't mind me just don't question that yet, but um

2:52:03If if this something is available to happen quickly

2:52:08From ggr as an example about a trail or a crossing or something like that

2:52:14And yet this motion says we have they have to abide by all the engagement

2:52:19policies and procedures

2:52:22And the engagement is longer than just doing the right thing

2:52:26How do we square that?

2:52:30In answer to your question, we've already had a lot of engagement. So and I understand that in the future

2:52:37There is going to be more of that happening

2:52:40So if that engagement results in a plan a master plan for trails expansion

2:52:45And and those things are already

2:52:47Reconsulted on then things can happen very quickly

2:52:51But if there's something new that comes out of the blue and there's impacts to residents impacts to trail users impacts to

2:52:59neighboring

2:53:00adjacent properties

2:53:02I do think we need a consultation process that is that is open

2:53:06And transparent to everyone involved

2:53:09So through you chair would that have to align with the existing city consultation and engagement for engagement processes?

2:53:17or

2:53:19Would you allow and by the way, what's not wordsmith this now? I'm going to support it, but maybe in the future

2:53:24Maybe it could be discussed would ggr

2:53:28be able to bring

2:53:29as ggr

2:53:31To the board and then maybe as a flow through to council as to what their engagement and or

2:53:38consultation processes may be that align maybe

2:53:42A little bit better with like the federal rail legislation and all that kind of stuff

2:53:46That might be a little bit out of step of what ours is not trying to undercut anything at all

2:53:51I'm just trying to make sure that they have the nimbleness to do

2:53:55Some things without

2:53:58You know not doing the things that you just mentioned, which I totally agree with as well that you're trying to highlight

2:54:03So I guess I stated as a statement madam chair just to make sure that there isn't

2:54:09A complete copycat here

2:54:12That doesn't allow them in the future to bring something forward to us as a shareholder to outline why that might be a hindrance

2:54:19Even though it's not meant to be that way in any shape or form

2:54:23If things are popping up so with that I'll support. Thanks for bringing it forward

2:54:27Yeah, and if I could address that just for another moment. We often have even things that are under federal regulation

2:54:34Things that have impact on neighbors and having an open forum where those things can be discussed

2:54:40even if it doesn't

2:54:42affect the outcome and I think mr. Mayor and you would have been involved in things like cell tower location

2:54:48Neighbors have concerns and just a place for those concerns to be landed in a public forum

2:54:53We're really really helpful as part of the education and an information process

2:55:01Okay, thank you. Are there any other comments or questions?

2:55:06Great. I'll go to the question. Is there anyone opposed to that motion?

2:55:11Okay, seeing none that passes

2:55:14So the next motion is one of councillor busattales

2:55:18Given the question of councillor gibson earlier on i'm just not sure

2:55:24About this one so can we have it on the screen, please?

2:55:28If you want to speak did you have a seconder before you?

2:55:32Yeah, councillor ritchardson

2:55:33Social second that so this is that the gulf junction railway staff and city gulf park staff

2:55:40Explore shared funding opportunities including things like grants for future trail railway crossings in the city of gulf

2:55:48As part of future budget processes and I don't think it's contrary. Okay

2:55:54It's I don't think it is could staff please advise. I'll just ask that right up the top

2:56:01Is this is consistent with what the we as a shareholder are allowed to direct

2:56:09Through the chair to council it is a takeaway for staff to explore

2:56:13So in this moment, I would take that as us having alignment and reporting back to the shareholder

2:56:19Okay, great. Are there any other questions councillor gibson?

2:56:25Um, I like the term takeaway through you chair downer for this motion

2:56:31I'm not sure I again i'm being a little bit of a stickler here because I don't want it to delve into budget talks

2:56:36But I am wondering if it's our role as a board of ggr to direct city staff

2:56:43Like it's we're in the motion. It says direct ggr staff to explore with city staff

2:56:50The opportunities for funding. I'm not being a stickler. I just I don't want this to mushroom into something that it's not

2:56:55We could we could kind of request

2:56:57um, I I like the idea of takeaway, um, I think

2:57:02Our CEO of gold junction rail just said it best

2:57:09Mr. Bethus, if I may uh through you uh chair downer to councillor gibson

2:57:14If we change that to gulf junction railway staff that may bring us

2:57:18Into more alignment with the direction

2:57:21Okay, so do we want to do an amendment or do you want to withdraw the motion and put a new one on the floor?

