City Council
November 25, 2025 · 11 recorded decisions · 11,432 words of debate
Decisions
- 6.1 The following motion has been recommended by the Joint Social Services and Land Ambulance Committee: That Guelph City Council calls on the Government of Canada…Carried (13 to 0)
- 7.1 Staff to continue to advocate to the Province for legislative changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to ensure that the issue of renovictions is being addressed…Carried (13 to 0)
- 7.1 Staff to draft a rental renovation by-law and a rental replacement by-law for Council approval by June 30, 2026, subject to the inclusion of $640 thousand, funded from the Affordable Housing reserve (119) in the 2026 budget update.Carried (13 to 0)
- 7.1 Staff to draft a rental renovation by-law and a rental replacement by-law for Council approval by June 30, 2026, subject to the inclusion of $640 thousand, funded from the Affordable Housing reserve (119) in the 2026 budget update.Carried (13 to 0)
- 7.1 Staff to draft a complaint-based vacant home tax by-law for Council approval, with a vacant home tax rate of four per cent, subject to the inclusion of $275,000 in estimated expenditures and estimated program revenues (based on a four per cent tax rate), in…Carried (13 to 0)
- 7.1 Guelph City Council opposes provisions in Schedule 12 of Bill 60 which weaken tenant rights with respect to due process and notice surrounding evictions…Carried (13 to 0)
- 7.2 Project budget of $3,406,150 be funded through the Housing Accelerator Fund, and this capital project budget be set-up through the Q3 Budget Monitoring report.Carried (13 to 0)
- 7.2 Endorse exploring an expanded City role in delivering affordable housing through options two and three, as described in this report, depending on the site-specific context…Carried (13 to 0)
- 7.3 Councillor Busuttil be appointed as the Joint Social Services and Land Ambulance Committee chair/vice-chair for a term ending November 15, 2026…Carried (13 to 0)
Routine business (2)adopting minutes, adjourning and similar
The whole meeting, as text
Transcribed automatically from the City’s recording. Times run from the start of the recording, which begins before the meeting is called to order.
Read the full transcript (11,432 words)
10:19Okay, hi everybody. It's
10:21Ready to call the meeting to order. It's Tuesday November the 25th, and it is just after six o'clock. So this is our city council meeting and
10:34We're going to start off right away with asking you to stand if you are able so that we can recognize our national anthem
10:43All right. Thanks everyone. It's the moment of silent reflection before we move on
12:14Thank you so much and our territorial acknowledgement as we gather
12:30Let us take time to reflect on our privilege to live and work here in Guelph a city built over rich indigenous histories
12:37His guests here we should reflect upon the responsibility to care for this land and the people who live here today and the generations to come
12:45If our actions today can move us towards reconciliation
12:48We should take pause and make those decisions with intention and gratitude
12:53This place we call Guelph has served as traditional lands and a place of refuge for many peoples over time
12:58But more specifically the Anuannaraq and the Hone Nishoni
13:02This land is as is also held as the treaty lands and territory with the Mississaugas of the credit first nation
13:09And Guelph lies directly adjacent to the Haldeman track and as part of a long established traditional hunting grounds for the six nations of the Grand River
13:17Many first nations inuit and Métis people who have come from across Turtle Island
13:21Call Guelph home today
13:25Alright, thank you everyone. Is there any disclosure of pecuniary interest or any general nature thereof for the items in front of us?
13:33Don't hear or see anything
13:37So I'll consider that matter closed and
13:41Right off the top. We do have confirmation of open minutes
13:45Pop up on the screen here that the minutes of the open council meeting held October 15th
13:5228th and 29th and the open minutes of the committee the whole held on October 7th 2025 be confirmed as
13:59Recorded and without being read
14:01Would anyone like to jump on that one for me? Alts will help me. How's there will second that perfect anything else on those minutes anybody?
14:11Hearing and seeing none. I'm gonna call the vote anyone against the minutes
14:16Nobody so that's unanimous
14:19Thank you moving along we have our consent report the diversity plan for the Guelph police services board and
14:27The city of Guelph source protection plan proposed amendments and endorsement
14:31Those are the only two would someone be willing to move those or let me first ask does anyone need them?
14:37Hold it all
14:39No, okay, I saw a couple hands come up here. I think Richardson and Colosson. Thank you. We'll move consent. Is there anything further on that?
14:46Hearing none, I'll call the vote is anyone against those consent items
14:52Hearing none that is
14:54Unanimous, thank you. We also have the council consent agenda
15:00With only one item on there, which is the Ontario big city mayor's
15:04Resolution on paramedic safety and violence against paramedics. Do you mind giving me 30 seconds?
15:12Thank you. So would someone be willing to move and second it for me, okay?
15:16I'll go I'll go
15:18Quran and I'll go Richardson. Thank you
15:23So just kind of following the bouncing ball here a little bit the Ontario big city mayor's caucus
15:27we actually passed this at AMO up in our AMO meeting
15:33along with Marco, which is the the other group of mayors and
15:37When that would pass unanimously it was sort of asked if we could bring this to all of our
15:43municipalities to try to gain some speed around this issue
15:47Because it really did a revolve a lot about paramedics
15:51It was brought first to the joint social services and land ambulance committee with the county and that was where
15:58This was originally placed and it too was passed unanimously there at the committee level
16:05As you follow the bouncing ball now usually things that have anything to do with land ambulance and such can then come back to us here
16:13looking to endorse as well and
16:15Basically what it is in a nutshell is that we are asking the federal government to look to amend the criminal code to
16:22Bring in protections for first responders, especially as an example of our paramedics that are not, you know
16:28under the same sort of category as
16:30Other peace officers would be for violence against them at all
16:34And I think it does send a good statement of that advocacy work to try to do that. That's my 30 seconds
16:41I hope that was okay. Any questions?
16:44No moved and seconded. I'll follow the vote. Is anyone against that advocacy?
16:49No one thank you everybody. That's
16:52unanimous as well
16:54So now we're moving into the items for discussion because we might have a couple of not might we do have a couple of
16:59Delegations here and there the first one is the affordable housing programming and policy update with one
17:06Delegation which is Ken Thompson Thompson, which I think will be here in person is Ken here. Yes, come on down Ken
17:13Thank you and for anyone delegating tonight. Just so you know no more than five minutes
17:21You will hear a chime at the four minute and thirty second mark
17:25Which gives you your thirty second warning and then that means that the five minute mark your microphone is turned off
17:32And we don't like that when that happens
17:34So please make sure that when you hear that warning that you know your time is almost up
17:38Stick around after your delegation just in case there's a follow-up question for myself or my colleagues, okay?
