Economic Development and Tourism Advisory Committee

0:02Can you hear us just going this way?

0:04So that's the land acknowledgement.

0:06As we gather, let us take time to reflect on

0:09our privilege to live and work in

0:11Guelph, a city built over rich and indigenous histories.

0:15We are guests here.

0:16We should reflect upon the responsibility to care for

0:19this land, the people who live here today,

0:21and the generations to come.

0:23If our actions today can move us towards reconciliation,

0:26we should take pause and make those decisions with

0:29intention and gratitude.

0:31This place we call Guelph is served as traditional lands

0:34and a place of refuge for many peoples over time,

0:37but more specifically, the Atta Wanderang

0:40and the Haudenosaunee.

0:42This land is held as the treaty lands and territory

0:44within the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

0:48Guelph lies directly adjacent to the How the Man Tract

0:51and is part of a long-established traditional hunting ground

0:54for the six nations of the Grand River.

0:57Many First Nations, Inuit and Métis people

1:01have come from across Turtle Island called Guelph Home Today.

1:12Disclosure, pecuniary interest in general nature thereof,

1:15are there any disclosures to be noted?

1:25If no, then the next step is moving on to the approval

1:29of the minutes, that the minutes from our meeting July 8th,

1:322025 meeting of the Economic Development Tourism

1:35Advisory Committee be approved.

1:38Do I have, when I have to ask for someone to second that,

1:42is that correct, Winnie?

1:46We may have a mover first and then a seconder.

1:50Yeah, I have someone who will move

1:52to have those minutes approved.

1:54Thank you, Crystal.

1:55And may I have someone to second that motion, please.

2:00Wonderful, thank you, Inuit.

2:03So for the items for discussion

2:05I was told to announce a small change in the agenda.

2:08Instead of starting with the one water plan,

2:12there was the request to move the downtown revitalization

2:16and Wyndham Street 90% design presentation

2:20to the top of the agenda.

2:21Does anyone oppose?

2:25Then we can hand it over to the,

2:29to Stacy and team for the downtown revitalization presentation.

2:35Thank you, Mr. Chair.

2:36Thank you for having us here.

2:39My name is Stacy Loughlin,

2:40I'm the deaf center of revitalization advisor for the city.

2:43And with me today is Andrew Miller.

2:45He is a project manager, project engineer

2:48for all of our downtown projects.

2:51So we are excited to give you an update on this project,

2:54which will have a significant impact on our downtown,

2:57a significant positive impact in the long run.

3:01It'll be a little rough to get through

3:02the construction parts of it,

3:04but replacing and improving your public infrastructure

3:07is a fundamental component of sort of Guelph's overall

3:10long-term city building vision.

3:14The infrastructure investment will support

3:17anticipated new growths in our downtown

3:19and replace existing infrastructure that's aging

3:22and some of it that's in a state of its repair.

3:26So we recognize that this committee is newly formed.

3:28So some of you might be familiar with this project,

3:31but others maybe haven't heard as much about it.

3:35So we've designed the presentation with some background

3:38to help set that context,

3:40but feel free to let us know if you need additional background

3:43and we're happy to provide that.

3:46So on to today's topics, as I said,

3:49we'll start with some background.

3:51We're gonna tell you a little bit

3:52about how constructions going to work,

3:54get into a little bit of construction mitigation,

3:56and then a little bit of an overview

3:58of the design of St. George's Square.

4:04We have that neat background title slide,

4:06which maybe we don't necessarily need.

4:08That's great.

4:09So there is a lot going on in our downtown right now.

4:13It is our goal to coordinate and integrate the projects

4:16to ensure that we're all working towards a common goal

4:19of creating a vibrant and prosperous downtown

4:22that is welcoming for everyone.

4:24So as you can see in this graphic,

4:25the downtown infrastructure renewal

4:27is actually a program of work

4:29with multiple projects within it.

4:32And the projects are generally phases of construction,

4:35as well as the environmental assessments

4:37that helped us get here,

4:38and the overall capital implementation plan.

4:43Other projects that are underway for the downtown area

4:46include Baker District,

4:47which is our new Guelph Central Library's part of that,

4:50as well as an underground parking structure,

4:53looking at how we will be storing

4:55and collecting garbage within the downtown area,

4:58the downtown height study,

5:00the community planning permit system pilot project,

5:03which is a tongue twister in itself,

5:05and the Heritage Conservation District.

5:07And then we always are continuously working on

5:10the future downtown riverfront park,

5:13which was envisioned by the downtown secondary plan.

5:15And then of course, the seasonal patio program

5:17is something that's happening every year.

5:22So this is a map of the downtown secondary plan area.

5:27And right now the downtown infrastructure renewal program,

5:31is lovingly called D-Turb.

5:34It focuses on sort of the northly portion of the downtown,

5:37so that area in like an orangey beige color.

5:40And then the blue area is an area

5:42that we will look at some point in the future.

5:46And we have about, it's a 12 plus year

5:49reconstruction plan right now.

5:51And you'll probably have noticed,

5:54if you've been downtown recently,

5:55that we have started with phase zero

5:57along Wellington Street and Wyndham Street south.

6:01And that sets up and sets the foundation

6:03for the rest of the work that's gonna kick off next spring.

6:08So a question we get a lot is,

6:11why is this necessary?

6:13Why now?

6:15So one of the key drivers is really

6:18that aging infrastructure.

6:19So some of these pictures are pictures of our actual pipes.

6:25So obviously not super great at conveying liquids

6:28if they have big cracks in them.

6:30Also the asphalt, as you see, is cracked.

6:33So there's a need to upgrade

6:35and replace our infrastructure.

6:38The other key driver is that, as I briefly mentioned,

6:40is that we are envisioning more people living downtown

6:44and working downtown.

6:45So in order to facilitate those additional people,

6:48we need to have sort of bigger infrastructure.

6:51The pipes need to be bigger

6:52to have that additional capacity.

6:54Our roads need to be improved.

6:56Our sidewalks need to be improved.

6:57Those types of things.

7:01So these are some images from the work

7:03that's led up to now,

7:06sort of what our future downtown could look like.

7:10So we have the opportunity

7:11when we're replacing that infrastructure

7:13to sort of make it more beautiful.

7:16What is it gonna be for the next 40 to 50 years?

7:19We can build on the things that we currently love

7:21about downtown and make changes

7:23where there's room for improvement.

7:25So the downtown secondary plan was approved by council

7:28way back in 2012.

7:30It kind of set the stage.

7:32We did a streetscape manual.

7:34We've done the EAs

7:36and there's been continuous ongoing work

7:39to get us to this point.

7:41And right now we're at that point

7:43where we're very, very close to construction.

7:46And in fact, some of it has started.

7:49The core theme that has come up through public engagement

7:53is that downtown is Guelph's hub

7:55and gathering place for residents and visitors.

7:59We want it to be a place that's alive with people.

8:01We want successful businesses.

8:03So let's make it even more beautiful

8:05and even more inviting for everyone.

8:09So I mentioned earlier, this is a 12 plus year plan.

8:14So you can see the phases broken up.

8:16Each phase is a different color.

8:19Phase zero is kind of dotted in the bottom

8:21with Wellington and Wyndham.

8:24Wellington is almost at a point where it's completed.

8:27Phase one is Wyndham Street.

8:31And we'll get into a little bit more details

8:32because it's phase one,

8:33we've gotten into the detailed design

8:35and construction sequencing.

