LIVE BLOG: City Council Meeting for November 14, 2016

Published on by Adam A. Donaldson

It’s time for the monthly planning meeting at city council, and with much of the focus this time of year on budget matters, this might be a short one. You can click here for the amended agenda from City Hall, and you can click here to read Politico’s preview of tonight’s meeting. For the complete blow-by-blow of tonight’s council meeting, you can follow me on Twitter, or follow along below via Storify.

by
Adam A. Donaldson
Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:59:33

Guelph City Council Meeting – November 14, 2016

Live blog from the meeting starting at 5:30 pm

  1. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Starting a bit early with city council tonight with committee and board appointments.

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 22:35:57

  2. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    .@ward6mark will be the new chair of the Corporate Services committee till 2018, Cllr Billings will be Vice-chair.

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 22:36:38

  3. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    These committee appointments are through Nov 2018 btw.

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 22:38:22

  4. ward6mark

    Mark MacKinnon@ward6mark
    Thank you to my fellow #Guelph councillors for electing me to the position of Chair of Corporate Services until the end of this term.

    ·

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 22:39:22

  5. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    New Infrastructure, Development and Enterprise Chair is @DanGibsonCllr

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 22:40:40

  6. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    It was a 6-5 elxn for Gibson by the way.

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 22:41:14

  7. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    .@ward5guelph will will vice-chair of Infrastructure, Development and Enterprise Chair and Vice-Chair.

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 22:41:37

  8. ward6mark

    Mark MacKinnon@ward6mark
    Your new #Guelph council chairs: Billings (Audit); MacKinnon (Corporate Service); Gibson (IDE); Public Service (Downer). #HappyToServe

    ·

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 22:42:08

  9. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    .@CathyDowner is the new Public Services Chair.

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 22:42:27

  10. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    .@JuneHofland will be vice-chair of Public Services.

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 22:42:53

  11. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Now the appointment of a councillor to the Art Gallery of Guelph Board.

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 22:43:23

  12. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    .@PhilAlltWard3 will be the new council Board member of AGG

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 22:44:12

  13. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    .@DanGibsonCllr and @ward5guelph will serve on the Downtown Guelph Business Association Board of Management.

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 22:46:04

  14. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    .@ward4guelph and Bob Bell are appointed to @grandriverca Board.

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 22:47:33

  15. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Cllr Wettstein and Cllr Bell are appointed to Guelph Junction Railway board.

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 22:49:13

  16. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    .@CamGuthrie and Cllr Billings will serve on Guelph Police Services Board.

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 22:50:00

  17. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    .@thatjamesgordon re-appointed to the @GuelphLibrary Board

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 22:50:52

  18. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Cllr Van Hellemond, @thatjamesgordon, and @DanGibsonCllr join the Well Interference Committee

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 22:52:18

  19. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Appointees made to Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health Board of Directors (didn’t hear who sadly)

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 22:53:07

  20. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Council will take a break until 6:30 when the planning meeting begins.

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 22:53:46

  21. Here's the Guelph Politico preview for the meeting tonight. https://t.co/8cnIq9dzXS https://t.co/gLtGLBjDg7

    Here’s the Guelph Politico preview for the meeting tonight.  http://guelphpolitico.blogspot.ca/2016/11/city-council-preview-whats-on-agenda_10.html … pic.twitter.com/gLtGLBjDg7
    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    ·

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 22:55:11

  22. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Council will be talking about “What’s Next Ontario?” by the @AMOPolicy tonight. Here’s what it involves…  https://www.amo.on.ca/AMO-Content/WhatsNextOntario/WhatsNextOntario …

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 23:08:01

  23. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Main council meeting starting NOW!

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 23:30:18

  24. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Regrets tonight from @JuneHofland and @ward5guelph

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 23:32:15

  25. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    First topic up: 19-59 Lowes Road West – Proposed Zoning By-law Amendment

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 23:32:38

  26. ward6mark

    Mark MacKinnon@ward6mark
    @adamadonaldson MacKinnon, Hofland, Billings. Same 3 councillors currently serving with Public Health will continue for term remainder.

    ·

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 23:32:44

  27. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    @ward6mark Thank you!

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 23:33:05

  28. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    What’s the deal with Loews Rd development: 6 houses that owner wants to turn into 60 townhouses.

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 23:34:11

  29. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    This could be controversial b/c there are five delegations and four correspondents on the matter.

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 23:34:45

  30. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Cllr MacKinnon asks about designation of surrounding property in the plan.

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 23:39:41

  31. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Currently the designation is general residential.

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 23:40:17

  32. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    MacKinnon notes that this is changing the area to a higher density. Is there other recent examples in the City where similar move been made?

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 23:42:46

  33. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Staff: 60 Arkyll Rd in July 2015. Cluster townhouses similar to this on a private rd.

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 23:43:10

  34. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Cllr Van Hellemond asks about tree preservation plan. is there a forest there?

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 23:52:25

  35. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Some trees along the back of the plot, but they will be moved to accommodate stormwater. The trees will be replaced 3-to-1

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 23:53:08

  36. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    1st delegate, Astrid J. Clos planning consultant is presenting.

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 23:54:53

  37. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    60 parking spaces, plus 12 visitor and 2 accessible spaces planned for the site.

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 23:57:28

  38. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    The townhouses will be a condominium ownership.