17:43Ken, thank you very much for joining us tonight, and I'll turn the floor over to you
17:48Thank you. I'll be less than five minutes
17:51Good evening staff council and mayor Guthrie
17:54My name is Ken Thompson, and I'm pleased to be delegating this evening on behalf of the vacant housing tax working group of get involved
18:00Guelph a community organization that supports residents in being active participants in local decision-making
18:06I addressed this body on this issue previously and tonight. I'm offering a few thoughts about how
18:11We think that the tax should be implemented to ensure maximum efficacy and also garner the most community support
18:18We as you know are strongly in favor of a vacancy tax at 4% of assessed value as are
18:24Over 810 Guelph residents who signed an informal petition on our website as of this morning
18:31Although we would have preferred the tax to be implemented by a mandatory declaration
18:35We understand that urgency and resource constraints favor a complaint-based system at this time this approach will certainly
18:42Make progress on the vacancy issue
18:45But for reasons of equity and program effectiveness
18:48We still believe that Guelph's tax will eventually need mandatory declaration at least periodically to sort of census or inventory
18:55The vacant vacant units in town
18:57Tonight I wish to share five quick suggestions for implementing the vacancy tax first the staff report
19:04Indicates that self declaration will be an option which of course has merit
19:08However in Hamilton 90% of vacant units were not declared and this was with a mandatory declaration
19:14We believe that Guelph's vacancy tax should include an incentive for property owners to self declare for example
19:19self-declare properties could be taxed at 3.5% instead of 4% which amounts to
19:242500 saved annually on a $500,000 home so a reasonable incentive as currently designed
19:30It is not rational for owners to self declare rather. It's rational to wait and hope that nobody notices your vacant home
19:36Second as noted at committee of the whole there are compassionate circumstances such as when the owner of a property has passed away
19:43Where I think a lot of people feel that two years is simply not enough time to act on a home
19:47We suggest that you all consider
19:50Extending the compassionate exemption period to three years instead of the currently proposed two
19:55Third it's deeply unfortunate that properties zoned as multi multi residential are exempt from the vacancy tax due to provincial legislation
20:03We recommend that the city appeal to the province to empower municipalities to apply a vacancy tax to multi residential buildings
20:10Fourth public education and consultation will be critical as the vacancy taxes rolled out in my experience
20:17Many objections to this policy stem from simple misunderstandings about exemptions
20:22For example if a retired homeowner takes a long vacation or spends several months at a cottage after spending six months in Florida
20:30Their principal residence in Guelph will in fact be exempt from the tax
20:34That same exemption applies if a professor or other professional takes a sabbatical and
20:39homeowners will not be taxed for
20:42vacant basement suites or secondary suites as the property of the primary residence is exempt from the tax
20:47We believe that the city should invest in public education and outreach through town halls and have your say campaign over the next year
20:54Fifth and finally we believe it would be prudent to treat the first year of the vacancy tax as an open pilot project
21:01With a complete public review at the end of the year
21:03If exemptions are adjusted in year two refunds should be issued to homeowners to maintain consistency and fairness from year one to year two
21:11In conclusion we encourage council to implement a vacancy tax as soon as possible to help in some measure alleviate our local housing crisis
21:18The city should incorporate sensible exemptions now while remaining open to further refinement in future with effective consultation in public
21:26Education we believe that the majority of Guelph residents will support this policy. Thank you
21:30Thank you Ken for coming and delegating and is there a follow-up right now for Ken or okay councillor Gibson
21:38Yeah, thank you Ken very much a really thoughtful insights. I do appreciate because I have been spending a lot of time
21:44Um, thinking about this policy, uh, thinking about where I'm going to go this evening with supporting it
21:50Um, you mentioned I'll tell you my biggest hurt. Um, the exemptions exist. We implement the vacancy home tax
21:57I think it's being funded out of the affordable husband reserve this year
22:00It's going to cost a couple hundred thousand dollars to administer
22:04We start sending out notices of potential vacant tax being levied and people scramble
22:10Get into their exemption window fill the home. It solves the problem
22:14So we can look at it two ways
22:16It solves the problem then also what do we do with the operating costs once the problem is solved
22:22I heard you say pilot program
22:24and I I'm wondering if that is
22:27The branch that I use this evening to support simply because I fear
22:31I'll ask you the question
22:33What a one-year review of the program be suitable in terms of
22:38Where it's being funded from and the efficacy of its uh of its stated purpose
22:45Okay, see if I know how to do this from last week through you mayor to councillor Gibson
22:51good, um
22:53So I think if you look at the Hamilton year one review
22:58That would have been enough information for the for that city to make an indication that the program was worth continuing
23:04and so I think it's um
23:06I think there will be a lot of information after one year
23:08um to make a good decision about how to continue this into the future
23:13and
23:15I think these types of programs
23:17Naturally the costs change over time
23:21I think there's going to the cost will probably be the highest in the first year
23:24And then I think you'll see the vacancy rate decline a lot as it has been seen in the other municipalities that have implemented the sort of policy
23:32and I think the city can look at um
23:34reducing staffing that's dedicated to this I think it will um, I think eventually reach a fairly steady state that
23:42um
23:42No municipalities in Ontario. I don't think have quite reached yet, but I think
23:46There'll be opportunity for consistent review
23:50Thanks, and I'll take those questions to staff as well the administrative burden. I think
23:56Will be largely unchanging will staff up to administer the tax
24:00The issue that I'm having is if we do solve the problem, which is what we all want to do
24:04um, what happens if we have five vacant homes being taxed and
24:08It's the program ends up costing us right now. We're going to be drawing out of the affordable housing reserve. I believe to fund it
24:14How do we look at this long term?
24:17Anyhow, I'll take those questions to staff and I do appreciate good. I really appreciate your
24:21delegation. Thank you
24:23Thank you
24:24Great. I don't think I see anything more. Thank you again Ken appreciate it
24:30um
24:32With that
24:34There is some correspondence as well my um
24:38Our colleagues on council
24:41So it is back to us
24:43In regards to the recommendations
24:46Can I just get at least someone to table the recommendations for me?
24:50Okay, I'll go with clausen and uh, caron. Okay
24:55Thank you. Now, uh, this is going to
24:59Potentially jump around a little bit. Okay, because we have the motions that were done at committee the whole
25:06And they kind of stayed as they were because we were waiting for the memo
25:10The memo is now here and it has the options here. So we have to sort of table what came from committee of the whole
25:17And then we'll look to maybe amend. Okay based on our conversation that we had at committee the whole and based on where the memo was at
25:24So can I just have
25:27um
25:29The motions put up for us. I think that's what we kind of arranged right? Okay. Okay
25:47So clerks feel free to jump in whenever you want to hold my hand as we walk through this. Okay. Oh
25:57That's okay. I cannot read that fast
26:01Do you I'm sorry. Do you mind if we put that back up? Okay. Cool. Thank you so much
26:06um
26:09One
26:10seems legit, right?
26:13It's advocacy. It's an infrom you know information report
26:17I don't there's really nothing there that I don't think needs to be amended. I think we should all be okay with that
26:22Yeah, so do you mind if we just call the vote on number one?
26:26Okay, councillor gar you go ahead just the question your worship on page seven of the staff memo
26:33They're recommending motions for council consideration
26:36Around advocacy just so that I understand would one two three four on page seven of the report replace number one here
26:43Or be additional to number one here
26:46Yeah, so I don't have it in front of me. I'm only going by memory
26:50But I believe the motions on page seven of the memo are specific to around bill 60
26:56Which is a separate issue. I'd like to do at the end of this
27:01Do you know what I mean? Like I like I want to do renovation and and and and
27:04The vacancy tax and get that settled
27:07And then we'll do the bill 60 advocacy ones that were on page seven
27:11Everyone following me so far. Okay
27:13So I'm going to call the vote. I'll split these out because I have to split them out because I think we're going to amend a couple of them
27:19Right, so I'll call the vote on number one. Okay. Is anyone against the first one?