8:37Phase two is Macdonnell Street.

8:40And then we do have phases three through nine after that.

8:44We will be taking a look at this plan

8:47as we go sort of in between each phase.

8:50We're looking at it, are there other development pressures?

8:53Are there other things?

8:53Do we need to switch things around?

8:55So this is the plan now,

8:57sets it out for sort of the next 12 years.

8:59But it can change in between phases.

9:03So there's a timeline associated with this

9:05on the next slide that sort of sets out that timeline.

9:09So Wyndham or Wellington Street,

9:12which you see under construction now

9:13is supposed to be finished up this year.

9:16Wyndham Street will start in 2026

9:19and is expected to take 2026 and 2027.

9:22Then we'll move on to Macdonnell Street,

9:24which includes the Macdonnell Bridge.

9:26And again, we have to carefully time

9:28that bridge because we,

9:30with other bridges construction that's happening,

9:32so that we have appropriate connections through the city.

9:34So then that's expected to take two years.

9:37So those timelines we feel fairly certain about

9:40working with contractors that have been helping us

9:44develop this plan.

9:45And then beyond that, it gets a little less certain,

9:48but still this is what we would anticipate.

9:51But again, building in that flexibility

9:53for things to change and adapt to different pressures

9:56that happen over time.

9:59So how is construction going to work?

10:05So this outline sort of phase one right now,

10:09it includes Wyndham Street kind of from Farmore Street

10:13and includes St. George's Square.

10:16And then we've worked sort of about how to sequence it

10:22so that it has the least amount of impact on downtown,

10:26although we do recognize that it will be impactful.

10:29And that's why we've been talking to many of our businesses

10:31and the public for a good number of years already,

10:35hoping to get prepared for it.

10:38So you can see three different sort of work areas

10:41or work zones.

10:43Many of these will overlap in time and space,

10:48but there's sort of different timelines associated with them.

10:51So if you click once, I think it'll show us.

10:54So we're gonna start sort of at the south end

10:57in April of 2026.

10:59And we actually will go all the way from Farmore Street

11:03all the way up to St. George's Square,

11:05but we anticipate being finished to Macdonnell

11:09by July of 2026, or sorry, Cardin.

11:13And the reason for this is that we need to facilitate movement

11:16in and out of related to transit.

11:21And then that next middle section will likely be impacted

11:25for most of the duration of construction.

11:27So April 26th, all the way to November of 2027.

11:31But when we do have our contractor fully on board

11:34and as work progresses,

11:36we will work to open up the roads as possible

11:39or when it's possible.

11:41The northerly portion, we delayed the start a little bit.

11:44And the reason for that is that Baker and the library

11:49will be opening in late 2026.

11:52So that includes quite a significant number

11:55of parking spaces, over 150 parking spaces.

11:57So that we make sure that the northerly part of downtown

12:00has always got some parking available,

12:03whether it's sort of on street on Wyndham today

12:05or then in the Baker Parkade,

12:07we've delayed the start of that construction

12:09so that the projects work together better

12:12for downtown overall.

12:18So during construction, Wyndham Street

12:22will be fully closed to vehicular traffic.

12:24We are permitting extended work hours,

12:28but we don't anticipate that the contractor

12:30would be using these all throughout the whole thing,

12:33but at certain times of the project,

12:35they may need a little bit more flexibility.

12:38We are including incentive and disincentive clauses

12:42in our tender to hopefully encourage them

12:46to meet milestones on time or early.

12:50And then we should expect that there will be

12:52seasonal shutdowns during the winter.

12:55The amount of construction that's happening

12:57won't be as significant as it is during the summer.

13:05So we also plan to make sure that pedestrians

13:08have access to all businesses throughout

13:10the entire time of construction,

13:12maybe some small windows sort of in the number of hours,

13:16and we will be coordinating those with affected businesses.

13:20We do anticipate trying to minimize

13:23traffic disruptions on Macdonnell.

13:25And again, that's to facilitate transit movement

13:27to Welfth Central Station.

13:30And then we have a full wayfinding strategy coming

13:33and business open signage that will be erected

13:37so that we can tell people how to get around downtown

13:40from parking, from where they're gonna park their bikes

13:44to the different businesses and those types of things.

13:47Making it as easy as possible,

13:49again, recognizing it's gonna be tricky.

13:53All unloading and, sorry, unloading and loading.

13:57So again, those deliveries that businesses need,

14:00we're gonna be working to coordinate them

14:02throughout construction.

14:04And some of the larger deliveries

14:06that are harder to move from place to place,

14:09we will work with our contractor

14:10to have them move deliveries as needed.

14:14Off-street parking will obviously not be available

14:16along Windham Street, but we will be replacing

14:19sort of those number of spaces

14:21with the Macdonnell parking lot, making it complimentary.

14:27So a big part of our discussions to date

14:29have been about construction mitigation.

14:31How do we recognize that it's gonna be impactful?

14:34So how do we mitigate those impacts

14:37for businesses, for residents, for visitors?

14:42And it's tricky in the downtown area.

14:45So over the last few years,

14:47we've been collecting sort of thoughts, ideas,

14:51concerns in order to develop

14:53sort of a comprehensive mitigation plan.

14:57We've been getting those from downtown business owners,

14:59downtown employees, residents, visitors,

15:02as well as other municipalities

15:04that have recently undergone something like this.

15:06They've reconstructed their downtown.

15:10We also recognize that the needs may change

15:12as we get closer to construction,

15:13as we move through construction.

15:15So we want our construction mitigation plan

15:17to have a certain amount of flexibility

15:19to be able to adapt those changing needs.

15:22And then also we've learned

15:24that a lot of our downtown businesses have different needs.

15:27So trying to do things for the collective,

15:32all of the business owners,

15:33recognizing they all have different needs

15:35has been interesting and we've learned a lot.

15:39So generally our construction mitigation

15:41fits into four categories,

15:43construction pace, phasing and staging,

15:45communication and information sharing,

15:48direct construction supports,

15:49and then our business support plan.

15:53So under the category of construction,

15:55pace, phasing and staging,

15:57these are things we've talked about a little bit.

15:59Expedited construction,

16:01so getting all of Wyndham done in two years,

16:04extended construction work hours,

16:07staging to coordinate with Baker.

16:09We are having some of our utility providers

16:12do their replacements ahead of construction,

16:14so it's less disruptive,

16:16less time that it's a full road closure,

16:18and then those incentive and disincentive clauses

16:21within our tender documents.

16:25So communications and information sharing,

16:28we're developing an extensive communication plan,

16:32plan to provide sort of frequent

16:33and continuous construction updates.

16:35We're gonna have the ability to target them

16:37at specific blocks of businesses

16:39and how, if they're gonna be impacted

16:41in a particular way that week or the following week,

16:45we've been developing our downtown update newsletter,

16:49which helps us broadcast information more broadly,

16:52and we've also developed the fun-named

16:56Digible Download webpage,

16:58which is where you can get the update

16:59on what's happening in construction

17:01for the next month, two months, three months,

17:04and then as we're actually in construction,

17:06we may have to refine that timeline,

17:08like this is happening this week,

17:09this is happening next week, those types of things.

17:12So what we did learn from other municipalities

17:14was communicating early and communicating often

17:16is very, very important, particularly as businesses

17:20are trying to do their business.

17:23One of the other ideas is a construction liaison group

17:27or street captains.

17:28So this is a group of people that, you know,

17:31one person represents that block of businesses,

17:34and then we can pull that group together.

