LIVE BLOG: City Council Meeting for November 27, 2017

Published on by Adam A. Donaldson

Budget matters past and present, plus the passage of items from this month’s Committee-of-the-Whole is on the agenda for tonight. You can click here for the agenda from City Hall, and you can click here for the Politico preview. 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 28 2017 00:31:18

Guelph City Council Meeting – November 27, 2017

Live blog from the meeting starting at 6:30 pm

  1. City council meeting starts in about 10 minutes. Here's what we're talking about tonight. https://t.co/Sr7PGt7beL https://t.co/qBXrBCvcMQ

    City council meeting starts in about 10 minutes. Here’s what we’re talking about tonight.  https://guelphpolitico.blogspot.ca/2017/11/city-council-preview-whats-on-agenda_17.html … pic.twitter.com/qBXrBCvcMQ

     

     

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    ·

    Mon, Nov 27 2017 23:23:05

  2. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    While we wait let’s talk about some committee appointments…

     

     

    Mon, Nov 27 2017 23:26:45

  3. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Joanne O’Halloran to be reappointed to the Accessibility Advisory Committee for a term ending November, 2018.

     

     

    Mon, Nov 27 2017 23:27:21

  4. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Lynn Jeaurond, Donna McMurdo and Deborah Stienstra to be appointed to the Accessibility Advisory Committee for a term ending November, 2018

     

     

    Mon, Nov 27 2017 23:27:43

  5. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    David Gundrum to be appointed to the Committee of Adjustment for a term ending November, 2018; Alastair McCluskey to be reappointed to the Downtown Advisory Committee

     

     

    Mon, Nov 27 2017 23:28:28

  6. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Robert Routledge be appointed to the Downtown Advisory Committee for a term ending November, 2018; Adam Miller be reappointed to the Environmental Advisory Committee.

     

     

    Mon, Nov 27 2017 23:29:33

  7. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Jayne Osborn to be reappointed to the Guelph Museums Advisory Committee for a term ending November, 2018; Brian Skerrett to be appointed to Heritage Guelph; and, Julia Grady to be appointed to the Public Art Advisory Committee.

     

     

    Mon, Nov 27 2017 23:30:34

  8. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Status update: council has been delayed by 15 minutes because the closed meeting is running long. Smoke ’em if you got ’em.

     

     

    Mon, Nov 27 2017 23:31:45

  9. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    In the meantime, back to committee appointments…

     

     

    Mon, Nov 27 2017 23:32:08

  10. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Alex Grosse to be appointed to the River Systems Advisory Committee for a term ending November, 2018; staff will be directed to conduct further recruitment to fill the remaining two vacancies.

     

     

    Mon, Nov 27 2017 23:32:52

  11. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Lynn Broughton and Jennifer Whyte be reappointed to the Tourism Advisory Committee for a term ending November, 2018. One vacancy remains.

     

     

    Mon, Nov 27 2017 23:33:18

  12. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Justine Kraemer, Dominica McPherson, Steven Petric and Kayla Weiler to be reappointed to the Transit Advisory Committee for a term ending November, 2018; Bonnie Burgess to be appointed.

     

     

    Mon, Nov 27 2017 23:34:00

  13. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Bassim Abbassi be reappointed to the Waste Resource Innovation Centre Public Liaison Committee for a term ending November, 2018; another spot remains vacant.

     

     

    Mon, Nov 27 2017 23:34:49

  14. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    David Worden to be appointed to the Water Conservation and Efficiency Public Liaison Advisory Committee for a term ending November, 2018.

     

     

    Mon, Nov 27 2017 23:35:14

  15. Now we play the waiting game. pic.twitter.com/WaxhftaRHm

     

     

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    ·

    Mon, Nov 27 2017 23:37:17

  16. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Okay, council is coming out so this is going to get started shortly.

     

     

    Mon, Nov 27 2017 23:49:56

  17. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Mayor Guthrie says they need 5 more minutes to “get themselves together”. Must have been a rough in-camera…

     

     

    Mon, Nov 27 2017 23:51:03

  18. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Council begins: Closed session included discussion of appointment to Guelph Sports Hall of Fame BoD. Cllr Hofland moves to appoint Adam Stewart for term till Nov 2018.

     

     

    Mon, Nov 27 2017 23:58:08

  19. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Board appointment passes 12-0.