27:25Nobody okay, perfect. So now on number two
27:30Uh, it looks like maybe you yourself councillor Goller would like to
27:34Table councillor
27:36Downer do you want to table an amendment for for the second one?
27:40Which would be if you can pull it up on the
27:42Screen. Yes. So this is in this is from the memo
27:47um, one of the other
27:49Motions we could do when we talked about having to bring this forward
27:52That's right
27:53And so this brings it back into into q2 instead of the next year and the staff be directed to draft a rental renovation
28:04Bylaw and a rental replacement bylaw for councils approval by june 30 of 2026 subject to the inclusion of
28:11640,000 funded from the affordable housing reserve in the 2026 budget update
28:18So thank you. So I think councillor Goller was moved or do you care? Do you care?
28:23I just moved it. Okay, perfect councillor downer is moving that amendment councillor Goller will second that okay
28:29And just so everyone remembers too
28:31Um, much of this funding has already been put in the budget right before I signed off on the budget
28:37It's already there right so this the money that's in the budget is going to help accelerate this
28:42And then this is the direction for them to go and do it
28:45Okay, so is there any questions on this amendment before I go further?
28:49go on
28:50Well, just speaking to the report. There was a trade-off and resources related to
28:56Pausing on our green development funds. I just need to confirm with staff that that that
29:03This is not enacting that
29:11It's true the mayor to council crown so the the memo does indicate that in order to complete the work on time
29:15We have to make changes to existing work plans and part of that is the cancellation of the green development
29:21framework and standards
29:26Right, that's what I was afraid of
29:32So we have to we so we're making a decision
29:35on the amendment based on the timing of this motion
29:39that we're pausing on green development standards work
29:43And so this that's going to be a really tough decision because we
29:46Both bodies of work are incredibly important to moving our city forward on it on the housing portfolio
29:55So is there anything as a response from staff or is it be or is the choice being laid out as as it's written right now?
30:03So I want to make sure we're fully informed before making any decision to the mayor the the um or through the mayor
30:09to council crown the
30:11It's as written, but I just want to also confirm though. It's not it's not canceling it outright, but we are deferring it
30:18Into a future. It's not that that we're never coming back to that body of work. So I just want to really
30:23Make that clear. It'll be just the deferral the resources
30:27in in the team need to first prioritize this new body of work
30:33before moving
30:35Back to the green development standards. So I just wanted to make that clear
30:39Okay, so a follow-up if I could is okay if this is deliverable in in in june of 2026
30:45The pause is a six month pause then like we'll we'll start the green development framework work
30:54Six months the pause is a six month period because I I just don't want to lose the momentum on that
30:59We've started the public engagement on this and it's pent up work that's been deferred for many years
31:05We're as a city we're we're well behind in this in this type of work green development standards are
31:11You know it enacted years ago in many other municipalities. So if we're talking six months, I can support I can support this amendment and these motions
31:21Reluctantly but I want it on record that it's not because I don't think that these
31:25This by-law work is important because it is I just don't want to lose all the momentum that we've built on the green development work
31:33Sure. So through the mayor, I can confirm that it will be in in the range of that six month timeframe
31:39I can't completely promise that you know as we get into this work that it may extend a little beyond that time period but
31:47The other piece that we're trying to assess and why it's it's actually
31:52We're we're recommending this delay is also because of the legislation that's changed in bill 60 as well
31:59And we may just need to reassess the work that's already been done
32:03and and reevaluate the the scale of that policy and how it's moving forward
32:09So I can I can commit to you will hear from us from staff in 2026 about this work
32:16Whether it is moving forward in its current form or if there's a change in process because of legislation
32:28Yeah, not not to belabor
32:30The the green development standard issue because we did give direction to that issue unanimously by the way
32:37But the real problem is that the provincial legislation has now stopped it's it's made it completely illegal
32:44The cities cannot do green development standards anymore. I was just talking to sorry to kind of go off the cuff here a little bit
32:50But I was talking to a city council around Toronto and they they had the Toronto Act
32:55They have their own kind of stuff that they can do green roofs as an example has a policy in the Toronto area
33:01That's also gone now as well like anything in regards to that matter is gone
33:06And so we were kind of hoping under the green development standards that there was some other
33:11parcels of it that could still move forward, especially I think there was some
33:15Options around how we could leverage some environmental initiatives around
33:19The community permitting planning system and things like that and also for tracking and data and things like that
33:24So I think the even though the legislation is saying you can't do that anymore from a building permit sort of
33:32Position and development. There was still other qualities to the green development standards
33:38That I think were unique that we wanted as a council to move forward on
33:42So yeah, I think as a takeaway there as councillor crown has raised
33:48You know getting back to us
33:50Outside of the scope of the legislation that sort of has killed it
33:53Is still I think something that needs to maybe just be warranted to continue
33:58But we understand why I think if I don't want to put words in your mouth to our CAO, but
34:06Almost without this sort of trade-off option in front of us here
34:10You would have been sort of somewhat pausing because of the legislation
34:13Anyways, am I saying that right?
34:17I don't want to come into a full pause. It's just that we do need to reevaluate
34:22Part like the way in which we were approaching this is now being impacted by bill 60
34:27That's some aspect and we just need to take the time to make sure that we've got it, right?
34:31Yeah, and to your point mayor Guthrie. Absolutely. We know this is still important from
34:37Our environmental and our climate change goals. Yeah
34:40And it's just no longer mandatory. But is there a way that we can continue to still have it from a
34:46guidance or
34:47you know guidelines and
34:49And maybe other incentive programs down the line. So it's still moving forward
34:55But it will be
34:56This this affordable housing work will take priority in the shorter term and then we'll be
35:02Turning our turning those resources back over to the to the green development standards. All right. Thank you for raising it. Councillor Caron
35:09I believe I saw
35:12Okay, you're okay. Councillor Goller. So the only one I have on the list on this amendment is alt
35:16And thank you very much through you to the ceo
35:19I was a bit concerned as well and the clarification is great. It strikes me that essentially what we're doing is
35:26This is in the interest of transparency. This is a work plan revision for the most part based on the
35:32The immediacy of what we are attempting to deal with and the reality of what we cannot deal with. Is that correct?
35:41Uh through the mayor. Yes
35:43Yeah, okay. So could you just throw that amendment back up on the screen just so everyone's clear?
35:53And then we will vote on that
35:57And then we'll move to number three
36:00Okay, I'm gonna call the vote then on just number two. Um
36:07Would this be on the just the amendment? Yeah on just the amendment
36:10Uh anyone against the amendment?
36:13No, okay. Now I'm gonna call the vote on number two on its own as amended. Okay, the main motion number two only as amended
36:22Okay, is anyone against that?
36:24Okay, nobody. Okay, we're gonna move to number three now
36:41and
36:46I guess we'll switch it up Guller. Yeah, and then maybe uh, who wants to throw their hand up to second? Okay, Richardson. Okay, perfect
36:54So this one is on the vacancy home tax that stop be directed to draft the complaint based vacancy home tax
37:01Bylaw for council approval with the vacant home tax rate of 4 percent subject to the inclusion of
37:07275,000 and estimated expenditures funded 160,000 from the affordable housing reserve
37:12And 115,000 from the housing accelerator fund within the 2026 budget update
37:18So again
37:19The money is in there for this to be accelerating and brought on. Okay
37:24Any questions on this one to staff?