17:37Information can funnel from businesses

17:39through that person to us,

17:40or us to that person and able to businesses.

17:43So it's just one additional way.

17:46And then of course, ongoing communication with the DGBA,

17:50as they are the elected representatives

17:52of the downtown business community.

17:54So making sure that we keep that group up to date.

18:00Direct construction supports.

18:02These are things like we're having

18:05a downtown construction office,

18:08and you may have heard of Digible Download,

18:10or Downtown Day, which is on September the 18th.

18:13And part of that day is the grand opening

18:15of our downtown construction office,

18:18which actually is a shared space with the DGBA.

18:22Our downtown ambassador is a city staff member

18:25that sort of her job is to help coordinate business needs

18:29with the project and with the contractor.

18:32So she has started already, her name is Maxine.

18:36She will be working primarily

18:37out of that downtown construction office

18:39for somebody that's easily available for business owners.

18:42And the public to contact should be out and about downtown.

18:47And then we can resolve issues quickly for businesses.

18:52The complimentary alternative parking

18:54that I talked about, wayfinding that I talked about,

18:57how do people get around, maintaining access to businesses,

19:01those business delivery access plans,

19:03how do we get things into businesses,

19:06how do we get things out of businesses.

19:09Facilitating quick stops and accessible parking.

19:11So this is one that we're looking at in terms

19:13of how we stage our construction,

19:15where the side streets come into meet window.

19:18They'll obviously sort of dead end

19:20for the duration of construction

19:22and how do we design those dead ends

19:24to provide opportunities for like quick stops

19:27like those 15 minute parking spaces

19:29or accessible parking spaces

19:30or other spots to sort of meet customers

19:33to pick up and drop off goods.

19:35And then enhanced safety measures.

19:39So instead of having sort of boring old plain fencing,

19:43can we have decorative boarding that has pictures on it

19:47or invites people to interact with construction,

19:49those types of things, instead of sort of lighting

19:54that just lights it up,

19:55can it be a little bit more decorative

19:56and help us create a fun atmosphere

19:59that kind of centers on that construction theme.

20:04We have been exploring a parking shuttle.

20:06There have been a lot of roadblocks

20:09for lack of a better term story,

20:12related to a parking shuttle.

20:13So I'm not sure that's going to be particularly useful

20:16in our instance, but that is something that we are exploring.

20:21And then lastly, the bucket of business support plan,

20:25which Christine and Alex have extensively helped us.

20:29So thank you for that.

20:31Creating a marketing strategy

20:33to continue to attract people downtown,

20:37providing those training in business consulting services,

20:40a downtown event grant.

20:42So can we provide additional funds to the DGBA

20:45to enhance their downtown events,

20:47again, attracting more people,

20:49construction information package and checklist for businesses.

20:52So things to help them prepare and be ready,

20:55enhanced cleaning services,

20:57like providing window cleaning services

20:58and those types of things,

21:00construction tours and then a fee reduction

21:04for our seasonal patio program during construction.

21:08So that's all fun, but the even more fun stuff

21:12or that has gotten a lot of people excited

21:15is the proposed future design of St. George's Square.

21:21So the recommended concept envisions the square

21:23as a public open space,

21:25designated as an active urban plaza,

21:29with an emphasis towards creating a community space

21:31for a wide range of events and activities.

21:34So the general idea is that we want this space

21:37to be activated every day through sort of everyday use,

21:41but then also have the flexibility

21:43that it can accommodate those larger events,

21:45things like spirit of the season,

21:47things like art on the street,

21:49or whatever else might be dreamt up in the future.

21:52So we tried to build a lot of flexibility into this plan.

21:56There are pieces that are fixed,

21:58some of those larger planters don't move,

22:01but again, that's sort of looking to satisfy

22:04the desire to have a larger tree canopy.

22:07So with that, you need the soil volume to support it.

22:11We have in the bottom corner there,

22:14right now it's a little,

22:15it will be sort of reduced in size,

22:17but it's an area for play.

22:20It'll be an interactive structure

22:22that people can climb on or have photo opportunities with.

22:26So again, we want this to be an inviting outdoor space

22:30that's sort of utilized all year round.

22:33It's a destination for people of all ages

22:35and in all seasons.

22:39So just some sort of pictures,

22:41a little bit zoomed into the different areas.

22:43So the top left picture, you're looking at the area

22:47that today is known as the Timidy Court,

22:50so that play area.

22:51Can't see it, it's behind the tree,

22:52but the giant heart that was recently installed,

22:56a shade structure that also helps

22:58with the bus stop that's there.

23:02But again, a lot of open space,

23:04like the umbrellas that you see are all gonna be movable,

23:06so we can create open spaces.

23:09The top right corner is sort of looking

23:10at old Quebec Street shops.

23:12So one of our big moves was moving the family fountain

23:15from where it currently is over to that quadrant

23:19to sort of activate that space.

23:21And the other thing that does is allows

23:23for the westerly side of Wyndham Street

23:27to be one big space without closing down Wyndham Street.

23:31So that was the other thought there.

23:33The other thing we've done in front of old Quebec Street shops

23:35is sort of opened it up,

23:37so there's not a retaining wall that cuts off the space.

23:39So a larger wider set of stairs

23:42that provides that connection,

23:44but also can provide opportunities for informal seating.

23:50In the bottom left, you can see that we're looking at

23:53sort of where the Banca Matriol and Post Office are.

23:56Again, at the top of this area is where there's like

23:59a raised area that could be a stage.

24:02So like the Friday noon hour concerts that can happen there,

24:06there's other performances that happen

24:08at St. George's Square.

24:09So it's sort of a built-in stage

24:11that helps us work with the grade change.

24:15And then the bottom right is just the closer upshot

24:17of the fountain in its new location.

24:22And we have a few other images.

24:26Again, just different things.

24:28These really, people seem to be really excited about that.

24:31They're called seating pebbles.

24:32So they help provide sort of a barrier to a degree,

24:36but also informal seating and they're just fun.

24:40And then you can see, if you look at it just the right way,

24:43how the heart can frame the fountain,

24:46which people seem to love both the heart and the fountain.

24:49So that's something fun too.

24:51So these are draft concepts still.

24:55They will be presented a slightly further evolved version

24:58of these will be presented next week at Digible Downtown.

25:03Just as we continue to work on the little details there.

25:07But again, trying the goal was to create a space

25:09that could be used every day, but also for those big events.

25:15And I think that's basically it.

25:18So we are having to answer any questions

25:22and then that the committee might have.

25:26You also have some draft motions.

25:27And there are, oh yeah, okay.

25:28They're on the next slide actually.

25:39Any questions or comments?

25:45Just that one's you'll have kind of picking up

25:48from our previous committee, Susan's drum

25:51that she was always beating,

25:52the 12, 200 by Centennial coming up.

25:56Well, I don't imagine then that'll be able to be done

26:00downtown with that schedule.

26:03Is that correct?

26:04That is correct.

26:05See for the square.

26:06And what?

26:07It won't be able to be done on Windham Street, but.

26:10Oh yeah, by Centennial we'll still be able to have it,

26:12but not in this space.

26:13Yes, but there's still Market Square and yeah.

26:16Yeah, well, we had several counselors ask a lot.

26:23Can we please?

26:25There seems to be no amount of money

26:26that will make it happen.

26:28Okay.

26:31Dennis?

26:34So I'm very excited about what is happening downtown.