     

     

    Mon, Nov 27 2017 23:58:27

  20. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Also in closed meeting. Non-union compensation, that will be reference later in the meeting during the revised 2018 Operating Budget discussion.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:00:12

  21. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    fyi: Andy Van Hellemond isn’t here and/or sends regrets.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:00:47

  22. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof: Cllr MacKinnon has 2 areas: appointment to Comm of Adjustment, and for growth of DGBA expenditures in the new budget.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:01:48

  23. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Mayor Guthrie notes that this is just for referral to the Dec 5 meeting, but MacKinnon would rather err on the side of caution.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:02:55

  24. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Mayor Guthrie says he too may be declaring a conflict and may be separating out some of the expansions. He co-owns the Guelph Royals, you know.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:04:51

  25. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Cllr Downer moves forward the minutes. Passes 12-0, and yes, Van Hellemond sends regrets.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:05:54

  26. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Only items pulled from the consent agenda are Q3 Operating Variance and Shared Cost Allocation Basis – Wellington-Dufferin- Guelph Public Health. Board appointments to be voted on separately.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:07:31

  27. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Consent items pass 12-0.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:07:43

  28. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    All board appointments except committee of adjustment (per MacKinnon’s conflict) pass 12-0.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:08:35

  29. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    David Gundrum appointed to the Committee of Adjustment by a vote of 11-0 with MacKinnon abstaining.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:09:07

  30. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    On Public Health, Wettstein asks about allocation elements. Staff says this is just purely about the base pop. numbers, no further breakdown. Motion passes 12-0.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:10:42

  31. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Next up, Q3 Operating Budget Variance for 2017. DCAO Lee says its being brought forward now to give council lots of time prior to next week’s budget vote.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:11:43

  32. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Cllr Billings asked to pull this item. Asking about negative variance of $1.7 Mn for solid waste, asks how much of that is b/c of waste from other municipalities.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:13:09

  33. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    DCAO Stewart says about $800K , but there’s been some progress made in the last couple of weeks. Savings in electricity and other areas

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:14:52

  34. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Staff say they’ve wanted to get an update to council, but there’s been some difficulty “moving numbers,” but updated information will be provided shortly on the budget board.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:15:50

  35. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Cllr Gibson notes there’s a slight positive variance on compensation this coming year, what’s the list of vacant positions unfulfilled because of that?

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:17:43

  36. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    DCAO Lee says GM of Human Resources doesn’t have those numbers right now, hopes to have home soon. Gibson wonders what the impact is to services.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:18:30

  37. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Lee says he’d more than happy to answer that via the budget board.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:18:52

  38. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    No further questions. Vote to receive passes 12-0.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:19:10

  39. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Apparently, no one wants to discuss the revised 2018 Tax-Supported Operating Budget. Lee wants to know if council would like to see his presentation. Guthrie says proceed.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:20:18

  40. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Instead of the previously reported increase of 2.19 per cent above the 2017 net tax levy operating budget for a total bill of $232,907,226, staff is now saying it will be 1.75 per cent for a total levy of $231,368,103 for 2018.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:21:13

  41. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    That’s a 0.44 per cent difference, but all other line items remain exactly the same.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:21:35

  42. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    No additional questions from council.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:22:27

  43. For MacKinnon's exemption. Council moves to pass referral #2 Passes 11-0. https://t.co/EHRkdpUWCQ

    For MacKinnon’s exemption. Council moves to pass referral #2 Passes 11-0. pic.twitter.com/EHRkdpUWCQ

     

     

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    ·

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:23:03

  44. Downer will chair the vote on the rest per Guthrie's conflict. https://t.co/GYcgicL2e6

    Downer will chair the vote on the rest per Guthrie’s conflict. pic.twitter.com/GYcgicL2e6

     

     

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    ·

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:23:45

  45. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Hofland asks why Guthrie left the room. Clerk O’Brien notes that item iii (user fees) is the reason why Guthrie has declared conflict here. User fees cover maintenance at Hastings Stadium where the Royals play.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:26:05

  46. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Hofland asks why Guthrie left the room. Clerk O’Brien notes that item iii (user fees) is the reason why Guthrie has declared conflict here. User fees cover maintenance at Hastings Stadium where the Royals play.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:26:05

  47. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Allt is concerned that mayor may have to continue to obtain through the final budget process. Asks Clerk to investigate this and bring it back to council.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:27:22

  48. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Vote passes 11-0 after Downer had to walk around back to her own chair to vote.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:28:07

  49. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    Bylaws pass 12-0.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:28:48

  50. adamadonaldson

    Adam A. Donaldson@adamadonaldson
    No announcements or motions, so that’s meeting adjourned. Committee-of-the-Whole is next Monday, #GuelphBudget is voted on a week from tomorrow. Thanks for following.

     

     

    Tue, Nov 28 2017 00:29:41

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