37:28Okay, uh, Guller, please. Thank you through your worship. Uh, just a clarification from staff
37:34We had a timeline for the rental replacement. Could you could you help me understand?
37:40Um, when council if council approves this motion, what is the timeline for us to see the vacant home tax
37:46being implemented
37:56Through the mayor to councillor Goller the intent would be to have a
38:00Uh, report back to council before the end of q2
38:05Thank you very much. Appreciate that. Thank you worship. All right, and I think gibson maybe just had a follow-up to
38:11Based on some of the delegation
38:13Delegation remarks, so thank you. Over to you mr. Mayor perhaps not for the amendment, but for the main motion
38:18I'll I can ask some questions of staff
38:22Actually, this would be the time to do it because number one is fully done number two is
38:26No problem. So now's the time to do it. I just I have reservations about the like the policy prescription here to staff
38:35This is not commentary even though sounds like there are questions
38:38Um
38:40When staff gave their initial presentation on this I believe they said there were 50 homes that they projected
38:46That would be considered um
38:49Sort of out of the compliance with the vacant home tax
38:52So we'd be looking to derive that new tax revenue from them
38:56short of exemptions, however
38:58um, how confident are staff that this
39:02policy
39:04will
39:05Net out and and be net neutral in terms of long-term costs. I understand where the funding is coming from
39:12in 26
39:14But with a with a diminishing return on investment as a policy goal
39:17Our policy goal is to have a diminishing return on tax revenue coming into the city
39:23How do the staff?
39:25What are staff's opinions on long-term?
39:28neutrality of this policy and and when
39:31When would they bring a recommendation to staff saying roll this up? It's not worth
39:37The the 20 homes that we're taxing is not worth the 300 000 dollars in in the administrative costs
39:43Is is because I see that as a real outcome
39:45Uh, two to three years down the road as people jump into their exemptions
39:49Although bring forward reasons why they're vacant. They'll start renovations. They'll
39:53They'll look to get tenants like the I believe the revenue will quickly disappear the projected revenue
39:59So how do we prescribe this?
40:03Long term second question
40:06I did like the delegates idea of a pilot program
40:09To bring people into quick compliance
40:12to to sort of use this as a tool to
40:15drive down vacancy in those homes
40:17Uh, but perhaps not
40:20But the threat of the policy is perhaps as just as powerful as the policy itself. Can I have staff's opinion on that?
40:29Through you may or got three day council gives an answer the second question first and then I'll go to the first question
40:35Um from a pilot project perspective. We did discuss that at a staff level
40:41um
40:42The pilot concept would not have the teeth that a full blown program would have
40:48The concern on a pilot project would be that
40:53property owners may just ride it out
40:56and therefore in the second year if it wasn't continued then they wouldn't
41:01um
41:03Have that continued vacant home tax from that perspective. So
41:08um talking with others in the municipal sector, it's about that not only
41:14the
41:16threat of a policy but a firm stance against vacant homes that then help
41:23suede those property owners
41:25to put them back into the marketplace
41:28Okay, um
41:32Okay, councillor gibson councillor gibson
41:35Just I think james is just in the middle of trying to answer the first part of your question too. Is that okay?
41:40Sure, okay
41:42And then going back to the first question
41:45Um, if I remember everything done pack there
41:49staff recommended a two percent
41:52vacant home tax rate and that was sort of the break-even point with
41:56What we assumed might be 50?
41:59vacant homes out there
42:02We don't have any specific data on that yet. Um, that was an assumption based on some information we had at the city and
42:10um
42:13With the vacant home tax going to four percent, obviously that gives us some significant additional revenue
42:21We've seen in other municipalities
42:24um
42:25That while the numbers go down
42:29There are continued properties that will remain vacant and the property owners
42:35Will pay that amount on an annual basis
42:37So even if we went down to that 20 homework
42:42That you suggested there, we would still be relatively in that break-even point. We're going to monitor this continually
42:49We're going to bring information back on an annual basis and if we find that our expenses exceed the actual revenue
42:56We would look at how do we how do we modify that? How do we reduce our expenses?
43:02Do we pull the plug on the program?
43:05Etc. But that would be something that I think we need to make decisions based on real data
43:11Versus assumptions and that's unfortunately all we have at this point
43:16Okay
43:17So thank you. Those are great answers. Um, I've spoken my trepidations on the file
43:23I think that there's if there are 50 homes in our city
43:2750 and there's 50 000 units in our city across the city or 50 000 property owners in our city
43:32You know, we're we're chasing 1% less than 1% of
43:36homes with this administrative tax
43:39Um, I know where the funding is coming from next year. So it's not all on the tax roll
43:43There are sources of funding that come from it
43:46I do appreciate your comments about
43:49monitoring the costs of this program and its efficacy
43:54Um, I won't get into the question of whether or not you can scale the administration because I think I think two people or three people
44:00administering the taxes as about as fine as it can get
44:03I don't think that you're looking to add a department of 10 to do this program. So
44:08um, I will uh support
44:11support with
44:14I don't even want to say caution. I'm happy that we're bringing forward the plan
44:17But I am going to be asking for that feedback loop regularly from staff to ensure that this isn't getting rolled into the tax
44:24the tax roll
44:26And long term being an administrative cost for the city for what amounts to
44:30Probably less than half a percent of units across the city, but I do appreciate your conversations. Thank you
44:41Okay, and thank you conscription. James just wants to just uh state one more comment. Go ahead James
44:46Yeah, I just wanted to jump back in on the motion itself and I may have been confused about the motion
44:54Um, whether it was the accelerated motion that would align from that q2 time frame that I
45:00Answered to councillor goller or the motion where we go to public engagement
45:06Which would then push the program out farther into 26 and therefore there wouldn't be revenue in 26
45:13So I just wanted to go back and just confirm whether I misspoke
45:18Um, we're going to just put it up so that you and others know exactly what we're doing there
45:27And based on that amendment
45:30Does that capture the one that would help us begin this in q2?
45:34Or are you under the impression that this one does not?
45:41I'm gonna call a friend
45:52Notice how only one person came down
45:57Thank you, um through the mayor so this one um with public engagement would take a longer timeline
46:03To do that work and bring it back. So that's why it's got funding sources from the affordable housing reserve and
46:10the half um
46:12So that that would because we would not have revenue expected in 2026 to fund
46:18that work
46:20So to be clear then the other one should be tabled
46:25So
46:26It's okay. We're we're we're getting it getting it figured out
46:31So, um, can we just uh
46:35Let me just do that my normal process. Okay
46:38Would you be willing to remove your?
46:41Motion. Okay. Thank you. And who was the seconder for that? I think it was caron
46:46Richardson. Okay. Are you okay with the removal of that?