26:39We moved three years ago to Guelph

26:41because we liked the downtown area.

26:43It reminded us of Europe.

26:45And so you can hear we are from Europe.

26:47So we like that it's walkable and has this charm

26:51that we missed in many other cities here in North America.

26:55But of course to get through these two years of construction,

26:59I think a lot of business owners downtown are a bit scared,

27:03but it's good to see what you came up with

27:07to help overcome this time.

27:11Can you tell me a little bit more about the reduction

27:15of the patio fees?

27:16Why is it a reduction and not maybe a waiver

27:20for those two years or?

27:22I can start and then Alex,

27:23you can jump in as our patio expert.

27:26The idea for the reduction was council

27:29did indicate that the seasonal patio program

27:32sort of cover its own costs.

27:34So we figure with the change in number of patios

27:37and the work that has to be done,

27:39we can reduce the fees to a certain degree.

27:41Probably 50% is what we were thinking.

27:44And that would still cover the cost of the patio program.

27:47And if there are shortfalls,

27:48we will sort of cover the costs.

27:50We will sort of cover those out of the construction,

27:54downtown infrastructure budget and our mitigation budget.

27:58But again, we're just trying to balance those two things,

28:01like council's direction that it covered the cost

28:05for the program, like the program cover its own costs

28:08with mitigation.

28:10So that balanced approach between the two.

28:13Yeah, and just confirming,

28:15the seasonal patio program does cost the city money to run.

28:20We have to put barriers out,

28:21we have to fill them with water, that sort of thing.

28:23So those are the costs we're talking about recovering,

28:25but with this reduction,

28:27so we're still trying to encourage patio

28:30to being installed where they can be.

28:33And so we're hoping that this also acts as a little bit

28:36of an incentive where people will bring patios online,

28:40still even if there is construction.

28:43Okay, but if someone can't put up its patio,

28:46it's not that they have to pay 50%,

28:49then they just skip until they can put it up again.

28:52Correct.

28:52Just to clarify.

28:53Yeah, that's correct.

28:55Okay, good, because I had different things,

28:57so this is good to hear.

28:59Yeah.

29:00Yeah.

29:01Thank you.

29:06Thank you, Kristal.

29:10Oh, you're muted.

29:11Yeah, thank you, sorry.

29:13And I'm sorry if this is a sore spot,

29:16but I do have to ask just because I also,

29:19full disclosure, sit on the DGBA board.

29:21Is there, there was discussion

29:24about the placement of the washroom area.

29:27Has that been resolved at all,

29:28or do you anticipate anything happening with that change

29:33or proposed change?

29:36I know it's a hard topic.

29:38Sort of, I mean, the DGBA did provide those comments

29:42when they commented at many of the hall,

29:45but I would counsel directed us to keep it there.

29:49So it is a counsel decision.

29:50So at this point, it is staying there.

29:53Okay, thank you.

29:57Erin?

30:00Yeah, I'm not sure that these are gonna be questions,

30:03but I just thought I would share a couple of comments.

30:06As a business owner, one of our businesses

30:08recently had some adjacent construction

30:11that was very brief compared to this kind of a project.

30:16But one of the things that came up for us was,

30:21every now and then there would be a phase of the project

30:25that we didn't know was coming up,

30:27and we would need to reach out to somebody

30:30to say like, how long is this gonna be?

30:32Is there a way to delay this to a time

30:35that we're not gonna be open,

30:36or it's blocking client parking?

30:41There's an issue with this.

30:42So for us, we were able to just reach out directly

30:44to our landlord.

30:47And so I would just say that that's gonna be something

30:49that the businesses are really gonna need,

30:51a point of contact about who is the most direct contact

30:56if something comes up unexpectedly,

30:59or kind of last minute or delayed or something like that

31:02throughout the project.

31:05And then my other comment is just about

31:08visibility of the businesses.

31:10I know people are pretty used to seeing

31:12still open during construction and that kind of thing,

31:15but I imagine if I was one of those businesses,

31:20I would wanna know what that's gonna look like,

31:24how to encourage people to still visit,

31:27how do not only the businesses know what to do

31:30during the project, but how is that message

31:33getting out to the public so that they can know

31:35how to continue to visit?

31:38So yeah, not a question, but those would be my top concerns

31:43if this was one of my businesses.

31:46Great, thank you.

31:48We do intend for that downtown construction ambassador

31:50to fill that role.

31:52And Maxine is already making connections

31:54with many of the existing businesses,

31:56so they have her contact information now

31:58and can reach out with questions,

32:00and then she'll be that person

32:01that's sort of out and about and around and accessible.

32:05That's the sort of goal of her role.

32:08So thank you for that comment.

32:09It confirms that we went in the right direction.

32:12And we will continue to sort of build those relationships

32:15and make those connections so everybody feels

32:17that they have a place to go.

32:29There.

32:30Okay, so a little patience as we limp through procedurally

32:36this next part here.

32:37So draft recommendations.

32:40So sorry, Alex, you were saying,

32:42I didn't quite catch everything you were saying.

32:43Yes, what we're asking the committee to recommend

32:49is either if there are considerations

32:51that you haven't felt were identified

32:53and you would like us to consider

32:56as we move through the next kind of phase

32:58before we report to council again and move into this,

33:01if there's anything to consider.

33:03And I heard maybe considering being clear

33:06about point of contact and prioritizing marketing

33:12for visitation to downtown.

33:14So I'll put a motion up up here.

33:17So you can see it in a sec.

33:18Andrew, I'm gonna replace your screen in a second.

33:21And then the second one being

33:23if you support the concept and direction of this work,

33:27we would also ask you to make a recommendation

33:30to support that.

33:31If you don't support it,

33:31you can also say that you don't support it,

33:35but just give me a second, I will add that first one

33:39up on the screen.

33:40Okay.

34:18Oh, all of that.

34:22Okay, sorry, I'm a bit lost on my computer.

34:35I'm used to two screens.

34:36Okay.

34:38So from, particularly from Aaron's comments,

34:41these are the motions that I think I am hearing

34:45if anyone has any suggested edits.

34:50I have one suggestion.

34:54Like right now we are doing like,

34:56I say the phase zero in the well, little one,

34:59one two street.

35:00And we have many business now that are affected there.

35:03If I remember, it's a Chee Hortons or like Wendy's

35:06and the other like business that are affected right now.

35:11Are you planning or could we plan to have like a kind

35:14of wrap up meeting with these like guys

35:17and see what are the feedback from them?

35:20How it was affect the business of them to see

35:23if you can anticipate something when you go moving

35:26to Wellington for me is much more getting the feedback

35:29from the business that are affected right now

35:31to make it better for next year.

35:38Posting like, would we call that feedback meetings?

35:43Yes.

35:44Yes.

35:45Feedback sessions.

35:46Feedback sessions from businesses already affected

35:49on phase zero or on the,

35:51see how we can improve for phase one.

35:54And constantly keeping these after phase one,

35:56to phase two, after phase two, phase three, you know,

36:01cause it'd be like a learning process.

36:04Yeah.

36:07So those are the two motions on Aaron.

36:14Is there any other program in consideration

36:20to help the businesses with the losses

36:24that they're going to be facing?

36:29In like, are you asking financially program?

36:33Like, what are?

36:35Yeah.

36:36Like, I don't know what that would look like

36:39or if other municipalities have considered that.

36:42But I mean, some of these businesses are going to see

36:45a real serious decline in their numbers

36:50and some of them are going to survive this construction.

