Good evening. This was Horn Sound City Council. Today's date
is July 27th, 2026. We are calling the meeting to
order at 530 Council. Are any additional business items? Councillor
Farmer. I'll have two items of additional business, one about
bandit fest, which took place downtown, and one about the
poverty task forces municipal candidate, education series in September. Council
Merton. Through you, I have one item. It's a media
release today on household food insecurity from the southwestern Ontario
Public Health Units, and they're called to action. Anyone else
seen them that way, seeing them that way, I will
have one matter concerning George in college that I'll bring
up an additional business. Declarations of interest. Nobody
else. I have a declaration of interest by law 2026
- 098. It is item 21J, and the agenda declared
direct pecuniary interest and declare a disqualifying interest. I have
acted for the property owner at my law practice that's
involved in that. Thank John, you've got the
minutes. So confirmation of Councilman's. Moved by myself seconded by
Deputy Mayor Greg that the minutes of the following meetings
be adopted as printed. Number one, the closed session of
the regular Council meeting held on May 25, 2026. And
number two, the regular council meeting held on July 13,
2026. Great, thank you. All in favor. And that is
carried number five motion to move council into Committee the
whole. Moved by myself, seconded by Deputy Mayor Greg, that
City Council now move into Committee of the Whole to
consider public meetings, deputations and presentations, public forum, matters arising
from correspondence, reports of city staff, the consent agenda, Committee
minutes, matters postponed, motions for which notion. Notice was previously
given and additional business. Good, thank you. In all in
favor. That has carried, so we are now in the
Committee of the Hall. Number six, we have one public
meeting. At 6A, which is its owning bylaw amendment number
59, part one, plan 16R - 12308. And that's probably
the address. And 38 - 6 Avenue west. So if
you're here for the public meeting, thank you for attending
tonight's public meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to
receive input from the public, respecting the proposed amendment to
the zoning bylaw as per Section 34. The planning act.
In a few moments, the manager of planning and Heritage
will present background information regarding the requested amendment. Boeing the
presentation, we will hear from the applicant. And then we
will open the floor for comments, questions, and feedback from
the public. Every person who attends a statutory public meeting
required under the Planning Act will be given an opportunity
to make Representations respecting the proposed bylaw. All submission materials
for this application are available at the City's website or
at the Planning Division Counter at City Hall during regular
business hours. Appeal rights on a zoning by - law
amendment application are limited to the Applicant Public Bodies and
specified persons who made oral or written submissions to on
Sound City Council prior to the decision being made. Specific
persons generally include energy, railway and telecommunications providers. This meeting
is an essential part of the decision - making process,
feedback received will be considered in the decision of Onsen
City Council, an explanation of how the public and agency
comments factored into the decision will be included in the
notice of passing the bylaw. Where it changes made in
a proposed by - law after the holding of the
public meeting, council will determine whether any further notices to
be given respecting the proposed by - law, and the
determination of council as to the giving of further notices,
final, not subject to review in any court, no matter
the extent of the change made and the proposed bylaw.
So with that, I think I had it over to
Ms. Bloomfield. Thank you. Three - year worship notice of
this public meeting was circulated to the prescribed persons and
bodies sent by mail to the assessed owners within 120
metres of the subject properties and posted on the City's
website and the subject properties on July 2nd. All comments
received in advance of the agenda publishing deadline were attached
to the agenda. No one registered to attend the meeting
electronically. For anyone here for the public meeting, please sign
the sign - in - sheet located on the table
just outside of Council Chambers. Personal information collected at this
public meeting is collected under the authority of the Planning
Act and the information collected will be used to complete
the zoning by - amendment process, and will form part
of the public record. Questions about this collection should be
addressed to myself, the City Clerk. If we wish to
be notified of the decision of the Corporation of the
City of Own Sound on the proposed zoning by -
law amendment application, you must make a written request to
the City of Owen Sound Care of the City Clerk.
Good, thank you. Now we will receive the presentation from
the manager Planning and Heritage.
Thank you, and through chair. Thank you, good evening members
of Council, staff, and members of the public. We are
here this evening to hold the public meeting to gain
input regarding Soning bylaw amendment number 59, which proposes to
permit a semi - detached dwelling on lands municipally known
as 1038 - 6th Avenue West and lands legally described
as part one, plan 16 - R - 123 -
08. The applicant buries construction and insulation limited is in
attendance this evening. The land subject to the requested zoning
by two separate properties located just off the intersection of
10th Street West and 6th Avenue West. The first property
is municipally known as 1038 - 6 Avenue West, the
other property does not yet have a municipal address assigned.
Howard is legally described as part one of Plan 16R
- 1 - 2 - 3 - 0 - 8.
I'll refer to this property as part one for the
sake of Expediency going forward. The part one was severed
from the adjacent property to the south, municipally known as
10 - 10 - 6th Avenue West in 2025. An
aerial photo of the septic land is shown on the
slide before you. The lands municipally known as 1038 have
approximately 26 metres of frontage along 6th Avenue West, 20.