2:57:26pardon

2:57:37Through through you, uh, madam chair, so we don't do friendly amendments

2:57:39So just to make sure we get a noted correct that clerk staff can just pull up slide seven

2:57:44All we're going to be that was the old times

2:57:47All we're going to be doing is removing the reference to city of gulf park staff

2:57:50So it's just a reference to gulf junction railway staff

2:57:56Okay

2:57:57So we have a mover and a seconder for that amendment. Is anyone opposed to that amendment?

2:58:03Okay, that carries. So to the main motion

2:58:06Um, does anybody else want to ask a question or to speak to the main motion?

2:58:11Okay

2:58:13I'll put the question on the floor is anyone opposed

2:58:19Seeing none. Thank you that carries

2:58:22Okay, now we're moving on to councillor gollum's motion. I think this is the final one

2:58:27Thank you through your chair. Um, this motion

2:58:32Gives direction to the the board of directors to report back to us the shareholders

2:58:37in advance of the next

2:58:39annual meeting of the shareholders

2:58:41Evaluating the following options for councils for our consideration

2:58:46On amending the shareholder declaration to broaden its mandate to explicitly support city adopted master plans including

2:58:54Trail master plan active transportation network and climate change mitigation objectives

2:58:59Uh to synchronize the gulf junction railway capital works and assessment management schedules with city infrastructure and parks budgets to facilitate joint construction projects

2:59:09To establish a framework for formal liability sharing agreements and corridor

2:59:15Eastmans between gulf junction railway and the city to safely integrate active transportation corridors

2:59:20within the rail right of way

2:59:23And finally developing a financial framework that would dedicate a portion of the annual gulf junction railway dividend to fund the safety

2:59:31infrastructure like fencing and grading required for trail integration

2:59:37And I'll look for a seconder

2:59:39Thank you councillor old and if I may console out seconded and

2:59:44Do you want to speak to it? Yes? I

2:59:47I absolutely love trains and I would love to compare notes with with councillor

2:59:52Caten because what I've seen is that rails is actually three times more energy efficient and less

2:59:59Put put of less pollution than trucks

3:00:02So I think if we can work with the city

3:00:06And align this you know we we talk about the climate change mitigation objectives

3:00:10I think having more trains are more train cars going through the city unless trucks would be a benefit for us all

3:00:16Um, and I think we have many inefficiencies where we have given you a directive to of course safety and

3:00:24Bring a dividend back to the city. I think if we broaden that scope and have said the dividend if we start counting community benefit

3:00:32Like trail connections as part of that dividend and you reported back to us

3:00:36And you said this is how much money we're able to make the city of gulf and also these are the other

3:00:41Community benefits that we brought the city of gulf as part of the annual report. I think that would be a benefit for us or for efficiency

3:00:49Um, so I think this is requesting essentially for the railway to

3:00:55Pay more attention and align to the city's master plans so that we achieve those efficiencies

3:01:00Um, happy to to answer any questions. Okay. Thank you counselor alt

3:01:05And mayor Guthrie. Yeah, thank you very much. Um, I will support this and that's why I seconded it

3:01:10With reference to the mandate of the board of directors

3:01:142.0 b and i

3:01:18The board of directors develop annual and long-range vision strategies and plans including succession planning

3:01:24And I consider and report on such matters as made from time to time be referred to the board by the shareholder

3:01:31Which we currently are sitting as the shareholder directing the board

3:01:37Okay, mayor Guthrie

3:01:40Thanks, sir. You chair. Um, I'm just wondering

3:01:46At first blush, this seems very wordy to me and very like micromanaging

3:01:52um, and so I was wondering if the mover would be

3:01:56It did the mover work with staff on this at all in regards to just higher level

3:02:02wording that would still capture every single thing that you're trying to do but also

3:02:07Leave the room open to even more things

3:02:10If I could have the motion police from clerks put back up on the screen. I'll just speak over it for a moment