36:53Like, is there anything they can access

36:56to help them get through this period?

36:59So we have been asked that question a number of times.

37:02Unfortunately, we as the municipality aren't allowed

37:05to provide direct financial support to businesses.

37:07Like that's not permitted in Ontario.

37:10It is something that some has been advocated for

37:14and does exist in other places,

37:17but we aren't allowed to do that in Ontario right now.

37:20So again, the construction mitigation plan

37:24and how it fits into all of those buckets,

37:25those are the things that we can do.

37:28I don't know, Christine, are there any other like,

37:31if there are programs and grants available,

37:33I think we would communicate about them.

37:36But I don't know that there's anything

37:38that we can provide direct support on right now.

37:41Yeah, I don't have much to add to that other than

37:44just ensuring that businesses have the support,

37:47the specialized support they need

37:49for their individual businesses is wrapped up

37:52into that mitigation, the business consultation side

37:56of things while it's not funding.

37:58It has, there is an opportunity to be able to meet

38:01with a business advisor and speak with them directly

38:05about those issues.

38:07And certainly they would be aware of any financing options

38:12through funding agencies or government supports

38:16from other levels of government.

38:18So making those connections is already part of what's in place?

38:23That's correct.

38:26Thanks.

38:30Okay, I don't think procedurally

38:32I can put the motion forward.

38:34So do I have someone who could,

38:36oh, I see Christos got her hand up.

38:40Sorry, I apologize.

38:41I just had one more question.

38:43And I know at some point,

38:47when just about incentives, but I guess maybe not.

38:50I was thinking about the CIP program,

38:53the community improvement programs,

38:54but I don't think that's the new ones come out yet.

38:57Is that correct?

38:59Right now it was, yeah.

39:01He only has a CIP program related to affordable housing.

39:05Okay, thank you.

39:06Yeah, I knew there was something there.

39:07Okay, thank you.

39:10Okay, so procedurally, do I have someone

39:13who could propose this first motion,

39:16that the Economic Development,

39:18Tours and Advisory Committee recommends

39:19that staff prioritize communicating

39:22who is the primary contact for downtown businesses,

39:25encouraging visitation at downtown

39:27and hosting feedback sessions with businesses

39:30that are impacted as they finalize design concepts

39:33for Windham Street and St. George's Square.

39:37Anu, thank you very much.

39:39And then ask for a second, is that correct?

39:42Okay.

39:43And second, Dennis, thank you very much.

39:46So that takes care of the first motion.

39:49Do I have someone to propose the second motion,

39:52that being that the Economic Development,

39:54Tours and Advisory Committee supports the concept

39:57and direction of the Windham Street

39:59and St. George's Square design is presented

40:01in this meeting dated September 9, 2025.

40:06Someone, perfect.

40:08Lucas, thank you very much.

40:09A seconder, Aaron, thank you very kindly.

40:14And I believe that concludes the first presentation.

40:20Moving on to the second order of business,

40:23the One Water Plan presented by Heather Yates

40:26and Josh McDonald.

40:30I see both are online there.

40:31So we will hand it over to those.

40:35And thanks to the Downtown Revitalization

40:39team for your presentation.

40:40Appreciate it.

40:41Thank you.

40:42Thanks, guys.

40:46Great.

40:47All right, on to the One Water Plan.

40:51Vinny, do you have the slides for the One Water Plan?

40:54Yeah, I have.

40:55I'm going to share, thank you very much.

40:57So please let me know if you can see anything relevant.

41:04Oh, yeah.

41:05Okay.

41:06Okay, thank you.

41:11There we go.

41:13Good afternoon, everyone.

41:15I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you today

41:17about the blueprint, the One Water Plan,

41:20which is an integrated water management strategy.

41:23My name is Josh McDonald.

41:24I'm the city of Wells Project Specialists

41:27working on the strategy's development

41:28with Montrose Environmental,

41:30who is our consultant on the project.

41:33Fabio Tonto is the project manager for Montrose.

41:36He is not on the call today.

41:40Next slide, please.

41:43Overview and Purpose.

41:45Next slide, please.

41:47Water Supply Master Plan.

41:49So a little background to start.

41:51Guelph is primarily a groundwater-based community,

41:53and as such, we currently have some limitations

41:56on our existing water availability.

41:58We also have a mandate to grow a residential

42:00and ICI populations significantly

42:02over the next 30-year planning period to 2051.

42:05The updated Water Supply Master Plan aims to ensure

42:08we find, distribute, and maintain a safe

42:10and reliable water supply for both of these growing populations.

42:13Next slide, please.

42:18Water Supply Alternatives.

42:20So Guelph continues to grow.

42:22Water supply is a foundational component

42:23of growth and resilience.

42:25These are listed in order of recommendation preference,

42:28but I'm gonna jump around a little bit

42:30and point to number four first.

42:31We're not here to limit growth.

42:32Our responsibility is to ensure that the community

42:35has a reliable and sustainable foundation to build on,

42:38and of course, we have a mandate to grow.

42:40And number five, of course, we would be derelicting our duty

42:43to the community and the environment if we did not.

42:45So one to three are the options to increase water supply.

42:49I'm gonna point to two and three first.

42:50While the city continues to search for and source

42:53multiple new ground water supply opportunities,

42:55and local surface water sources are a real consideration,

42:59water conservation and efficiency remains a cost-effective

43:01and system-friendly option to create capacity

43:04in our existing water systems.

43:06It optimizes and maximizes our current systems

43:08and creates more opportunity,

43:10all without new sources or a significant capital investment.

43:15Conservation efficiency means stretching

43:16our existing infrastructure longer

43:18to limit the need for costly capital investment.

43:22Speaking of business leaders in a setting like this,

43:23I'm sure you're all familiar with seeking opportunities

43:25internally within your organizations

43:27to expand capacity, production, sales, throughput, whatever,

43:31and integrate growth opportunities

43:34within your existing systems, personnel, structures, et cetera,

43:37before looking to invest capital in new pursuits.

43:40So that's what we're looking to do here.

43:41Simply let's do more with what we already have

43:43before bringing in new resources.

43:46Next slide, please.

43:50So project overview.

43:51So Guelph has had an official

43:53water conservation efficiency strategy for almost 20 years

43:56with individual programs and initiatives

43:57dating earlier than that.

43:59This one water plan is the third iteration

44:01of the water conservation efficiency planning,

44:04with one water as a progressive evolution of that strategy.

44:08So what is one water?

44:10One water is an integrated planning

44:12and implementation approach to manage finite water resources

44:15for long-term resilience and reliability,

44:17meaning both community and ecosystem needs.

44:20So that's a bit of a jargon-y definition.

44:22So what does that actually mean in the city's context?

44:25It means viewing all water as a single and dynamic resource.

44:31The vast majority of water used for all purposes in Guelph

44:34is fresh, clean, processed drinking water.

44:37Do we need high-quality drinking water

44:38for every single use in the city?

44:40Of course not, but most cities, including ours,

44:42have been built around a resilience, sorry, a reliance

44:45on linear piped water infrastructure.

44:48So that means looking at all of our water-related divisions,

44:51namely water services, wastewater, and stormwater,

44:54as parts of one collective whole,

44:56where they may not have been viewed that way before

44:59and where siloed divisional organization structures

45:02may inhibit collaborative or innovative

45:04water-saving opportunities.