3 metres of lot depth and 558 square metres of
lot area, and currently contain an existing single - detached
dwelling fronting and gaining vehicle access VS6th Avenue west. The
lands legally described as part one, half - 12 metres
of frontage along 6th Avenue West, 20. 6 metres of
locked depth and 249 square metres of lot area, and
are currently vacant. These lands abut an existing single -
de - touched welling with an accessory residential unit to
the west on land's municipally known as 10 - 10
- 6th Avenue West, and as noted earlier, we're severed
from those lands in 2025. Surrounding land uses to the
subject lands include to the north and unopened city lane,
residential uses along 6th - Aft West, and 11th Street
West. To the east, residential uses on the east side
of 6th Avenue West and along 10th Street - A
- West, as well as hazard lands associated with a
slope. To the south, commercial and institutional uses existing on
10th Street West and residential uses along 6th Avenue West
South of 10th Street. To the west, commercial uses existing
on the north side of 10th Street West. The subject
lens are designated West City Commercial under the city's 2021
official plan, as well as the Cities 2026 official plan
update, which was adopted by council on April 13th, but
it's not yet enforced and effect. Medium - density forms
of housing are among those uses permitted within the West
City Commercial Designation. And this does not change between the
21 and 26 official plan. The lands were sown retail
commercial C2 by the City's Sounding Bylaw 2010 - 078,
which is currently enforced and effect, as well as the
2026 zoning by - update through SAB - BA57, which
is yet not yet in force and effect. The purpose
of, or so there are the applicant disproposing to develop
the lands for semi - detached dwelling. And the reason
for the zoning by allument is that a semi -
detached dwelling is not a permitted use in the retail
commercial C - 2 zone. As part of the development
process, the applicant will submit consent applications to sever 1038
- 6 Avenue west into two parcels. The effect of
the application is to apply site - specific zoning provisions
to the lands to permit the use of a semi
- detached dwelling in the C - 2 zone and
provide site - specific site in building regulations with respect
to law - area. Lot coverage, and front - end
rear setbacks. The City Sounding Bylock does not provide sight
in building regulations for semi - detached dwelling in the
C - 2 - zone as it is not a
permitted use. Planning staff have evaluated the proposal using the
general residential R5 Stone provisions for a semi - detached
dwelling under the 2010 zoning by - law, and the
medium density residential R2 - zone provisions under the updated
zoning bottle. The requested site - specific zone provision for
a lot area, law - coverage, frontage, or sorry, front
and rear set - back for the proposed semi -
detached dwelling, as shown on the slide. As noted, 1038
- 67U West contains an existing single - detached dwelling,
which is proposed to be located on the Retained Block
as part of the future consent application. The requested zoning
by lymphondment will also permit the existing single detached dwelling
within the C2 zone and provide site - specific zoning
provisions for law - area and fund yards at banks.
The applicant has submitted a fully dimensioned site plan in
support of the requested Soling by - lamentment and excerpt
of which is shown on the slide. Outlined in red
and green are the proposed semi - detached dwelling lots.
A lot edition is also proposed highlighted in yellow that
will sever approximately 0. 88 metres from the Lance Legally
Described as Part 1 and convey it to the proposed
severed parcel so that each of the semi - detached
lots has approximately 11 metres of frontage on 6th Avenue
West and 230 square metres of lot area. The proposed
retained block containing the existing single - detached dwelling at
1038 is outlined in pain at the top. The applicant
tests submitted a complete rezoning application with the required supporting
plants and studies as listed here. These items are all
available for Review on the City's website under Active Planning
Applications. The process completed thus far as it relates to
the requested zoning by - amendment is summarized on the
slide before you. Notice of complete application in public meeting
were given together by posting a sign on the subject
property and by mailing to land owners within 120 metres
of the property on July 2nd. The technical report included
in tonight's agenda is intended to describe the proposed zoning
by oilment and outlines the key policy considerations of the
provincial planning statement and the county and city official plans
relevant to the evaluation of the application. Staff will take
the public agency and staff Commons receive through the process
and review them in the policy context and the recommendation
report, which is expected to come before council on September
14th. Thank you. Good, thank you very much. And next
we'll have a presentation from Mr. Crucible Brink of Barry's
Construction and Installation Limited. Thank you
Mr. Mayor Council members and staff. My name's Barry Crystal
Brink, various construction. I'm here, I'm totally in support of
this. What staff has written up planners. And I'm here
basically to answer any questions if anything comes up. That's
about it. Thank you. So next we have comments from
the public. So if you are here to speak to
this, we ask you to state your name and the
municipality in which you reside and state your comments. Not
seeing anybody going to the microphone. No one wishes to
speak to this. This is your opportunity. Okay. So with
that, given that no one from the public is speaking,
then I will declare the public meeting closed and continue
with the meeting. Thank you, Sabine. Thank you Mr. Caruso
Brecken. Next in our agenda at number 7A, we have
a deputation from Annette Peddler Executive Director of Safe and
Sound with regard to neighbourhood response team pilot project.
Thank you so much for having me tonight. As was
said, my name's Annette Pedler. I'm the proud Executive Director
of Safe and Sound. I've been in that role for
about three years now, and I'm here today to give
a report on the Neighbourhood Response Team. So, um, I'm
also joining me today as Karen Wheeler. Karen was one
of the staff, um, and a part of the neighbourhood
response team. Um, and so she's going to share a
bit about her experience working on the team as well.