46:49Okay, now I have to ask all of council is all of council okay with the removal of this motion
46:56Okay, thank you. It's officially off the table and now we're going to throw up on the screen
47:01The one that is more accelerated. I believe
47:04And um, I think uh, I think we just need the clerks to have a moment
47:14Through you, mr. Mayor. I just need clarification on on what's being moved by one member of council
47:18That is the alternative motion that was provided in the memo. So I just need some clarity from a member of council
47:24Okay, so
47:26um, just yeah, everyone just take a breath. Okay, let's just let uh
47:29Councillor Klassen. I think just emailed something. I just haven't pulled it up yet
47:46Just point of order mayor Guthrie. Yeah, go ahead. My understanding was that the one that we had up on the screen was the alternative one
47:54That we had in the memo
47:57That was the accelerated one. So the original one
48:01There is no other alternative one for the vacant home one other than the one that was originally moved. So
48:08Which one?
48:13It's my understanding. This is the vacant home
48:15tax
48:17portion and in the memo, this is the alternative one that we just saw
48:22Yeah, okay. It's okay. Everybody
48:25James is good to
48:26James and his friend are clear over the headboard
48:29So from a clarity perspective, so the original motion that we brought to committee the hall
48:34Was an accelerated motion
48:37It was for us to come back in q2 of 2026
48:42At the alternative because we heard during committee hall a comment about public engagement
48:47So the alternative motion included in the memo
48:51Allowed for that public engagement piece
48:54But the program wouldn't then be implemented until 2027
48:58So to be clear if we want to stay on the accelerated timeline, we should just ratify what came from committee of the whole
49:05Correct
49:06giddy up
49:09So
49:10What's on the floor right now is exactly what came from committee of the whole because the amendment is now off the table
49:15Okay, everybody. So the staff are good with that. Yes
49:20Okay staying on just the main motion then as is I think karan had her hand up go ahead
49:24Yeah, again a question of clarity because I understood it would be a
49:28Limited public engagement not zero public engagement
49:32And I think when we're creating a brand new bylaw in the history of our city
49:35To say that we're not going to do any public engagement since a really bad message
49:39So I want to I just want to confirm
49:42What level of public engagement because it was my understanding would we do some and there would be there would be an engagement period
49:48But not the robust kind of
49:50Full-on bylaw work that we would normally do that can take up to a year. So just again that that key
49:57nuance is important for my decision making
50:01To know that there will be some community engagement on this significant shift in our policy work
50:08So through the mayor to councillor Caron
50:11I think this itself is part of that public engagement piece that limited public engagement piece where
50:17Members of the public have had opportunities to come and talk to committee the whole
50:21Express their concerns as well as today
50:24um
50:25And that sort of that talks about that accelerated public engagement piece that were allowed
50:31able
50:32To do within the timeline to bring back a bylaw by the end of q2
50:37Okay, so the engagement in this process fully understood. We've had the public come to us
50:41We've had getting gulf gulf and the community say this is a bylaw we want
50:46But now we go out and write the bylaw
50:48so during the process of writing the bylaw and after the bylaw
50:53Has been written and is is is ready for public consumption
50:58There will be no further public engagement other than bringing it to council. Is that
51:03Is that what I understand?
51:05Yes through the mayor to councillor Caron, but through that process
51:08We'll be bringing it back to council the bylaw in full and the public can
51:14Engage again in that process
51:20So just speaking on that engagement process part
51:24Um, like how difficult would it be to still meet the accelerated timeline? But also maybe just do a have your say
51:32Like a have your say survey is at least shareable
51:35Can grab some feedback you're developing the bylaw as a draft anyways
51:39And then and then it's just easy for us as council to sort of amplify the have your say survey
51:45Um, would that would that be?
51:48justified
51:50Yeah, we can take that away and see what we can do from that perspective
51:55um
51:55and work with our cons team and and get
52:00pieces related to that
52:02Okay, so please forgive me as I just uh respond to that a little bit
52:07um
52:08When you when you say take away
52:10Um, does that mean maybe you'll do it or you won't I just want to make sure that we're we're just
52:17You know, I'm I'm asking totally respectfully
52:19I just want to make sure that I think there's a lot of heads nodding in the room
52:23That we would probably like to have at least at a minimum just to have your say
52:27As I said, it's shareable easily
52:29Something for people to engage in
52:31Do you need if we were to really want to?
52:35Push that forward as a council would it be worthwhile to have?
52:39Um a motion that captures that or could we get confirmation from you that yes that will happen or from the c.a.o
52:46That yes that will happen
52:55We will make it happen. Thank you. Okay
53:00um
53:02Bucatil oh
53:06Do you want to go again?
53:08Just a comment. I just want to thank staff for responding
53:10I uh, that was a make or break for me to vote in favor because I actually support the bylaw
53:15But I I don't want to abandon a proper engagement process. So that actually flipped my vote. So thank you
53:23Okay, thank you and Bucatil. Yes. Thank you and thank you for that
53:27clarification
53:28I just a question. I know I've attended ward five
53:32Ward meetings in the past if I were to organize a ward for
53:36Information session open house on this matter would subject matter staff be able to come and
53:41Include some visuals to explain what this is and I've attended open houses here as well
53:46Just uh, this is the night come and walk through and get a sense. It's a one night kind of thing
53:52um
53:53Just because sometimes have your say doesn't engage some of the people that we want to be part of this
53:58Um, so uh through through the mayor to council
54:05I think I think at this point
54:07It's it's a little premature to be able to commit to the different types of engagement tactics that we're going to be
54:14able to deliver and also still meet the the timeline of
54:19of q2
54:20But but you've heard staff and we hear you
54:23We will try to
54:25create kind of
54:27A little bit of light touch engagement maybe on pieces the most impactful pieces of the vacancy tax like the exemption piece
54:34And and so that we can get some feedback, but it but but I just want to clarify
54:40I don't think we're able to commit to like town halls or or those pieces at this at this stage
54:47But we will do our best to work with council. Um as we pull the plan together
54:55Okay, thank you
54:57So seeing nothing further. I only have one question and that was do we need to at this point
55:05Do an amendment similar to what the delegation said about the three year timeline around
55:11You know a death in the family and they're trying to settle an estate or is that something that?
55:16We don't need to give direction on on that particular exemption
55:20It's a takeaway for you as you draft the bylaw and when it comes back
55:24It may it may be shown that it's been moved from two years to three years in that draft before we we look to vote on it
55:31How how would you like that direction? Is it something that you're just taking away then or is it something that we need to say?
55:37Yeah, we want to make sure it's three years
55:40Yeah, we can take that away and we will work at that process during the bylaw
55:45Um, I'd also like to add just for clarity based on some conversation that occurred at committee the whole
55:52um
55:54There's over 45 000
55:57Residentially assessed homes of many different shapes and sizes in wealth some of them being single family detached condos
56:06semi detached
56:08townhomes etc
56:10There's about two percent
56:13overall that are multi unit
56:17That are defined by impact as having more than one primary resident
56:24A residence within that so from a broad perspective that does not include
56:29ADUs basement apartments
56:31etc
56:32So just from a clarity perspective those are not what we're looking at from a vacant home tax perspective
56:39We're going to be using impact data and impact codes
56:42So there's only about two percent that have multiple units that are primary units
56:48within the city of guelph
56:50So that hopefully can provide some
56:55clarity and calmness from that perspective. We appreciate that
57:00Okay, and then the last question I just had was on the ability to
57:05determine
57:07more than just a complaint based system and
57:11So I was just you know
57:13Councils heard me over the past couple of years say that the city of kitchens
57:17They did a deep dive into this
57:20And they what they did is they actually looked at water data
57:25water use data
57:27And over time they could see the houses
57:31that were not
57:33Being used because the water was not being used
57:37Now what was interesting in Kitchener's case?