45:07When we say innovation, we mean novel ways of doing things

45:09compared to what we've done historically,

45:11not necessarily conceptually groundbreaking

45:14or mind-bendingly complex alternatives,

45:16but just changes to the traditional

45:18and generally accepted way we've done things.

45:24So I'm gonna point to just a couple of things

45:28on the slide that are emboldened.

45:31Water supply is one component

45:33and driver of conservation efficiency,

45:36but it also strives to improve the resilience

45:38and reliability of our water systems by diversifying them,

45:42reduce the dependence on piped water systems,

45:44coordinate water planning and implementation

45:46across different sectors and stakeholders,

45:48such as the community industry,

45:50community industry businesses,

45:52and city of Guelph organization,

45:54and consider the impacts of climate change,

45:56population growth, and urbanization.

45:58Next slide, please.

46:02Project tasks.

46:03So what are the components of developing this one water plan?

46:06First, situational analysis, which is now complete,

46:11which is an assessment of the current state

46:12of water resources and water management in the city

46:15and retrospective look at the previous water conservation

46:19and water efficiency strategy.

46:24Second is a review of initiatives currently in draft form,

46:27which is a review of programming and best practices

46:29at local, provincial, national, and international scales.

46:33So a survey outside of the city of what's happening

46:36in the one water space.

46:38Third, strategic direction,

46:40outlining the vision, goals, objectives,

46:43target water demand reductions, actions,

46:45and KPIs for the new strategy,

46:47something that we're launching into full force right now.

46:52Fourth, an implementation plan,

46:53which comes right on the heels of the strategic direction,

46:56including implementation plans,

46:58monitoring and evaluation, business cases,

47:00and budget requirements.

47:03Fifth is a stakeholder engagement summary.

47:06This work has been, this is for engagement work

47:09that has been ongoing throughout the project,

47:11including internal and external stakeholders

47:13and all community partners.

47:14And then finally, the final project report,

47:17pulling all of that together.

47:20Next slide, please.

47:23The project foundation,

47:25I'm just gonna touch on these very quickly,

47:27inclusive community building, vision and value,

47:29so ensuring that the project reflects

47:31a broad range of perspectives,

47:32promoting fairness and collaboration,

47:34integrating varied voices and perspectives.

47:36Today is an example,

47:38reaching out to our value business and innovation communities,

47:41something we've done and will continue to do,

47:43among other community partners with whom we've connected,

47:46and developing strong partnerships for long-term impact,

47:49so active engagement with ICI sectors,

47:52first nations, disadvantaged communities,

47:54strengthens trust and ensures the project is relevant,

47:56inclusive and beneficial for all community stakeholders.

48:00Next slide, please.

48:03Current programs, some of you might be familiar with these,

48:06if you've engaged with them in your personal lives

48:09or in professional lives.

48:12I'm gonna dial in on two specific incentives

48:15that help articulate where these strategies have been

48:19and where we see them going with the future

48:20of the One Water Plan.

48:22So Royal Flush toilet rebates for homes and businesses,

48:25also not listed here is a similar form of program

48:27incentivizing replacement of inefficient old appliances.

48:31These were considered to be low-hanging fruit and were,

48:33they were easy to incentivize and sell

48:35to the public and businesses broadly.

48:38We saw a huge uptake of these programs

48:41and they were very successful in their heyday.

48:43However, uptake has significantly reduced

48:46and water efficiency is now built

48:48into these products in the marketplace.

48:49So there may no longer be a need to incentivize the market

48:52when efficiency is built into it.

48:56Next I'll point to reuse, water reuse in general,

49:00but particularly rain barrels.

49:03Rain barrel discounts represent a good conceptual baseline

49:06to help articulate an integrated water approach,

49:09though not necessarily the scope

49:12that we're looking to apply this to.

49:15So Rainwater Falls, homeowner collects it,

49:17stores it and uses it when they need it

49:19for a fit for use purpose application

49:21like watering their plants, flowers, et cetera,

49:23rather than using clean, fresh, treated drinking water

49:26for the same purpose.

49:27It's good for the customer,

49:28they don't have to buy that water from the city

49:30and good for the city,

49:31meaning we have that capacity to use elsewhere.

49:33Makes our system more resilient

49:35by decentralizing water consumption during the summer,

49:37which is our peak demand season

49:39and keeps water out of the city's stormwater infrastructure.

49:42This concept of overlapping co-benefit

49:45demonstrates some of the larger opportunities ahead of us

49:47for water reuse or fit for purpose applications

49:49that are the bread and butter

49:51of integrated water management.

49:53Think this concept on a expanded scale.

49:59Next slide please.

50:01Current ICI program.

50:03So we're talking to an ICI audience here.

50:05Listed here are current ICI programs.

50:07Highlighted is WaterSmart Business,

50:09which represents our primary connection

50:11with the ICI community,

50:13where the city provides water audits

50:15and potential funding for water saving initiatives

50:18like water reuse and cooling towers,

50:20other unique operational reuse

50:21and optimization opportunities.

50:23Our work with the ICI community has yielded some notable

50:26and impressive implementations

50:27and wins for both the organizations

50:30that we've connected with and for the city.

50:32However, program update could still be higher

50:35and there's a ton of potential for businesses

50:37and the city to maximize benefits of those programs.

50:41Next slide please.

50:46Okay, ICI and Innovation Community Workshop.

50:49So I'm gonna speak now about how we've integrated

50:51ICI voices and perspectives into the development

50:54of this project thus far,

50:56namely through an ICI and Innovation Community Workshop

50:59that we hosted early this year.

51:02I'll outline the file.

51:03I will outline in the following five slides

51:05the main feedback, takeaways and ideas

51:07that were generated from this workshop.

51:10So we hosted representatives from industrial,

51:12institutional, multi-residential

51:14and environmental organizations for this workshop.

51:17Next slide please.

51:20Some key takeaways.

51:22Metering and sub-metering and ROI are kind of connected there.

51:27Businesses wanted to, on average, a two to four year

51:31return on investment for water projects

51:34or any other kind of project.

51:37So organizations need to be able to measure current

51:41and future use to make a sound business case

51:43and to prove that their investment was worthwhile

51:45to help support the implementation of future water

51:48and energy savings product, saving projects, excuse me.

51:53Lower priority.

51:54Unfortunately, we found that water is not seen overall

51:57as the main driver of efficiency and innovation measures.

52:00Disappointing for us, but energy,

52:03meaning GHG reduction is the top line of that in that area.

52:10There's also not a perception of water scarcity in Guelph,

52:12Ontario or Canada as a whole.

52:14We found that transnational corporations

52:17are going to look at water saving opportunities in Mexico

52:20before they look in Guelph,

52:22simply because that passes the eye test

52:24where they are in Mexico, maybe a desert

52:27in Guelph as a temperate climate.

52:32Benefits stacking.

52:34Fortunately, there's a lot of crossover

52:35between water and energy.

52:37So there are co-benefits and return on investment

52:39based on water or energy saving alone

52:42might not be enough to justify investment,

52:45but together they likely make a more compelling case.

52:49Education and availability.

52:51A lot of people just don't know what they don't know.

52:54We spoke with some big organizations

52:55with dedicated sustainability personnel,

52:59but not every business has this capacity.

53:01So how do we educate people in these facilities

53:03and sustainability type roles,

53:05especially in smaller organizations,

53:07while also making it easy for them

53:09to pursue these initiatives?

53:11Next slide, please.

53:15So some pressures that were articulated in the workshop.