Um, and so as you all are aware, it's kind
of a two - part deputation. So the first one
is going to strictly a bit be about the neighbourhood
response team, and then we'll move on to, uh, further
matters later. But hopefully we can address any questions about
the NRT specifically within this time allotment. Um, the purpose
of our delegation today is to really let you all
know how it went and also to seek a letter
of support for an upcoming grant that we're doing to
the trillion foundation to have this project funded moving forward.
So the team, and I'll also give a shout out
to Kurt, who's in attendance today. So he's, uh, he
was also on the team. So thanks for his support.
But I'll let Karen share now about her experience. Good
afternoon Mayor, members of council and members of our community.
My name is Karen, and I had the privilege of
serving as one of the four outreach workers of the
Owen Sound's neighbourhood response team. Before I begin, I would
like to ask everyone to take a moment to look
around the room. Stats Canada tells us that one of
every five people in this room struggle with substance use
disorder throughout their lifetime. By age 40, one in two
Canadians will have experienced or are currently experienced a mental
illness. Mental illness and substance use disorders are among the
leading cause of disability in Canada. Those aren't just a
statistics. They represent people. They represent our neighbours, coworkers, friends,
parents, children, and loved ones. They represent people in every
neighbourhood everywhere, race, and every family. When I joined the
neighbourhood response team, I quickly realised that the people we
encountered downtown were only a visible part of a much
larger issue. Behind every person experiencing homelessness, addiction, or mental
health illness, was a story of trauma, grief, illness, or
circumstances that could happen to any one of us. These
challenges do not discriminate. One thing became very clear, we
cannot solve these issues by simply asking people to move
along. I want to recognise the important work Ray County
has done to expand housing and support surfaces. Those investments
are essential, but housing and services alone are not enough
if people cannot access them. This is where the neighbourhood
response team made a difference. Our role was to meet
people where they were, both physically and emotionally. We built
trust with individuals who often had little or no connection
to traditional services. Once that trust was established, we helped
connect people to health care, housing, identification, income supports, addiction
treatment, mental health services, and other community resources. We walked
alongside of people as they navigated complex systems, always treating
them with dignity, respect, and compassion. Our work also included
many practical tasks that often went unnoticed but had a
real impact in our community. We returned banned and shopping
carts to local businesses helped people safely dispose of belongings
that had become unsafe or at my unmanageable and made
every effort to return lost property of the rifle owners.
These may seem like small actions, but they improve the
appearance of her downtown strength and relationships with local businesses
and help preserve the dignity of the people we served.
The neighbourhood response team was never just about helping individuals.
It was about making our entire community healthier and safer.
The neighbourhood, sorry, by intervening early, we helped reduce unnecessary
emergency room visits, EMS calls and police interactions. We often
prevented situations from escalating into crisis, reducing pressure on the
emergency services. Why creating a safer public space for residents,
businesses, visitors, and the vulnerable individuals alike. Outreach is not
simply compassion. It is practical. It's a proactive evidence -
based and cost - effective. It connects people with support
before they reach a crisis, reducing the need for more
expensive emergency interventions later. I know this work matters because
I've witnessed its impact first hand. I've seen people reconnect
with health care, obtain identification, secure housing, begin addiction treatment,
and rebuild relationships with family and community. These successes really
verily make headlines, but they change lies. And every one
of these successes represent someone moving from crisis towards stability.
Supporting outreach is not simply an investment in social services.
It's an investment in public safety, community well - being,
and fiscal responsibility. It reflects a commitment to addressing complex
challenges without thoughtful, effective solutions rather than temporary fixes. I
respectfully ask counsel to support the neighbourhood response team. Outreach
is not an optional service. It's a vital part of
coordinated response to homelessness, addiction, mental illness, and poverty. It
strengthens our community while improving outcomes for everyone who calls
Own Sound Home. Thank you for your time, your leadership
and your continued commitments to the people of Own Sound.
Before I pass things over to Annette, I'd like to
leave you with one final thought. You're obvious is someone
else's impossible. For many of us, making a phone call
filling out a form or attending an appointment, or asking
for help seem simple. For someone living with trauma, mental
illness, addiction, or homelessness, these tasks can feel impossible. Sometimes
the difference between remaining and crisis and taking the first
step toward recovery is simply having someone willing to walk
beside you. That is what, the neighbourhood response did every
day. Thank you. Thank you, Karen. That was awesome. So,
um, as is, you can see up on the board
here. So, um, the neighbourhood response team, um, they were
available as a public service, a publicly through publicly available
phone number, excuse me, from the, during the pilot period,
which was from November 1st until the end of March.
Um, the target area was really in the river district
plus, um, and so the majority of, um, the calls
were in the river district, but then we also, um,
extended it to include some other partners. Um, like Moe
Kwadong to be in the catchment, uh, area as well.
