It’s a moment all the local policy wonks have been waiting for… the initiation of the process to come up with the next version of the Strategic Plan. As discussed this week, a lot (and we do mean A LOT) has changed since the previous version of the Strategic Plan was hacked out by council in 2019, so this is probably going to be an even more interesting process than before. Shall we begin… Continue reading “City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the January 24 Workshop Meeting?”
Not much to see for this regular meeting of city council, at least not much that you haven’t already seen. Council will revisit the new appoints they approved to Committee of the Whole, decide whether to let one of their colleagues ascend to a higher body (if elected), and will also have an in-camera conversation about the CAO’s performance objectives for the year. Continue reading “City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the January 24 Meeting?”
This is the first council meeting of the year, and it’s another orientation session of a sort as members of the horseshoe sit down and look at the City of Guelph’s Strategic Plan. What is it? What does it do? How does it guide things like the development of the City budget? Those are just a few of the questions that will be asked and answered over the course of this session. Continue reading “City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the January 10 Meeting?”
We haven’t had a Committee of the Whole meeting since July 2022, and while the council year will not technically begin with CoW as the first meeting of 2023 (see the separate preview for the workshop meeting scheduled for the morning of January 10), there are still be a couple of key decisions that need approval. It’s the perfect way to ease the horseshoe into what likely will be a very busy and productive year. Continue reading “Committee of the Whole Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the January 10 Meeting?”
It seems like we had just barely got started, but the year at city council comes to an end with one last meeting for 2022. This meeting. On the agenda presently are three items, an endorsement, a request for funds, and an update about the City of Guelph’s efforts to be more customer friendly. Let’s tackle the issues one last time before a nice holiday break! Continue reading “City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the December 13 Meeting?”
Essentially, this is the fourth meeting in two days, and the second workshop for council in the same time period. This specific knowledge dump is all about the Guelph budget process. How does money work at City Hall? How do you make a budget? What considerations do you have to make? All these questions and more will be answered by a slate of representatives from the financial staff! Continue reading “City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the December 7 Meeting?”
Getting back to the regular routine of council, the new horseshoe will sit down to consider planning matters for the first time this term, and the last time this year. On the agenda are two planning decision, one new planning amendment and, for old time’s sake, a sign bylaw variance to help coffee lovers make better decisions at the drive-thru! Continue reading “City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the December 6 Planning Meeting?”
Council gets back to its regularly scheduled program with a pair of special meetings that will precede the first official planing meeting of the new term. Or should we say “meetings.” So before that first planning meeting, council’s going to learn the bits and pieces of planning policy, and then they’re going to fill up the ranks of Guelph’s very important public boards and committees for the new term. Continue reading “City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the Special Meetings on December 6?”
The first real city council of the term is one that not many people are looking forward to. You might have heard about Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, and City staff have heard of it too. They also have some considerable concerns about the legislation, which is why we’re having a whole meeting about it on Tuesday. Here’s the late breaking preview of the meeting per the amended agenda. Continue reading “City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the November 22 Meeting?”
You may have heard about the Government of Ontario’s Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act. Literally introduced the day after the October 24 municipal election, the legislation proposes to change significant portions of municipal planning policy to, in theory, increase the development of housing units. With the first round of feedback about the legislation coming due, the new Guelph city council will assemble to have their say. Continue reading “Emergency Council Meeting to Discuss Impact of Bill 23”
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