53:18Funding and application.

53:20As mentioned, organizations need to be able

53:21to justify a project.

53:23And additional funding is a way to offset that.

53:27Getting funding can be a challenge for multiple reasons.

53:29Examples include complex time consuming applications,

53:33time sensitive execution and others.

53:37Infrastructure.

53:38Aging outdated or incompatible infrastructure systems

53:42can make implementing water conservation efforts challenging.

53:45Stormwater management innovations face obstacles,

53:48such as reusing gray water

53:49and avoiding excessive pipe enhancements.

53:53Regulatory barriers.

53:55Building department regulations create obstacles

53:57for stormwater management.

53:58And there are struggles with siloed programs

54:01and a lack of integrated regulatory support.

54:04And again, education and awareness.

54:06There's lack awareness around water saving opportunities

54:09and incentive programs.

54:11It was noted that contractors and staff need more education

54:14on water efficiency measures and lobbying efforts

54:17to push for leadership driven water plans.

54:20And there needs to be more lobbying efforts

54:23to push for leadership driven water plans.

54:26Next slide, please.

54:30Challenges and gaps.

54:32So some suggestions to improve city services

54:36include accessible technology, ROI and data.

54:39So the headline suggestion here was make it easier,

54:42create one stop shopping for folks

54:44so that they can engage with these programs

54:45and these incentives.

54:47Maintain an active list of technologies and tools

54:49with specific savings potential for each.

54:51Create, creating a return on investment calculator

54:54to clarify business cases.

54:55So supporting people to make those propositions

54:59and dashboards for smart monitoring

55:01to improve usability and things in this area.

55:06Awareness and recognition.

55:08People wanna be acknowledged for the efforts

55:10that they're putting in here, right?

55:12Prioritize promotion to boost awareness of existing programs

55:16and create dedicated programs

55:18for specific audiences and sectors.

55:22Municipal role in collaboration.

55:24So it was noted that to explore more on-site

55:27micro water reuse initiatives

55:29in addition to large scale city solutions.

55:31Excuse me one moment.

55:38Pardon me.

55:39So next slide, please.

55:42Incentivizing opportunities.

55:44Like I just said, awareness and recognition.

55:47People wanna be recognized for their efforts.

55:49Suggestions include highlight

55:51what other businesses are doing successfully,

55:54effectively communicate the city's efforts

55:56and reasons for conservation initiatives,

55:59publicly recognize and acknowledge businesses

56:02making water conservation efforts

56:03through awards and designations.

56:06Financial incentives, reducing expenses

56:09through rebates, lower rates or tax incentives,

56:12creating cross sector incentives that combine energy,

56:15water and other sustainability efforts to maximize impact.

56:19Data and comparisons, centralizing access

56:22to all relevant information in one place,

56:24providing comparative data sharing,

56:26allowing businesses to see

56:27how their water usage compares to others.

56:31City engagement and support,

56:33encouraging city audits and meetings

56:36with businesses to provide tailored guidance

56:38and creating sustainable business community groups

56:40or expo's to encourage idea sharing and collaboration.

56:45Next slide, please.

56:48Corporate value propositions.

56:50One water approach, adapting integrated resource

56:53management principles into the ICI settings.

56:57So considering water as a part

56:59of a broader sustainability strategy for businesses,

57:03not managed in isolation, as I mentioned previously

57:06in terms of energy and other benefits.

57:10Internal coordination and retrofitting opportunities.

57:13So coordination between departments

57:15and water management teams is crucial for efficiency.

57:18Retrofitting existing infrastructure

57:20presents a greater opportunity

57:21than focusing solely on new developments in the sphere.

57:26Economic and business development,

57:28businesses are a specific audience

57:30that may not reside in the municipality,

57:33but can still contribute to overall conservation efforts.

57:37Stronger ties with economic development initiatives

57:39can help promote integrated water strategies

57:41to corporate stakeholders and certification benefits.

57:45So green certification badges or blue certification badges,

57:48if you will, could enhance corporate reputation.

57:51And water conservation efforts could be marketed

57:54as a sustainability commitment

57:55to stakeholders and customers.

57:58So, and just a reminder that those,

58:01all of those points came from a workshop

58:04that we hosted with representatives

58:07from the ICI and innovation communities.

58:12Next slide, please.

58:15So next steps.

58:16I'm gonna speed through this in the interest of time

58:18and highlight that we are currently working on task three

58:21and four, the strategic direction and implementation plan.

58:26We're hosting a second ICI and innovation community workshop

58:29on October 2nd.

58:32And we would like to extend an invite to attend

58:35if you would like to hear more

58:36about the future direction of this plan

58:39and provide feedback at that time.

58:41If this is an area that peaks anybody

58:44on this committee's interest,

58:45we would love to have your input.

58:47And we are also scheduled to have an info report

58:50go to council on November 28th,

58:52which acts as a bit of a de facto finalization date

58:55for this project or substantial completion.

58:58But it will certainly be wrapped up

59:00by the end of the year at least.

59:03Next slide, please.

59:09Excuse me.

59:10So prior to this, just a questions and feedback slides.

59:15So that brings to a conclusion presentation

59:20and open the floor to the committee for any questions,

59:25any feedback on the strategy.

59:28And again, appreciate your time today.

59:40What are some of the highest uses of water in the city?

59:47Like is it residential?

59:49Is it business?

59:50Like what are those highest uses?

59:54I just don't know much about it.

59:57Highest uses.

59:58I mean, we have, we look at it more in terms of

1:00:02like high water users, right?

1:00:06So we have differentiated by sector,

1:00:11residential or ICI.

1:00:13And there are certainly high water users in each of those.

1:00:18And looking forward to our new direction,

1:00:21that's likely to be a little bit more

1:00:23of a targeted approach,

1:00:25where our previous initiatives and programs

1:00:29were sort of just readily available

1:00:32and had just had broad appeal.

1:00:37A lot of those have been exhausted,

1:00:39more nearly exhausted in their clear benefit.

1:00:43So dialing that into those high water users

1:00:46is going to be a likely path forward

1:00:51in the One Water Plan.

1:00:59And what, like could you just give me a couple of examples

1:01:02of like high water users?

1:01:04I just feel like it would be good context for me.

1:01:07I mean, something like an ICI business

1:01:14that uses cooling towers,

1:01:15something like that would be high water use.

1:01:19There are applications of water reuse, for example,

1:01:22where a business would be able to reuse water

1:01:28in a cooling tower process for several reuse cycles.

1:01:33And that would limit the amount of water

1:01:35that they have to use in those processes.

1:01:38Something like that is an example of higher water use.

1:01:43Thanks.

1:01:44And Josh, just to clarify,

1:01:45like a cooling tower is for like computer software,

1:01:49like that sort of thing, right?

1:01:51More for like industrial processes.

1:01:52Industrial, okay.

1:01:53Yeah.

1:01:56Crystal?

1:01:57Oh, sorry.

1:02:00Although if you were saying something like data centers

1:02:02or something like that,

1:02:03that would also yeah, be the inapplicable application for that.

1:02:08I just, thanks for your presentation.

1:02:10I'm just curious,

1:02:11because I work with businesses all the time,

1:02:13what is the level of businesses, two questions, I guess,

1:02:17do you find a lot of businesses reaching out to you

1:02:20to sort of take advantage of the incentives,

1:02:23especially now we're dealing with a lot of businesses

1:02:26that are, you know, they're struggling

1:02:28because of all the stuff going on in the world.