Um, in that time, there was over 2, 000 direct
supports given to individuals on the streets. And as Karen
said, um, this was a huge wide range, as you
can see here about the different supports in which people,
uh, received. Um, and the different, uh, different hands that
were, that were offered. Um, because of time I might
not read through this Community Feedback, but within the report
that was submitted as additional, um, materials, uh, read some
of the feedback from different local businesses, uh, the businesses
were very supportive and happy of this service. The reality
is, is that we need somewhere else for people to
call. Um, our emergency services are under a great deal
of strain. And it's a significantly financially costly endeavour to
call the police every time somebody is on a bench
crying. Every time somebody is sleeping in a doorway, uh,
every time somebody's knocked over a garbage can, these kinds
of things that we can have a community driven solution
rather than bringing the police in is something that we
need to figure out how to integrate as a part
of our everyday community, um, we need a police doing
police matters. And those matters are simply not criminal matters.
So for this past pilot project, we received 152, 000
dollars. Uh, for the program moving forward for a full
year, um, is just under 300, 000 dollars. And again,
when we look at that, the cost of that, uh,
in relation to the other kind of numbers that you
can currently call for somebody who will come and assist
you, um, business owners and community members, they need support
right then in the moment. They need a number they
can call and they need somebody who can come and
help. And that's what the NRT is trying to address
within the community. So as I mentioned, um, the Ethilium
grant is our next step. And I think that it's
important to recognise that the city could have a role
in funding this in the future. Um, but today's ask
is for support, a letter of support for that trillium
grant. Um, I also kind of want people to start
to think about like people walking around to downtown with
vests supporting people. That's of many different names. That's also
a support of tourism. Um, that's also a support of
many things. And so I think that if we look
at the future, we hope to have, um, other partners
come on board because this is not just supporting homelessness.
This is supporting our community in a lot of different,
um, ways. So I know I've not left a lot
of time for questions, but if it's a quick one.
I think we can break the time with questions. Councillor
Merton. Through you Mayor, I would like to make a
motion that we send a letter of support along to
assist for a Chillian Grant application for this project.
Just before I recognise that motion, are there any other
questions? I'm just thinking about order. For Annette on this
issue. Go ahead. Thank you through the mayor. I want
to highlight that this is exactly the kind of upstream
and non - emergency service response that the Community Safety
and Wellbeingwork identifies as being more effective, better for people
and more cost effective. And like we heard, let's police
do police things. And. I'm curious to, the duration of
this pilot was through a really brutal winter. And the
report that accompanied as additional information spoke to the physical
health impacts of having people without sufficient footwear outside and
wet all of the time. Um, I was hoping to
just maybe hear some more information about what that large
number of wellness and health related interactions. Might look like
in the context of it's really cold and people don't
have necessarily what they need.
Through you, um, Mayor, thanks John for your question. Yeah,
I think that the best people to ask that question
too is really the emergency room because that's where we're
seeing that play out. Um, and the impact is having
a terrible impact on our wait times when we go
up to the hospital. It's having, um, it's disabling because
we had somebody this winter lose both of his legs.
Um, and so there's a cost to that, that the
community needs to carry forward in a much longer term.
Um, homelessness is really violent for people. It's violent to
their bodies to be outside. Um, and that violence does
carry physical manifestations and certainly, um, the loss of fingers,
limbs, toes. That's something that, uh, many of the people
here, uh, in support of this project tonight, uh, need
to deal with on a daily basis. Um, and it's
a burdening lot of different systems around us. And we
need to have more socks for people and dry boots
for people. Um, the first winter that, uh, before Safe
and Son was open overnight, uh, there was a gentleman
who was hospitalized for six weeks with frostbite on his
hands. It cost our community more to have that gentleman
be in the hospital for the six weeks than it
would have cost us to fund safe and sound for
that year before, uh, to be open. So he wasn't
sleeping outside. And so, um, I think that, yeah, thank
you for your question. And this is where homelessness is
the ripples are really being felt in places that aren't
within Safe and Sound. Going this way, no hands are
going up. I'll go back to Carol's motion, which is
that the staff write a letter to support the grant
application. Any questions on that. Um, just without having that
ahead of time, I think just to be safe, I
better declare a pecuniary interest as I work for the
government of Ontario. Okay. Call the question on favor. I'd
just like to say that's not something I can support.
Uh, the last couple of years we've heard from various
people in the community that seemingly don't have a voice
through a plethora of means when they talk about, uh,
perhaps a moratorium on service provision downtown should be something
that we examine. Uh, this is a continuation then of
what can become potentially a self - fulfilling circular action
where the more, uh, services you provide, the more invitation
you have to individuals from outside of our community. I'm
looking right now from the By Names list. This is
Grey County's homelessness plan or the housing plan. Harden 40
people experiencing homelessness in spring, 2026, 39er unhoused, uh, unless
it can be mitigated with offsetting costs in the SOS
program, which I see does a lot of this work.
