Back to city council with another Committee of the Whole meeting! You can click here for the amended agenda from City Hall, and you can click here for the Politico preview. For the complete blow-by-blow of today’s council meeting, you can follow along during the meeting on Blue Sky or recap the complete thread after the meeting below. You can also watch the City’s own live-stream of the meeting here.
Weird. At 1:40:40 on the playback the lights go out at city hall. The come back on 1:41: 16. The staff in the chambers seem confused.
Now there’s a message “HD Audio Driver for Display Audio (HDMi) is available as a speaker.
1:44:00 – The clerks test the audio.
1:46:26 – There seems to be some tech issues delaying the start of the meeting.
Mayor Guthrie calls the meeting to order at 1:55:33. He says there was a “little bit of a hydro issue” causing the delay.
Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof? Nope. Regrets from Cllr Klassen.
Closed meeting summery:
1) Proposed Parkland Acquisition – Direction was given to staff.
2) Advancing Affordable Housing on City-Owned Properties – Guthrie says he’s been given permission to share a small statement: City council received info from staff about a new financial model that could enable the city to develop affordable housing on city-owned lands. A report will be coming to council next month with the first two potential properties that could leverage this new approach.
Staff recognitions this month:
First item: Appointment of the External Auditor from the consent agenda.
Recommendation:
That KPMG LLP be appointed as the external auditor for the City of Guelph for the fiscal years ending 2025 through 2029.
That the Treasurer be authorized to annually execute the engagement letter with KPMG LLP subject to the terms approved.
Richardson/Hasuer move the recommendations and they are approved.
Next, consent agenda for Infrastructure, Development and Environment. Vice-Chair Chew takes over for this one.
Cllr Caron asks to pull the Municipal Property and Building Commemorative Naming Report 2025. Goller asks to pull Baker Library Facility Lease Approval.
Recommendation for the naming Report: That the recommended names proposed by the Naming Committee listed in Attachment-1 to this report be approved.
Caron notes that there’s a park at the intersection of Alberta, Water and Martin that has gone without a name for a long-time, and since this is the last report from the Naming Committee, it’s time to cut through the red tape and give it a name. She says that she doesn’t want to bypass a public process either.
Downer seconds the main motion. Cllr Caton notes that the neighbourhood is happy with the name Sloan Hill Park and are excited about the design process. It’s approved.
Guthrie seconds Caron’s new motion. It’s approved!
Original Baker Library Facility Lease Approval Recommendation:
That on behalf of the City of Guelph, the Deputy CAO of Infrastructure, Development and Environment, subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor and City Treasurer, be directed to enter into a lease for the Baker Library facility for a thirty year term that has two, five-year renewal terms.
Goller/Richardson propose change to a 40-year term with two 10-year renewals, or a 30-year term with two 15-year renewals. Goller says that that will give the Library more stability knowing that they will be in their purpose built space.
Cllr Busuttil asks for staff comment. Staff says they were trying to align the lease term with the typical lifecycle, meaning the point that the building would require future investment to maintain upkeep. The intention is to run the building as co-tenants with the City operating the parking garage and the public square to city council has to be aware of what it’s getting into.
Cllr Allt asks Goller if he’s been delegated from the library board to do this. Goller says there was no special motion from the library meeting, but the CEO was given direction to negotiate a longer term lease with the city. Allt feels that the staff justification is prudent, and would like more of a rationale from the library itself before considering this.
Guthrie asks if staff are comfortable with the Goller proposal. Staff says they would like to stick with the 30-50 year window.
Downer asks if they could do a 40-year lease and one 10-year renewal? Staff says they could work with that if that’s council direction.
Guthrie wonders if there could be further negotiation with a recommendation coming back to the regular meeting. Staff says they can do that. Guthrie then asks if the recommendation can be removed and then get that memo. Goller says he’s okay with that. Clerk McMahon says that council can pass the original recommendation or move referral. Chew chooses door #2. Goller/Allt move referral and it’s approved.
Next: Macdonell and Allan’s Structures Environmental Assessment Notice of Completion.
Presenting are
-Terry Gayman, General Manager, Engineering and Transportation Services
-Andrew Miller, Project Engineer
-Jack Mallon, Planner I – Heritage
Gayman begins by noting a decade of work has gone into the project this far and is one piece of the bigger, broader effort to revitalize and restore downtown. As the Upper Wyndham project goes to tender in order to being next year, this project will see constriction begins sometime in 2028.
The five structures were evaluated as part of this study, the EA itself goes back to 2021 with the first phase and the opportunity statement. This study includes Macdonell Bridge, Allan’s Bridge, the sluiceway & spillway and the not yet built Ward-to-Downtown Bridge. Neither the Metrolinx Bridge or the GJR Bridge were part of this study.
Macdonell Bridge is in poor condition and will need to be replaced in 5-10 years. It’s been identified as a priority for both the pedestrian and cycling networks, for which it is currently a poor connection. The recommended solution is to replace with with a wider bridge that can accommodate active transportation.
The Allan’s Bridge is already in such poor condition it’s been closed to the public. It’s listed but not designated as a heritage asset. Based on criteria, it was determined that removing the bridge is the best call, plus a commemorative strategy for the heritage portion.
Mallon notes that these bridges have been a symbolic gateway to the centre of town and was the location where John Galt cut down a sugarbush tree founding the settlement. The Heritage Advisory Committee did not advise designation, but they did want to see the bridge maintained om some way, but that would be a replica and not a true heritage asset. They recommend preserving the ornamental railings.
Sluiceway and Spillway: They are showing sign of structural degradation. One of the options to build a new dam with an active transportation underpass was an idea by the late-Bob Bell, but that would have a cost of $15 million and probably wouldn’t get past the GRCA’s standards too. So rehabilitating the structures is the preferred solution.
Ward-to-Downtown Bridge was conceived in 2012, and expected to begin construction in 2023 but that project was cancelled so that it could be folded into the EA. At issue is the number of people that use the GJR bridge as a pedestrian bridge, which is not safe to do. The recommended solution is to build a modified structure on the south side of the GJR bridge, as it will have a simpler structure to save costs.
The result is one cohesive network for the area!
Gayman says that this is a lot of info to take in, but its complicated. Next steps:
-Get council approval
-Finalize the EA with ONgov
-30-day public review and getting design consultant
-Countdown to construction in 2028-2030.
Recommendations:
1. That the Macdonell and Allan’s Structures Environmental Assessment be approved, and that staff be directed to issue a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Notice of Completion.
2. That staff be directed to salvage, retain, and conserve the steel railing system and salvageable elements of the superstructure of Allan’s Bridge for functional or commemorative re-use in the vicinity of Allan’s bridge.
3. That staff be directed to engage with the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee and Heritage Advisory Committee to identify opportunities for historical commemoration and placemaking, and heritage conservation within the project area during the design process.
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