3:02:17Except for the last one it has to do with with um dividend

3:02:21But it the city council and its capacity blah blah blah blah blah

3:02:25In advance of the next annual shareholders meeting evaluate the following options with council's consideration

3:02:31regarding any

3:02:33any any amendments to the shareholder to be too modern

3:02:37Like to broaden its mandate

3:02:41Period

3:02:42Like you you then get into just trails master plans and just active

3:02:47Transportation's and climate change and like those are all great

3:02:51But I'm wondering are you missing one? Are you missing five? I don't know

3:02:57But you're saying that you want them to only look at these

3:03:01So I'm just wondering why you wouldn't have kept it higher level

3:03:04To allow them the space

3:03:07To go and try to see what all

3:03:10mandates and and and that could be broadened

3:03:13And have them report back then to specifically say only these ones

3:03:19Through you chair. Thank you for the question. Mayor Guthrie. Uh, the wording says to align with the city's adopted master plans

3:03:26And and including it's for context of today and what we're hearing from the community

3:03:31But really this says all with the city's adopted master plans

3:03:40Okay, I do I do I recognize that now a bit better. I appreciate you jumping that off the page to me

3:03:47so your

3:03:50When you say the word including that's just examples

3:03:54That is just flavor for context

3:03:57But really all of the city's master plans and I'm going to to the second point the synchronizing the capital works

3:04:03I'm really concerned that we have to take the dividend and then the city has to do the work

3:04:08And I think we may there may be some inefficiencies

3:04:11And all of this is for them to come back to us and they tell us would this actually

3:04:17Be beneficial. Would there be would it be workable?

3:04:20So this is why it's for them to come back and tell us

3:04:23Would any of this make sense?

3:04:25And then the shareholders can make a decision

3:04:27Before the next annual meeting

3:04:29Okay, then two very quick questions through you madam chair. Number one. Does the second bullet point

3:04:35Not align with what councillor Busuttil's motion was

3:04:38And my second question is what do staff think of this broadly this entire motion?

3:04:47um

3:04:48through

3:04:49Maybe I'll I'll start more on your second question. Mayor Guthrie

3:04:55The

3:04:56I would say maybe just to start off. I think bullet number four is actually out of order

3:05:02in terms of

3:05:04Gjr as a shareholder council as a shareholder because that is really about a city council function

3:05:11And so just I do think the bullet number four is probably

3:05:15out of order

3:05:16for your consideration. I would say bullet number two

3:05:21Is we're already doing that. It's very I take that as more operational

3:05:26And so that would be my feedback on the second bullet. I don't think it's necessarily

3:05:32Out of

3:05:34alignment from the motion already

3:05:37tabled and passed by a councillor or that had been tabled by councillor Busuttil

3:05:42But it's definitely work that we do to ensure that we can

3:05:47Apply for grants and that type of thing. So

3:05:50So those are gonna be my two

3:05:52Comments on the bullets. I think we can absolutely

3:05:56Report back on the mandate and that might include a workshop as was discussed earlier for bullet number one

3:06:03and then

3:06:04Establishing a bit of a review of this formal liability sharing

3:06:09I haven't had a lot of time staff have not had a lot of time with these motions. So

3:06:15I have no understanding of the

3:06:18Level of work that's involved in that

3:06:21And so my only the only other thing I would say is that I would really appreciate maybe that we're reporting back

3:06:28At the next shareholder meeting and not necessarily before I think

3:06:33The language in the header there is in advance of the next shareholder meeting

3:06:38Just to be consistent and with time and capacity

3:06:42Maybe changing that to at the next shareholder meeting

3:06:47All right, madam chair

3:06:48I'd like to then move an amendment on bullet point number three

3:06:52That instead of the word establishing

3:06:55We substitute that with the word review

3:06:58A framework because staff have just said like they have no idea if they can even really do this

3:07:05So if we are directing them to establish something that they don't know they can do

3:07:09I would feel more comfortable if it had the word review

3:07:12Review a framework for formal so in other words they can report back to determine whether or not it's feasible or not

3:07:22So so just first of all is there a seconder for your motion

3:07:27Councillor Billings. Okay

3:07:29So Councillor goller

3:07:32Just just through through you chair

3:07:35The the top of the motion is

3:07:38To evaluate the following with options for council's consideration

3:07:42So we're asking them to evaluate. What would it look like to establish a framework for formal liability?