There's various other service providers in the community. We've heard
some great stories from OSHER. They've got the medical practitioner
in there in partnership with SOS program as well, providing
some of the services. So at this time, I mean,
even the comment about police, that should be backed up
with stats and data. And information to support it. You
can't just make a claim that, um, it's removed of
certain amount of call volume. You've got a substantiate that
with something. So, uh, I haven't seen that, uh, not
something that I can support. Anyone else. Councillor Farmer. First,
if the mayor will humor me, I think, uh, the
deputy mayor's comments bring up the question of how is
the neighbourhood response team different than the supportive outreach service
through the United Way. We have people in the room
from both of those organisations. And I think it would
be helpful for all of us to hear how those
two services are different if that's possible. No, we're not
getting so long enough agenda anyway. We've got a 10
minute that we're beyond. I think it's a straightforward motion.
Anyone else wants to speak to the motion. Through the
mayor. I'm in totally in support of the motion. I
think it's always interesting to me to hear where arguments
like the one the deputy made are deployed. We don't
talk about oncology patients as flooding our community because we
offer the services here. We don't talk about that for
people who are seniors who need supportive living and to
have that kind of argument focused only on people who
are the most vulnerable. I think really just entrenches an
idea that some people are deserving of having their humanity
recognised and other people aren't. And I think that we
should reject that. We're here for everyone in Owen Sound
and having more people downtown who are employed to take
care of both people and the spaces so that if
a business owner does find a sharp or paraphernalia in
front of their door when they come in in the
morning, that the number that they can call and people
who are trained and whose job it is, is to
come and clean up where it's not city staff who
needs to do that. It's not public health that needs
to do that or police. That this is, I think,
clearly an asset to our community. And it's much cheaper
than calling public health or public works. And I think
we would be foolish to not join the Chamber of
Commerce and OSHER and all the other community organisations that
have said, this is a benefit. It deserves to be
supported. And if we're not going to fund that locally,
then we should make sure that the people who are
willing to run it and do the work to make
it happen to meet that obvious community need. Have all
the resources that they need in order to be successful
in finding that grant funding from other places. Because if
we're not finding grant funding for this, here, then we're
going to be paying more City employees to do more
cleaning. And we're going to be paying more police officers
to show up for people who are having a bad
day, but not doing anything criminal. I've seen personally how
just knowing someone's name and saying, Hey, what's wrong when
they're yelling in the street can give them a chance
to say, I'm having a bad day. It's the end
of the month. I'm out of money. My friend just
did something really mean to me. And that conversation can
deescalate. Someone who's in distress in a public place because
they don't have a private place to be. That's just
being human. And I think we should fund more human
services and humane services with a letter of support.
Come on, this is accounts on meeting. We're conducting the
business of the city. It's not a, uh, it's not
a stage and a presentation. Go ahead. Thank you. Yeah.
Thank you, worship. Just, um, you said the total allegation
for the year anticipated costs are going to be 300,
000 to shy of 300, 000. So last year you
were in a partnership with Grey County. So I'm assuming
you've done this presentation with Grey County. Just, but I'll
give you one second because then once you, if you
answer, I have to turn mine off. So their presentation,
two great county have they offered any level of support
as well. Um, secondary question too, that would be. Let's
just say you don't receive the Ontario Trillion Foundation grant
funding. What does that put in to your plans for
next steps? Is that just a request back to council
to fund that program? Or will that be a financial
request that goes back to the county? Um, that's going
to be my, my first part of that. And the
second part of that question, I'll just say at the
Rupert District Board, we've talked about a downtown river district
ambassador program. Um, they have a program like that in
Collingwood where someone kind of has that individual who shares
that tourism perspective. And I'm just trying to grasp, like
when you said, uh, originally in your presentation that, you
know, what you envision an RT to look like. Is
that what you're leading to that you're looking more into
a tourism ambassador component in the downtown core? Or what
do you envision this looking like in the future? So
two parts of that question. Thank you. And through you,
your mayor. So first of all, it wasn't the county's
money that funded this. It was flow through money from
the county. So it was, it was not financially supported
through the countier funded through the county. I did do
this as a report to the, uh, Community Services Committee
of Grey County. And, uh, I will be seeking a
letter of support from them as well. Um, for the
Trillium application. Grey County is a large place. And I
think that, uh, I don't want to speak for Grey
County. But I think that their resources need to be
allocated in a wide geographical area. And when we're talking
about something that's so specific to the river district, I
think that, uh, the first stop is the people who
are of the riffroofer district. Um, and, uh, Owen Sound
is just one part of Grey County as a whole.
And what happens if this is not funded by Trilium.
The thing is, is that these community driven solutions that
are evidence - based cheaper for our community as a
whole. They will always continue to come up as the
best solution. And so whether the time is now for
this to be funded, maybe it doesn't get funded by
Trilium. Maybe it doesn't get funded now. But it will
continue to come because we need other supports available within
the community. Um, and so if we're not funded by
Trillium, then sure, maybe I'll come back and ask City
Council. Maybe we'll continue to seek other grants. We'll ask
Grey County as well. Like we're not going to stop
trying to find a funding path to it. Um, because
it's going to continue to be the right solution for
our community. So whether it's me or whoever is in
the future, it will continue to be brought forward. Um,
and then for your second part of your question, I
really want us all to understand these services as not
a single type of service. When we're having somebody walk
around the downtown supporting people, you're not just tourism or
you're not just homelessness or you're not just whatever, you
know, and trying to understand that integrating these solutions, uh,
together, because the solutions that are best for tourism are
often the solutions that are best for homelessness too. And
so we need to not think of this as just
a tourism program in the future or just a homelessness
program. Because, you know, alleviating visible homelessness in downtown will,
of course, help tourism. Um, and so I think that
we need to be a little bit less worried about
specific mandates and kind of open up. Um, our ideas
about through actual collaboration and partnership. Maybe we're going to
be answering actually a lot of questions through the same
initiative. Not seeing other, any other hands going up.