1:02:30And so I can just keep thinking that sometimes

1:02:32it's not a matter of getting extra grants or money,

1:02:34but sometimes cutting back expenses through incentives

1:02:38and things like that.

1:02:39So curious about if you feel that you get businesses,

1:02:43and if I was a business,

1:02:45would I need to be the owner of the business,

1:02:48the property for example?

1:02:49I'm just thinking of sometimes like our store owners

1:02:52or restaurants, for example, is a great example.

1:02:56You know, because they do use a lot of water in restaurants

1:02:59and curious if it would be,

1:03:01if I was wanting to apply for an incentive,

1:03:03would it be the owner of the business

1:03:05or the owner of the building in that case?

1:03:09Yeah, sorry, can you give me the first part

1:03:12of that question again?

1:03:13The first, sorry, that was a long questions.

1:03:15I was just curious if you find that you're getting

1:03:18businesses reaching out to you

1:03:21to take advantage of incentives.

1:03:24So we do, it comes and it goes.

1:03:29You know, there are some businesses

1:03:30that we have high engagement with,

1:03:34and eventually you kind of reach a point

1:03:36of maximizing the potential of savings with those businesses

1:03:40and those tend to fade.

1:03:44But there is still a lot of opportunity out there.

1:03:48There's been a lot of work in the space

1:03:50by some of our programs coordinators

1:03:52to connect businesses together,

1:03:56to continue to try to keep that community afloat

1:04:00that's interested in those savings.

1:04:03I would have to defer to our program,

1:04:05you know, our program's numbers to see where.

1:04:08Oh yeah, no, I'm just curious.

1:04:10That is, you know, year to year.

1:04:12There is interest, like I said in the presentation,

1:04:15it could be higher, it could be more,

1:04:17there's a lot of opportunity out there,

1:04:19but we don't always see the engagement that we'd like to

1:04:25and businesses we need to be able to dial

1:04:28in a little bit better to help them build business cases

1:04:31and see, help them realize the potential around these savings.

1:04:38And then so my second question was,

1:04:40would I be the owner of the business supply

1:04:42or would it be the owner of the building

1:04:43that the business resides in?

1:04:46Right, good question.

1:04:50And you can come back to me if you need to check.

1:04:51Yeah, sure.

1:04:52I'll take that one away.

1:04:57I think it would be both.

1:05:00I mean, it would have to be, if it was a major,

1:05:03it depends on the kind of changes that are being made, right?

1:05:06Like a leak repair would be, you know,

1:05:09something that the building would want to look at,

1:05:13you know, it depends on what the maintenance relationship

1:05:17is like and I would say that it would likely skew more

1:05:20towards the building,

1:05:22but I would say in partnership, right?

1:05:25But there are opportunities to save that,

1:05:30that, you know, of just how water is used

1:05:32that could be implemented in the business.

1:05:35If it's appliances or something like that,

1:05:38that's owned by the business,

1:05:39then that's an option that could happen

1:05:41just through the business directly

1:05:43and then perhaps not necessarily the building owner.

1:05:48Okay, that's great.

1:05:49It's just that through the business center we do,

1:05:51you know, emails and we do newsletters and stuff like that.

1:05:54So some of that stuff could be put out to the businesses

1:05:56if it was applicable, right?

1:05:58Like if I could sort of share that.

1:06:00So yeah, that'd be great if you can let me know.

1:06:03Great, I will make a note of that

1:06:05and I will take that away for our ICI programs coordinator.

1:06:09We're looking for all in any incentives

1:06:11to share with our businesses these days.

1:06:13Okay.

1:06:14Thank you.

1:06:18Erin, did you have a thought?

1:06:21I can also put the motions up on the screen as well.

1:06:29No, thank you.

1:06:35Good to share the motions.

1:06:38Please.

1:06:39Okay, I did draft the first one to include

1:06:43consider engagement tactics that reach landlords

1:06:47and businesses and incentive programs

1:06:49if that feels appropriate based on Kristelle's question.

1:06:55Yeah.

1:06:56Yeah, and then that kind of promoting the incentives

1:07:00makes me feel like Kristelle was saying

1:07:02like the more able they can get out to the businesses

1:07:06about any and all incentives, be good.

1:07:14Questions to that?

1:07:17Does anybody have any other additions to the motion

1:07:22before we move to accept?

1:07:29Okay, so the procedure, I can't do it.

1:07:32Do I have someone willing to recommend

1:07:38accept the motion Kristelle?

1:07:40So that's the first one that the Economic Development

1:07:43Tourism Advisory Committee recommends

1:07:45that staff consider engagement and promotion tactics

1:07:48that reach landlords and businesses, incentive programs

1:07:52as they continue to develop the One Water Plan.

1:07:55Kristelle moves the motion.

1:07:57Do I have someone to second, please?

1:08:00Dennis, thank you very much.

1:08:02So that's the first motion.

1:08:04The second motion that the Economic Development

1:08:06Tourism Advisory Committee supports

1:08:09the One Water Plan direction as presented in the meeting

1:08:11dated today, September 9th, 2025.

1:08:15Someone to Lucas, thank you very much.

1:08:19And someone to second the motion, please.

1:08:22I'll give that to the new.

1:08:24So thank you very much to both Josh and Heather

1:08:28for the presentation.

1:08:30That was very, very interesting, appreciate it.

1:08:33And I believe that takes care of our two items

1:08:39for discussion for today's meeting.

1:08:44Point three, rescheduling meeting date in November.

1:08:47The recommended motion is we move,

1:08:51looks like from the first Wednesday of the month

1:08:53to the second Wednesday to November 25th.

1:08:56Do I have someone who can put that motion forward?

1:09:10No, so, okay, sorry, just clarifying.

1:09:12We're closed November 11th.

1:09:13Okay.

1:09:14So typically we're on Tuesdays.

1:09:15Okay.

1:09:16We're just asking to move it to the Wednesday

1:09:19after November 11th, if that would work for both of us.

1:09:22That's fine for me.

1:09:24Do I have someone to propose the motion?

1:09:28Kristelle, thank you very much.

1:09:30And someone to second, Lucas, thank you very kindly.

1:09:36Takes care of that.

1:09:37So our next meeting will be the day after

1:09:42the remember and stay November 11th.

1:09:47Point four, chair and staff announcements.

1:09:51I don't have anything.

1:09:53I don't have anything.

1:09:54I do not have anything.

1:09:55And I just clarify something there just for sex.

1:09:57So Winnie, will you send an updated calendar

1:10:01for everybody's calendar?

1:10:02Just in case I forget.

1:10:03I already bought myself one.

1:10:04Yeah.

1:10:06Yeah, thanks.

1:10:10Okay.

1:10:10If there's no other than chair and staff announcements,

1:10:13we can move to adjournment.

1:10:15Do I have someone to pose that motion to adjourn?

1:10:24Excellent. Dennis, thank you.

1:10:26And someone to second that.

1:10:28I think we just need one.

1:10:29For one?

1:10:30Yeah.

1:10:31Erin.

1:10:32Perfect.

1:10:33And with that, thank you everybody.

1:10:34Thank you for your extra 11 minutes.

1:10:38I'm so sorry about that.

1:10:40Thanks everybody.

1:10:41Well, thank you.

1:10:42Bye bye.

1:10:42Bye bye everybody.

1:10:43Enjoy.

1:10:44Bye bye.

1:10:45Well, next month, take care.