    Mon, Nov 14 2016 23:59:32

  39. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Peter Fitzgerald of Stan Tech speaks on the engineers matters at the site.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:00:52

  40. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Loews Rd apparently looks like an urban road, but it operates like a rural one.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:01:29

  41. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Rain water run off will be stored and released.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:02:32

  42. DanGibsonCllr

    Dan Gibson@DanGibsonCllr
    Honoured this evening to be elected chair of the Infrastructure, Development & Enterprise Committee for the remainder of this term. #Guelph

    ·

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:03:48

  43. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Mayor Guthrie asking about permeable driveways. Fitzgerald says it could be used here, but they should be able to keep water balance w/o it

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:04:22

  44. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Not yet, but delegations are coming…  https://twitter.com/ryangerritsen/status/798315791506620416 …

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:05:18

  45. _S_Stewart

    Scott Stewart@_S_Stewart
    Congratulations to you all in your new roles…and a good bye and thank you to Chair Bell for your leadership of the IDE committee.
    #guelph  https://twitter.com/ward6mark/status/798294974727147520 …

    ·

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:08:39

  46. _S_Stewart

    Scott Stewart@_S_Stewart
    Welcome Chair Gibson, we look forward to working with you and Cllr Piper as Vice Chair.
    #Guelph #Guelphmagic  https://twitter.com/DanGibsonCllr/status/798315529085648896 …

    ·

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:11:16

  47. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Now public delegations will be heard from regarding the development. Joan and Jim Ferguson are first up.
    

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:12:52

  48. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Joan Ferguson shows pictures of cars lined up on Vaughan St were a similar development was built. A preview of things to come?

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:14:51

  49. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Jim Ferguson: Adding 60 more residents to Loews Rd is not going to help traffic flow.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:15:25

  50. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Also, water is a problem. “When it rains it runs down the road like a river,” says Jim.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:15:47

  51. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    “There are salamanders all over the place,” adds Joan.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:16:55

  52. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    No Qs from council on the Fergusons presentation.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:17:27

  53. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Monica Frauts is up next, has many of the same issues as the Fergusons.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:17:58

  54. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Perhaps if “executive towns” – high end with 2 car garages – this development could be doable, says Monica.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:18:36

  55. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    “Nobody parks in their garages anymore,” Monica observes.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:19:26

  56. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    “I don’t understand how they can say there won’t be street parking, where we live there’s street parking everywhere,” Monica says

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:20:19

  57. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Monica also worried about the value of her home with a townhouse complex “looming” over her backyard.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:21:39

  58. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Monica also worried about more noise: more traffic + loss of mature trees = more noise.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:23:57

  59. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Next up, Ted Moyse who will be the last delegation.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:25:05

  60. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Ted says they’re not opposed to development, but opposed to going from 6 to 60.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:25:50

  61. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    If you don’t integrate the same type of homes in a neighbourhood, property values go down, says Ted.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:26:33

  62. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Ted says it opens the floodgates for older neighbourhoods to have lots torn down and clusters be built instead.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:27:09

  63. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Ted also notes the high chance of flooding in the area.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:28:01

  64. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    No Qs for Ted.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:29:20

  65. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    One more speaker, he’s asking about trees cut down by the previous development that were not replaced.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:30:59

  66. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    He would like those original trees to be taken into account in any more plan.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:31:21

  67. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Salisbury concerned that permeable services be considered for the site given everything they’ve heard about the water in the area.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:35:24

  68. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Allt asks if they can be absolutely certain that there are no endangered species in the area, is this infringing on the water shed too?

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:37:07

  69. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Council moves to accept the report.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:40:22

  70. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Guthrie says he’s concerned about enviro impacts, esp. stormwater.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:44:43

  71. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Guthrie on parking: There’s problem of paper vs reality. Traffic studies say no problem, but driving it there’s problems.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:47:16

  72. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    “it doesn’t feel right to me.” Guthrie on parking applications.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:48:00

  73. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Application received 11-0

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:48:14

  74. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Now on to Proposed Technical Revisions to Guelph’s Comprehensive Zoning By-law.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:48:36

  75. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Minor revision proposed to the zoning by-law ever 2-3 years. There are 17 minor changes proposed tonight.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:49:20

  76. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    MacKinnon and Salisbury move the report. It’s pretty straightforward.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:50:24

  77. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Passes 11-0

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:50:49

  78. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Last item comes from @CathyDowner. A council resolution about the Municipal Fiscal Gap from AMO.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:51:35

  79. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Downer says this is about sending a strong message to the province about the need for more funding on infrastructure.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:52:52

  80. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Guthrie joins Allt in thanking Downer for bringing the resolution forward.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:54:05

  81. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Guthrie: There’s other issues that AMO is fighting to help municipalities lower costs as well.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:55:08

  82. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Challenges fed and prov. to reduce their budgets thru service reviews, just like Guelph is doing.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:55:26

  83. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Council endorses @AMOPolicy unanimously 11-0.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:56:01

  84. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    MacKinnon moves the bylaws. Passed 11-0

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:56:23

  85. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Reminder: @CamGuthrie‘s town hall is tomorrow at 7 pm in room #112 at City Hall. It’s on #GuelphBudget matters.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:57:00

  86. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Ward 6 town hall is this Thus at 7 pm at the south end emergency centre. #GuelphBudget.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:57:42

  87. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Gordon acknowledges the raise of Metis flag and commemoration of Louis Riel’s birthday today.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:58:36

  88. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Meeting adjourned. And that’s a wrap till Wed. budget meeting. Bradley will be back for that one.

    Tue, Nov 15 2016 00:59:11

 

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