Um, several years ago, I went to AMO and there
was a specialist from. Waterloo Operateer, I think, not Gualford,
Waterloo. And Sudbury and they had a whole list of
what they are working on, working towards all these great
things that we need to do each and every one
of those. We were doing in Grey County already. I
think Francesca went to Timmons and came back with us,
same conclusion. This is just to me one more opportunity
to liaison between businesses that I know a couple that
get pretty frustrated. I think it's unfortunate that your pilot
was between November and March and not between May 1st
and September 30th. I think it would have been a
little bit different. I thank you do need to perfect
it a little bit. But how do you perfect it
in six months? So I'm supporting Carol's motion. So that
I will call the question who's in favor. One, two,
three, four, five, six, num seven. So that's carried. Thank
you. So. Oddly enough, seven B is a
deputation from a net peddler, Executive Director Safe and Sound
Emergency Schelter Facility. Thank you. For not kicking me out
yet. So, um, the next thing, speaking of services in
the downtown, um, is, uh, Emergency Shelter Facility, um, that
we are opening at 6, 12 seconds. So we're going
to talk first about going through briefly about what Safe
and Sounds Overnight Services have been the last couple of
years. Then we're going to talk about, uh, this new
facility. And then just going to take a minute to
reflect about where I think our community is headed. And
also, uh, what role I see the City Plain in
this. And hopefully questions. So 2024 was the first year
that we were open overnight. And as you can see,
those average nightly stays, uh, the biggest month was 24
people. Fast forward to this past year. So our third
year, um, being a 24 hour service and our number
significantly, uh, increased, especially by the end of the year.
And, uh, this is obviously a hugely challenging. How it
worked up until this point. And we'll get, talk about
this a bit more later is that Safe and Sound
was the catch all for any system that wasn't working
for people. So if somebody is at, uh, the hospital
of somebody is at Grey County's motel program, if somebody
is in any type of facility. And that's not a
fit for them. Uh, we are really where people end
up when a system somewhere has failed them. Um, and
that's, I think why when I'm thinking about solutions, they're
very integrated within a lot of other systems because the
reasons in which people are needing to access our services
are also very much integrated into a lot of other,
um, systems within our community. So about who stays, um,
in our space, um, I think that it really needs
to be very clear that a lot of the people
who come and access Safe Sound services have a disability.
Um, are part of some minority, in particular, indigenous. So
locally, um, our indigenous population is 2. 4 percent, but
in total, um, they were 27 percent of the night.
So that means that, um, indigenous Community members were more
than 11 times more likely to be needing Safe and
Sounds services. And so I think that when we look
at this in a longer horizon, we understand that this
isn't something that's just the last five years in on.
This is something that has been set for, for decades,
um, and we're left, as I said, holding a lot
of many generations of failures for families. So in total,
um, Safe and Sound received from Grey County 435, 000
dollars for the operating cost. Um, and so that equals
to, uh, with the United States, 71 dollars per night
That's not Great Math because that's also accounting for pain
for our services during the day, which do have a
lot more people, um, than that. Um, but, uh, it,
uh, it, it, it's how much, uh, we had. So.
So Satan Sound was started in 2007 with the goal
of addressing a lack of a housing in the community.
And so the next iteration of that is this 24
bed shelter, uh, facility. We don't have a lot of
time to go through all of the different iterations of
what shelters look like. So we're going to have to
just stick with, uh, explaining it as a dormitory style
facility. Um, and then spots for five other people who
will be awake. Um, this will be operational year round.
Um, and it will only be open at night. Uh,
the main reason for that is that the space itself
is not, uh, and once you put in 14, or
sorry, 12 bunk beds, uh, quite obviously becomes 12 bunk
beds in a room. And that's a challenging thing to
have anything other than a sleeping quarters in that space.