57:39their council decided at the time not to move ahead with it at all
57:43Because the water data came back and the entire city of Kitchener was only 125 homes
57:50Now you could argue that that's still something that's wrong fair enough
57:54but
57:55The administrative burden and costs to run the program for just 125 homes didn't match out
58:01So their their council actually didn't move forward with it at the time
58:05But regardless of that it's the tool that was used to try to figure that out
58:10So we're trying to do a complaint based system, which I fully agree with that's fine
58:15The whole self declaration part is is probably way too much at this time
58:21But could we look to do what Kitchener did around looking at water usage to see if we can gather our own data
58:29Without relying on the public to do the complaint in the first place
58:37So through you to Mary Guthrie. I think as part of this program
58:41We'll be looking at all of the data sources that may be available to us legally to support the program
58:49Whether it be through a
58:51complaint based program whether it be through
58:54Utilizing other data sources that data that the city may have or other data that's publicly available
59:01But we need to ensure that we're doing that in the right way
59:06All right. I really appreciate that and I mean I I want to rely on the public
59:11I think there's a lot of
59:13People in the public that will probably identify a lot of these from a complaint based position
59:18But if they're I'm just making this up obviously
59:22but if there was a way of like hitting a button
59:24And figuring out with water usage as well like having both of those programs work
59:30Simultaneously the complaint based and the data driven one may earn us more candidates
59:36For this program. That's that's all I'm trying to make my point on so thank you
59:41Okay, so now what we're going to do is we're going to call the vote on just what came forward from committee of the whole
59:45Because that is the accelerated way of doing it. Okay, so I'll call the vote. Is there anyone against that?
59:52That's also unanimous. So that's great
59:57Um, I believe we've captured now
1:00:02So I kind of go to staff and to clerks. We've captured those those main pieces that have flown from committee of the whole
1:00:08perfect now
1:00:10What was on page
1:00:12Seven of the report. I already had a request from councillor Busuttil that would love to move the advocacy pieces
1:00:21around bill 60
1:00:24Guller would you like to second because I know you were just talking about it. Okay
1:00:28Yep, they'll come up on the screen. Yep
1:00:31And look everybody. I'll just talk as they come up on this. Oh, no, it's not. Yeah, I could talk but it's your it's your motion
1:00:37Did you want to say something or would you like me to jump in?
1:00:40If I could you go for it and thank you the mirror and I were chatting about this at the time
1:00:45So this is an advocacy for
1:00:49encouraging
1:00:51asking for broader public
1:00:53provincial action
1:00:54To address renovictions and other tenants rights issues and we all know what happened with bill 60, but it's still
1:01:02Yes, just yesterday still worthwhile to present this
1:01:05As a motion going forward. So thank you for that to the staff and then to council
1:01:12Thank you. And look some people might argue. Well, why are we doing this? It just passed yesterday
1:01:17Right, but just remember, you know, there's always a process with this stuff, right? Yes, it passed, but it's got to go through
1:01:24Regulations, it's got to get royal royal sent, etc
1:01:27So there's always an opportunity here to try to actually have a little bit of advocacy even though something might have just passed the day before
1:01:34So is there any questions on these advocacy pieces or may I call the vote on that? Okay, kateen go ahead
1:01:42Thank you through you, mr. Mayor. I just wanted to agree with you and councillor boost till that there is value in bringing these things forward
1:01:52We're representatives of our community and regardless of whether or not we think we're going to be listened to
1:01:59We should still speak out about these issues because they are important to those we do represent. Thank you
1:02:07Thank you councillor kateen
1:02:10With that i'm going to call. Oh, sorry gibson. Go ahead. Thank you. Yeah, I
1:02:15fine
1:02:16comment
1:02:17fine everyone
1:02:19um, it's just uh
1:02:22Like there's a reason why some of us chose municipal politics
1:02:26This is not it. This is provincial. This is stuff that uh, no, we can weigh in on but
1:02:32We're always weighing in so I
1:02:36I would just I'm gonna I wish I was I wish absentia was an option here because I
1:02:42I find this to be
1:02:44Energy that I'd rather spend on other things but um, because there's lots of bills that I would love to support and but if I bring them to this council
1:02:49They won't support them. They won't support calls to support. So I just
1:02:53Anyway, it is what it is
1:02:56Thank you. Okay. No nuts noted. Thank you
1:02:59I'm gonna call the vote. Is anyone against these advocacy motions?
1:03:05Okay, nobody that's unanimous. Thank you very much
1:03:08Now just one second as I confer with my colleague to the right
1:03:12Everybody I think we're done that suite of policy changes
1:04:04Okay, so thank you very much
1:04:07to staff
1:04:09uh
1:04:11Delegations
1:04:13Community as well on those matters. So thank you very much
1:04:17Okay, we are moving along to our
1:04:23almost last one
1:04:26It is the advancing of the affordable housing on city owned properties
1:04:31and again, this was uh
1:04:34You know just flown from committee of the whole to today, but we do have one delegation
1:04:38And it's a roi
1:04:40Siminowski, I believe who might be joining us by video
1:04:49Hi, roi. It's mayor guthrie. We see that you've joined the meeting
1:04:52We're just wondering if you wanted to turn on your video
1:04:55If you don't want to turn on the video, we also respect that too, but you'd have to unmute then
1:05:00But you would definitely are here. Hi, roi. It looks on the screen like you're still muted to us
1:05:24Do you want to maybe just try unmuting? Okay, we have uh, oh try now
1:05:29I exist
1:05:30Okay, everything is perfect
1:05:33Everything is perfect. Don't don't touch anything
1:05:35I would thank you. All right, you got up to five minutes. Okay, roi go right ahead. I understand
1:05:41Mr. Mayor and members of council, thank you for allowing me to speak this evening about the proposed plan to build on what five
1:05:48Normandy drive in view of my limited time in this
1:05:52Uh, this is an executive summary of my concerns
1:05:55I may
1:05:56They may seem direct or even a bit harsh at times, but I want to stay within my five minutes
1:06:02I hope you understand
1:06:03I have sent each councillor photos via email of the items. I am discussing tonight. I'm sorry. I missed the deadline
1:06:10Most importantly through the presentation
1:06:14Can you still hear me? No, you're on yes. Yes. We can we can hear you fine. Yep. My wife just came and interrupted me
1:06:21I hope I get that time or cover. She didn't think we were I was heard
1:06:26Okay, so most importantly through this presentation
1:06:28I will explain the events that occurred when my son was looking to purchase seven normandy the property adjacent to the proposed
1:06:36development
1:06:37The city told me which was confirmed in writing via email
1:06:42The lot was not for sale and that it could not be built on due to the city services running through it
1:06:48I will explain that more detail
1:06:50Once hearing of this proposal
1:06:53The residents have been reaching out to each other and many have said that when they purchased their property abutting this lot
1:06:59They were told the same thing. I believe the only difference between them and myself is that we actually received an email to that effect
1:07:09Not just that
1:07:10It's said not for sale and cannot be built on
1:07:14In late 2020 my son
1:07:17In his 20s at the time moved to gualph with the intent to sell down