3:07:48So so just within the context of this we're not telling them to do it, but it's

3:07:53Evaluate the following with options for the shareholders consideration. So what you're saying is his motion is redundant in that

3:08:02You're already saying that in the first

3:08:04Paragraph. Yeah. Yeah, this is not directing them to actually go ahead and establish a framework now

3:08:09But tell us what that would look like and do the work and I

3:08:13Just so there it's asking for an evaluation of those bullet points. Mayor Guthrie. It's not asking for it to be established

3:08:21I hear you and the mover. I'll remove that

3:08:24That motion to amend that word of councillor Billings would remove her seconder seconded

3:08:29And then my final my final ask madam chair is to see if the mover would remove the fourth bullet point which our

3:08:36CAO has indicated would be out of order

3:08:40Okay, there's agreement from councillor goller and councillor Allt. So the fourth bullet point is removed. Okay. Thank you. I'll support. Thank you

3:08:48Okay

3:08:52Thank you. I heard in the preamble there that

3:08:56at

3:08:57Next annual shareholders meeting evaluating the following with options for it should be council because I heard shareholders

3:09:05consideration

3:09:07In the discussion that we just had

3:09:14You're asking me

3:09:17I'm asking the mover in that preamble there. It says evaluating the following options for councils

3:09:24Consideration regarding and while we were just discussing we said for shareholders

3:09:30Consideration so clarification is this for the shareholders meeting for shareholders

3:09:37consideration or is this to come to a council meeting at some point and

3:09:43Through through you chair

3:09:44The the wording of this is that city council and its capacity as the shareholder of city of glove

3:09:50So my intention was that it comes back to us in our capacity as the shareholders of the

3:09:55Sitting as shareholders. Yeah, like we are today right now

3:10:03Any other questions councillor goller and I just wanted to in response to

3:10:08Miss miss baker's request that we change this

3:10:11From in advance of the next year holder to the next year holders meeting

3:10:16Would would the second there be okay if we remove it and make that change so that

3:10:21We just change in advance of to the next shareholders meeting to to allow the necessary time for this work to be done correctly

3:10:28That's been moved in second in is there any

3:10:32opposition to that

3:10:34Seeing none that passes

3:10:36Uh now back to the main motion. Is there anything on the main motion councillor Gibson?

3:10:44Thank you through you chair downer, uh, just just a staff access takeaway. I know there's this is a

3:10:51Directive from council as the shareholder to evaluate these options and it may seem

3:10:57That we would like you to increase your mandate

3:11:00But I would just I would just

3:11:02Encourage you to go through your process and it is fully allowed and fully with your right to come back and say no

3:11:07Thank you. We do don't need to increase our mandate. I just wanted to make that clear

3:11:11I'm going to support the motion to go and explore

3:11:13But um, I don't want I don't want staff walking away feeling pressured to give council

3:11:18Some answer that it would seem appears to be the popular one here today

3:11:22Go do your go do your work and bring forward a recommendation in a perfect world

3:11:26This would be an unprompted recommendation coming from staff, but it just seems that we are prompting

3:11:32We're prompting the work here. That's

3:11:34Other here. No there. Um, I'll be supporting the motion

3:11:38Okay, so I think I think his council got his gollars wording was options that would be coming back. So

3:11:45I'm sure that might be part of it. Uh, so are there any more comments or questions regarding this motion?

3:11:52Seeing none as anyone opposed. I'll go right to the question

3:11:57No, that's great. That passes

3:12:00Okay, uh, I think that concludes the meeting and I just want to

3:12:06Yeah

3:12:08And um, I want I want to start thank everybody for coming out today and and your interest in gjo and trails

3:12:15I think it's uh, it's a great attestament to the uh our community

3:12:20And I appreciate it and so does council uh the other uh one I'd like to thank staff for being here and fully answering