So we received funding through the federal government of 500,
000 dollars to purchase a building. And that's fantastic. Uh,
but obviously 500, 000 dollars doesn't really barely get you
a single family home, let alone a building that can
be used as a facility for, uh, dozens of folks
experiencing homelessness. Um, and so this is the facility that
we were able to acquire. So up on the screen
now is the plans for the building. Um, I'm going
to get into some more zoomed in areas, uh, but
basically the, uh, this is the front area here. And
in this area, there is a shower, a washroom, a
staff office, um, an area, excuse me, where the, it
says the staff occupancy. That area will be somewhere for
people who are awake. We don't want it to be
that. If you're in here, you're sleeping, if you're awake,
you're out because that's not being a good neighbour. Um,
that's not going to be great for, for someone who's
living beside us. Um, so that is where the additional
capacity of five people who will be awake in the
facility will be able to be. Additionally, in the vestibule
area, we have, we give restrictions to people. I don't
know if council's aware, but also we give restrictions to
individuals for their conduct within the community. So it's not
just in the building and on the property. Um, but
we do give restrictions for things that happen around the
facility as well. And that makes for really, really, uh,
challenging moments, especially for frontline staff that are asked to
carry way, way too much when it is 2. 30
a. m. And I've said so and so can't come
in. And then it is minus 25 and so on
and so is standing there. And they look like they're
about to die. And so this vestibule area will be
a way to have people come into the building. There'll
be a gate so that they're able to shelter from
the elements for an appropriate amount of time before being
asked to leave again. Then this is back into the
sleeping quarters. So they will be gendered. And in total,
as I said, though, there's 24 beds there. Um, there's
also a ramp that is going to make it a
barrier free facility. And that was on the previous slide.
And, um, I just wanted to also highlight in the
basement. So in the basement area, because we don't want
to have staff very spread out throughout the facility, uh,
we have everyone's sleeping on the same level. And then
we have one larger room in the basement. And that
is where our different partner service agencies are going to
all have desks. And the idea is that we are
going to stay open until eight o'clock, sorry, nine o'clock
in the morning. And then these various partners are all
actually going to be able to start their days, uh,
from this building to be able to connect with the
service users, uh, before they even get out and leave
for the day. Um, and that will help cut some
time for the hospital's act sort of Community treatment team,
the SOS team, um, CMHA, Malequidong's housing program, um, amongst
several others. And so I think that some of those
letters of support that you received were for some of
the partners who intend to be in that space as
well. And this is the model that we need to
move towards moving forward. This is how being different services
coming to the people and meeting them quite literally where
they are at. So where's our Community going. In less
than two minutes. I think it's really important that you
all know that homelessness is a solvable problem. It's a
solvable problem in Owen Sound. It's solvable problem in Canada.
And there is a lack of belief right now, which
is the biggest first problem to actually making that happen.
And a lot of both elected people, well most elected
people that I talk to don't really think that this
dot is a possibility for our community. And I just
think that maybe asking yourselves how your distancing yourselves are
bringing yourself closer to those solutions. What kind of events
are you going to have you ever come and spoken
to most of the people in the room here tonight
are running some type of a service or working for
a type of a service or volunteering. And there is
no lack of solutions. Everyone always kind of says, Oh,
you must be like so hopeless. And I just keep
thinking, I am not hopeless at all because we have
not tried many of the very common sense solutions that
our community needs. If we tried these things, then perhaps
I might be feeling, um, not hopeful. But I really
am because the solutions are a lot closer, I think,
than people really, um, and so the city's role within
this. I think that, um, to do this justice, I
am hesitant to start this slide with 30 seconds left.
But I think that it always starts with ourselves as
an individual. And, um, trying to understand, uh, where is
your sphere of influence and what can you do? And
what does the City do? And this is where we
really ask for more collaboration and partnership. I think that
there's a lot of people in the room here are
sitting and waiting for an invitation. And whatever that meeting
looks like, wherever that is, whatever tour, you know, you
all want to go on. We're here. We have solutions.
And we're excited and really proud to share them with
you. Thank you. Thank you. Andy, go ahead. Yeah. Thank
you for the presentation. Um, you've got a plan to
build this facility very obviously, but I'm just curious about
your operational plan. Um, you know, for example, I couldn't
help but read how the slugging shores police have, uh,
are planning to transfer folks to Owen Sound for overnight
stays. And so my question is, you know, what's the
plan if the more people embeds as a result of
that, you know, have you thought through these sorts of
situations. Do you, your Mayor, I would love to defer
that to the people who are a deputy mayor who's
sitting on the county council's Community Services Committee. Because I
think this is where there's a bit of a misunderstanding
of who's doing the role. Like the role of housing
people is the role of the state. And we are
simply, uh, one service got the state is using to
help meet that. Um, and that is what I'm saying
and what we're saying today is that for the last
couple of years, we have said anybody who needs to
place to stay will open the doors. And what's happened
is that it's not been a dignified enough service because
it's been overcrowded. Um, and we can't continue that. So
what I'm here today to say is that we will
provide beds for 24 people with it five more additional
people who are going to be awake. And then that
is the role of the county to answer that question.
Um, about what's going to happen. What we're going to
do is we're going to call and we're going to
say, Hey, does this person have somewhere to stay tonight
that can they get into the county's program and they're
going to have to address that themselves. They, they rent
private motel rooms when the, the motel is at capacity.
Um, and so the amount
Just so I can answer that question. I asked Grey
County staff Anne Marie Shaw last Thursday on the Port
Algin and was advised that there was two people brought
over in the coldest nights and were returned to Port
Og in the next day only two all winter long.
So it's not hit Facebook and everyone gets excited. But
in reality, it isn't that big ahead. The questions. But
that's fine. That's still two people coming. And if it's
already full, you're going to be turning those people away.