1:07:21He found the property for sale at seven normandy drive and I remember the day he told me he was really excited
1:07:28Home pricing back then was expensive and he was single
1:07:32He was single making the biggest decision of his life
1:07:35He asked me to provide an opinion on his proposed purchase when I pulled up to the front door
1:07:40I was shocked that house had no curb appeal and was definitely a fixer upper
1:07:45The only positive thing I saw was the lot next door at first
1:07:49I thought it was a part of his property
1:07:50But he explained the parcel was owned by the city of gualph
1:07:54In my opinion the lot was the major influencer for the price of this home and justified the costs for improvements needed
1:08:02I immediately turned my attention to the lot and called the city planning department to inquire about
1:08:07About its purpose and whether or not they would sell it
1:08:11The staff member told me there was a meeting of a land committee in the next few days
1:08:16And that she would raise it and let me know a few days later
1:08:20She called and said that the lot did contain city services and that it would not be sold and could not be built on
1:08:28I asked her for an email confirming our conversation, which he sent me stating exactly that
1:08:34I was not confident
1:08:36My son could invest what was necessary to improve this home and improve its value
1:08:40Essentially had what would be considered as green space next door and didn't have to pay for even
1:08:49The pay for it even though he had to maintain it at times
1:08:53Over the past five years. He has progressively worked to improve his home
1:08:57In fact, he celebrated placing the last final piece of tremendous fund-entrance in October of this year
1:09:03In 2023 he married a wonderful woman that didn't mind moving into a house that looked like an old worn
1:09:09out park trailer
1:09:12But his final piece of the puzzle fell into place of January this year when their son was born
1:09:17He had achieved his goals discussed with me only five years ago
1:09:21The house is finished. He is married and has a son. My wife and I are so proud of them
1:09:27Then on november 4th this year just as we were they were adjusting to family life
1:09:32He had a knock on the door. It was a news organization
1:09:36Ctv asking him about the development proposed for five normandy drive
1:09:41He was shocked and told the reporter that when he bought the property city wall told him that it could not be built on because of the city services
1:09:49We understand this project has been in the works for many months if not more than a year and not one person
1:09:55Bought to contact an owner
1:09:58Usually of the most affected property that was most affected no letter no sign on the property asking for public input nothing
1:10:05Even the report doesn't mention the impact this development has on the residential area
1:10:11In my opinion if this development is approved tonight
1:10:14You are issuing a statement that when it comes to this type of development
1:10:18The public will perhaps be left with the impression that they have no input
1:10:22Approval of this tonight makes your decision almost irreversible
1:10:26If they don't have enough information to present to the public now
1:10:30They don't have enough information to ask you counselors to approve and proceed
1:10:35You may be wondering why the neighborhood isn't there tonight voicing their concerns. I think I have the answer the neighbors that have
1:10:42Property adjacent to this lot their homes are such
1:10:51Sorry, right
1:10:53Right. Well, just you mute it. It got muted there because your five minute limit was up
1:10:58But if you just unmute if you just unmute
1:11:03um
1:11:04First of all unmute and then I can try to hear we can try to hear you. Okay
1:11:10Okay, there you go. Nope. Nope. Yep. Here. Here we go. Sorry
1:11:14All right. No, no problem. So roi, um, I'm going to give you 10 seconds because I'm a nice guy
1:11:20Okay, so 10 seconds to wrap up then your microphone will be cut off. Okay, so go ahead
1:11:26The exterior of the building my son's put a hundred thousand dollars into you can see it in the pictures I sent you
1:11:32um
1:11:33I hope the city will honor their staff when they promised it in 2020
1:11:38That this will not be built on and eat confirmed it in an email
1:11:42We are working with the clerks department to get the
1:11:45minutes of that meeting
1:11:48Please don't let my son down. Thank you. Okay, roi. Thank you. Don't don't feel to stay on the line
1:11:54With us stay on video with us. Just in case there's a follow-up from any of my colleagues at this time
1:12:00Okay, oh there is one so councillor billings is going to ask you a question. Okay. Thank you
1:12:06So through you mr. Mayor, I didn't hear the part where
1:12:09Uh, you wanted to tell us why the other neighbors, uh, didn't come forward and the reason was why
1:12:16Yeah, thank you for asking that question. Um, basically the neighbors have been together chatting about this
1:12:24But their buildings their homes their actual homes are 100 feet away from complex
1:12:31They've got big backyards going out to stevensons street
1:12:35So they're not even near the foreplex
1:12:37But they do enjoy the property that's there currently so they're saying oh, we've enjoyed this property for so many years
1:12:44They play games on it and so on
1:12:47My son lives right adjacent to the property. He's got about 150 foot side
1:12:53You are running right there and the building will be five feet
1:12:57from his building
1:12:59So he's gonna walk
1:13:01Sorry, his house at that side's 10 foot
1:13:04He's gonna walk to his backyard and he's gonna have a 32 foot building
1:13:09right next to him
1:13:1032 feet high
1:13:12And he's got a 10 foot garage slope that comes down. I can reach the the e-croft with my hand
1:13:18So as he's walking his back here, he's gonna have a 32 foot building
1:13:22Standing right there. You don't need for offense. He's got a he's got a a wall made in germany, you know
1:13:30Okay, thank you for that. Thank you. Thank you
1:13:34Okay, thank you, Roy
1:13:36I'm just looking around. I don't see I don't see any other
1:13:41Questions and we do thank you for for delegating. Okay, right, right. If I could just say one thing, please
1:13:48Uh, no, sorry, Roy. I'm so sorry. It seems it seems rude that I say no, but just for our procedural here
1:13:55I appreciate the procedure. Thank you. Okay. Thanks, Roy. We appreciate it
1:13:59Okay, everybody that was the only delegation on that matter
1:14:04Um before we continue any any further
1:14:07Would someone be willing to move the motions for advancing these affordable housing options?
1:14:13So I'll go boost a till
1:14:15Why don't I go to the screen for once? I haven't gone to the screen to katyn. I saw your hand up there katyn. So thank you
1:14:23Um, is there any questions of staff at all before we continue?
1:14:27We'll boost it till then downer and then I'll
1:14:31Power, okay. Thank you and through the mayor just to the staff just
1:14:35Uh clarification when the city does building on its own land its own property service and so on
1:14:41Um, I would assume that the city follows its site plan and and design guidelines and so on if you can just you know, uh
1:14:51reassuring
1:14:55Through mayor Guthrie to councillor boost hill that that is correct. Um, I think right now we're very preliminary in the process
1:15:03and uh, the building as is would would go through that regular process
1:15:09Foreplex, uh, isn't subject to site plan, but how we imagine the site would be laid out would be required to go through
1:15:17um, a minor variance, which is through um
1:15:20Committee of adjustments. So it there will be that process still that is required as along with building permits. So
1:15:26There is an opportunity at that time for for more feedback from the community as well
1:15:33Thank you and through the mayor again just a supplemental question
1:15:37The delegation talked about the current use of the land. Is that parkland?
