Compared to last week, council business this week was light and breezy, but still really on the serious side. This week, it was all about what you, the people, think about the proposed 2024-2027 multiyear budget, and boy were there a wide variety of thoughts. From concerns about cuts to concerns about cost to requests for some changes, there was a lot of new information to cover for the members of council. Here’s the recap…
Budget Meeting of City Council – November 15
Wednesday was budget delegation night so council participation was mostly kept to a minimum. About 20 people signed up to delegate, and all but four showed up. The collective represented a diverse number of concerns and initiatives and they also expressed some apprehension about affordability.
First up was John Denis who had to cover advocacy for the Guelph Tool Library solo after a colleague took sick and couldn’t appear. He petitioned for the City of Guelph to continue to support the group’s efforts to redirect waste from landfills and expand into new programs.
Next, there were a series of delegations about transit. Steven Petric from the Transit Action Alliance of Guelph said it was alarming that the City had proposed deferrals of needed transit improvements, especially if the goal is to foster affordable crosstown commuting and environmental sustainability. Nelson Chukwuma, president of Conestoga Students Inc, also expressed concern saying that the students he represents are already facing full buses, missed connections, and holes in the service that limit housing options.
Next, it was the active transportation gang! Mike Darmon and Adrian Salvatore from the Guelph Coalition for Active Transportation said that they appreciate the constraints on this year’s budget, but improving active transportation options should be seen as way to support housing, especially high density housing, while also improving road safety. John Fisher of the Guelph Hiking Trail Club proposed that council direct staff to work with his group on an effort to let the GHTC lead a community project to complete the Guelph-to-Goderich trail.
Ian Digby from the Guelph Wellington Ontario Health Team stepped up to make a new request to council, $43,335 per year for two years to fund a physician recruitment strategy. Digby said that 35 new physicians will need to be recruited for Guelph in the next few years, plus another 25 for Wellington County, and this is in addition to the usual turnover. He noted that it’s competitive out there when it comes to attracting young doctors, and all our surrounding communities have this kind of recruitment campaign.
A different need concerned Bookshelf co-founder Barb Minett who asked for more help downtown in the form of police and mental health workers saying that she’s not sure Welcoming Streets workers can address all needs, especially the severe ones. She also said that she’s asked Guelph Police to work with Reverand Kevin Coghill of the Royal City Mission because he’s reported to her that cars from other communities are dropping off people at the Mission and leaving them there.
For something completely different, former Ward 4 Councillor Mike Salisbury spoke on behalf of the Guelph Centre for Visual Art, not for any funds specifically, but for council to prioritize ongoing stabilization efforts at the Drill Hall as a tier 2 project and as a key piece for downtown infrastructure renewal. Salisbury said this will send a message to the community that the Drill Hall will not get lost again as a stranded asset, and it will give his group some room to start advocacy around fundraising.
10C had a mind for fundraising from the City. The funds they’re looking for will support improvements to the Guelph Farmers’ Market building like HVAC upgrades, accessibility and other structural improvements. The total cost of the project is $2.08 million, and they’ve already raised over $803,000 in external funds, but they’re looking to the City for nearly $1 million more in additional funding, $460,000 of which 10C would pay back to the City.
Lindsay Sprague and Cory Gillies from the Sanguen Health Centre van team next appeared to ask for additional funding to support their service. As people who follow the coverage of the Social Services Committee know, the health van’s federal funding runs out at the end of March, and Wellington County has committed to cover $90,718 for the rest of 2024. Sanguen is asking for the City of Guelph to cover the rest with a second $90,718 annual payment.
Community member Pat Fung then took to the podium to decry City spending and council’s unwillingness to chop. Dustin Davis of the Guelph and District Association of Realtors had similar thoughts and suggested that the City should impose a hiring freeze, cut spending in corporate and administrative costs, and don’t overreact to changes in Bill 23 by waiting to see if the Government of Ontario makes us whole.
Last, but not least, was President and CEO Guelph Chamber of Commerce Shakiba Shayani. She encouraged council to be mindful of the budget impact on residents and businesses, but she also expressed some frustration that there’s no framework or decision-making strategy to understand the budget; what do some cuts or deferrals mean for the future, or how does it affect master plans? She also said that advocating to the Ontario government for more funding should be a whole of community effort and that the Chamber can help the City put a team, and a strategy, together.
Mayor Cam Guthrie wrapped up the meeting by reminding council that the budget board is available for follow up on any of the issues raised during the meeting, and that there will be a council workshop next week to look at further budget options. Councillors will also be able to announce their intentions.
Click here to see the complete recap of the meeting.
Guelph Politico 