1:15:44Through mayor Guthrie to councillor boost hill again. Um, no the the land is zoned low density residential
1:15:50It's one of the criteria we looked at when choosing the property. So
1:15:55You that
1:15:56Thank you. That's all all right. Thanks and downer, please
1:16:00Thank you through mr. Mayor. So that was one of my questions
1:16:03This will have to go through a committee of adjustment application
1:16:05Which is a public process and that also that the drawings that we saw are just concepts. They're not necessarily
1:16:12uh, what we're seeing and so the
1:16:14the preliminary site concept
1:16:17It it could be that that could be flipped with a driveway's on the other side as well
1:16:21I'm assuming and the building's not right next to the property line as well
1:16:28Through the mayor to to to councillor downer. Um,
1:16:32It you're correct in that the site does need to be
1:16:36You know engineered through a in stamped through a qualified person. So it's not final. It is a high level concept
1:16:44The infrastructure running down the side of the property
1:16:48likely limits
1:16:51Where the building can go directly? Okay. Um, but we will be working through
1:16:56Exactly where that building footprint is and how far it's set back from the property line
1:17:03With a qualified person who will eventually be selected and would you consider the comments that you've heard tonight as part of that?
1:17:10Imported looking at that
1:17:12Through the mayor. Uh, yes, we will definitely consider that. Thank you
1:17:16Go already have any follow-up questions or have they've already been asked?
1:17:22Your worship, I just wanted to the step memo included an alternate
1:17:27motion for number three which changes the onus from the affordable house and reserve
1:17:32entirely into the
1:17:34the half funding
1:17:36Um, so if I could just put that as the that'd be put on the on the floor
1:17:41And if I could maybe ask if I have a seconder for that we can ask staff to
1:17:47Comment on this
1:17:50Sort of class and thank you for seconding. Yep. Uh class in great. Thank you
1:17:55And then watch a follow-up with a yeah, if we have still is stopping able to respond to the why that's a good
1:18:00I'm assuming a good motion
1:18:02so to staff
1:18:04Through the marriage counselor goller. So the reason that that was changed is again
1:18:08It relates back to the previous council memo in terms of the affordable housing program policy program work that needs to get done
1:18:15So in order to be able to
1:18:17Use the housing reserve affordable housing reserve for that work
1:18:21This motion needed to be created in order to use
1:18:24Housing accelerator funding to fund the entirety of this project. Perfect. Thank you so much. Thank you. All right. Perfect. Thank you very much
1:18:33so on the
1:18:35On the floor right now
1:18:38We would have the
1:18:45So I think one and two are fine. And I think three
1:18:49would just have to be
1:18:53amended to what councillor Goller just
1:18:58Yes, but no one two and three are already down. So we're going to leave number one and number two
1:19:02And we're going to just look to take the vote on the amendment of number three
1:19:06Okay, I'll call the vote on that then as anyone
1:19:09against that amendment
1:19:13And the gist of that is that the entire thing would be paid for through the housing accelerator fund
1:19:18Okay, thank you. So that passes for the amendment on number three
1:19:23Now there's nothing more on number one and number two and now three is as amended
1:19:28I'd like to call the vote then on all the main motion which is one two and three three is amended. Okay
1:19:34And I'll call the vote on that right now. Is there anyone against?
1:19:39Nobody that's unanimous as well
1:19:43Okay, thank you. Um, we have now
1:19:47Um, by the way, thank you. I think
1:19:52We have not stepped into this space ever
1:19:55I am
1:19:56very excited about this so
1:19:59Thank you to staff for figuring this out
1:20:02and bringing this forward
1:20:04very very very innovative way of
1:20:08Building affordable housing in our city. So that's amazing
1:20:12Uh
1:20:14We are at the chair and vice chair appointment to the joint social services and land ambulance committee
1:20:21So we are at that time. It's
1:20:24That of a sort of a scheduled calendar where we have to look at that
1:20:28And there is a recommendation
1:20:30that I know councillor downer would be willing to
1:20:33Um move and we'll just have it pop up on the screen
1:20:38And councillor downer in the blank portion
1:20:41Will now name over to you
1:20:44Yes, uh, councillor lucid. He'll be appointed as a joint social services and land ambulance committee chair and vice chair
1:20:51For the term ending november 15th
1:20:532026 or until such time as a successor is appointed
1:20:57And I do so because she's doing an excellent job now
1:21:02And I know she will continue to do so
1:21:07Blossom will second
1:21:09Perfect
1:21:13Okay, I'm sorry. You just you raised a good question. I'm just looking at the wording. It says chair vice chair
1:21:19You're both
1:21:21I just think it's important. I know what I know, but I think in the public realm
1:21:24I think we just need to explain that through the mayor. It's uh
1:21:28We rotate between chair and vice chair of the joint social services between the city of gualafan the county of wellington
1:21:35And currently I'm the chair for two years and previously I was the vice chair
1:21:40Great
1:21:49Oh, I'm gonna call the vote real quickly here
1:21:53Okay, is there anything further on this anyone want to grill councillor busitil on any questions?
1:22:01All right, I'll call the vote is anyone against
1:22:05Okay, councillor alz heming and hawing, but no, okay, he's good. All right. It's a unanimous vote all the best to you linda
1:22:12Councillor busitil. Sorry and speaking of councillor busitil. We are at bylaws and that is you as well
1:22:19Thank you that bylaws 20 25 dash
1:22:2221167 and 2025 21176 be approved subject to section 284
1:22:29Not one one subsection four of the municipal act
1:22:35An alt will second that thank you anything further on the bylaws anybody
1:22:40Nope, okay, I'll call the bylaws anyone against the bylaws
1:22:43Nobody unanimous
1:22:46It's a night of
1:22:49unanimousness
1:22:53Sure, you could say that word too
1:22:56Mayor's announcements
1:22:58The only mayor announcement I have is see you tomorrow morning bright-eyed and bushtail at nine o'clock
1:23:04and
1:23:06This is just a preview of how fast
1:23:09We're going to be able to get through the budget tomorrow, right?
1:23:12All right, so keep it up to keep keep up that speed. It's good
1:23:18Uh with that there's nothing further. Oh, you know what? Uh
1:23:23Yeah, it's not the further that's good. I was good. Just talk about the when's the tree lighting
1:23:29When's the christmas tree?
1:23:32December the
1:23:38Santa cos parade is on the
1:23:426th the mayor and council of christmas tree lighting is on the 5th
1:23:51And councillor downer is going to put her microphone on
1:23:55Spirit of the season downtown in the st. George's square with all the huts and all the activities downtown is that 5th
1:24:016 7th weekend and then the weekend after as well. We're doing it two weekends this year. So that's pretty exciting
1:24:07Perfect. All right
1:24:09Yeah, hopefully we can see everybody come out support everything that happens in the downtown core there. That's great
1:24:15With that, uh, i'm going to go to the screen only
1:24:19I'm going to go
1:24:20councillor billings and councillor
1:24:23Uh, kateen is seconding for adjournment. I'm going to call the vote is anyone against
1:24:29Just councillor claustra. No, no, what's unanimous? See everyone tomorrow at nine o'clock. Have a good night everybody. Thank you