Is that what I heard. Yes. Like we are not
going to be overcapacity. And that is not Safe and
Sound's responsibility. If Bruce County's unable to meet their housing
needs. Thank you, worship. Um, I
guess, and just for clarity for anyone who's watching people
who aren't a part of your organisation, who you've brought
with you along with this, the city is an improving
anything today. The city isn't actually, this is just a
presentation to inform municipal counsel of what is going on.
Um, you didn't have to hold a public meeting because
the, uh, zoning, uh, wasn't changing for the property. The
property was able to just convert from where it currently
was as a daycare into your current facility. So there
was no public meeting. I think what begs the question
is, are you planning to host a public meeting with
members of the surrounding community neighbourhoods? Have you had communication
with some of those direct people that are going to
potentially be affected by some of that person that you
just said you may turn away? That might go to
the park two doors down or might go to the
mill dam or may move further down the street. Is
there been, we talk about transparency. You just said the
words right there. Communication transparency. So people are here to
listen. Have you listened to anything that's going on with
the neighbourhood concerns? I live three blocks away. And I
know I haven't received anything in the mail about having
a public meeting or a question about what we may
see or, and it's not even whether it's, doesn't need
to be something negative. It's about perception. Um, perception in
reality can sometimes just mean the exact same thing come
to the same outcome if you do not have answers
or do not provide people the opportunity. So if you're
trying to run an endeavour that we know is going
to have challenges. That's not kid ourselves by any means.
People will be upset no matter what. Some people will
be happy. Some people are going to be upset. So
what have you done to interact with the neighbourhood that
it's going to, just be honest, it will be affecting
the neighbourhood of surrounding them in one way, shape or
form. And it could be, it's going to be positive.
It could be negative. Everyone's going to have a different
experience. So tell me, when are you planning to do
that. Have you thought about it or who have you
communicated with in that neighbourhood. We have met with neighbours,
especially the ones immediately around the facility. Neighbours are giving
direct input on what the fence is going to look
like, for example. I just forwarded what they wanted the
fence to look like onto the contractor. So those conversations
are happening. I think that we also are going to
start a community services, or Community Services. Neighbourhood Committee, one
of our board members here today is a spearheading that.
I just want to keep in context that, like, Safe
and Sound right now, we have me as a non
- direct service providing staff. And then we have half
of financial manager. Um, and that is who are, where
our capacity is that is not a direct service provider.
And so this is where in the question of what
is the role of everybody around us also that, um,
that we need more education and support being done about
what it means to have a shelter in your community,
not just by Safe and Sound. This is also the
role of the city. This is also the role of
the county. We're going to have a work to work
B's. We're going to have an open house and then
a grand opening. So it's, it's not behind a cloak.
Um, and also I attend a public meeting like every
time. And if you want to ever find out where
I work and what I do. Um, and so we
are constantly all living also within the community and addressing
these issues every day. Um, and yeah. Thanks. And I
appreciate that. But that's still, that's just saying I walked
on the street and I listened to what people say.
I'm going to go back to what I originally, my
original comment. If you're looking for a positive success from
that, the people in that surrounding neighbourhood, just like you
would have done if you had to do a zoning
change, you would have defered from people who didn't support
and opposed. And more information, this is the first time
you get to, you're even having a chance to say
this publicly from what I'm aware of built on television
and in this chamber to provide the input of what
you're doing and what this facility is going to do.
And I just think when we start saying words like
other people have their ears open and we need more
education, that's fair. But where's the space for it? And
I think if you're moving into this facility, you haven't
hosted a public meeting because you didn't need to. I
just think that's a commonly neighbour thing you would want
to do. Um, for the success of your facility. Um,
and I'm not trying to be mean or rude or
anything. But you know, the perception from what's happened on
8th Street. There is a negative perception of something that
has happened from 8th Street. Some people agree with it.
Some people don't, but that is out there. So if
that is the case, you know, if this is something
different and it's in a different neighbourhood, I would just
have the expectation that you'd want to try to cut
that off and try to be as positive as you
can, but the solutions you're going to find. If people
are moving into those neighbourhoods, what can people do? Or,
you know, I think it's just communication, as you note.
But I think it was two ways. So I would,
my hope would be, before this facility is open, that
you've got some sort of plan, that neighbourhood response team
or whoever you were just committee, I would hope you're
planning to set up something. Otherwise, I can tell you,
and I'm not being mean here, but you will get
negative feedback immediately. So I just feel like if your
organisation to have a positive feel from your organisation, I
think you need to have some communication with not just
the three people around your facility. Um, it will impact
more people. And from my perspective, we have public meetings
all the time about things. But I just think that
if personally, I think that's, you're going to run into
some challenges if you don't do that. Okay. So I'm
just looking at the clock at 6. 30 and we've
got 12 reports to go. So I'll go to Carol
first. Through you mayor. I know,
Annette, I sent you an email and I talked to
you before the meeting. So I'm bringing forward the question
about statistics. As we, as we are hearing this presentation,
looking at the statistics you've provided. My analysis is that
we're opening a facility that is under servicing the need.
Before the door is open, even with the sit -
ups, stay awakes. And the beds, the bunk beds. We're
not even meeting what you have identified is out there.
And we know there is an increase in the unhoused
in our area and growing. We're going underwater as we're
trying to swim upstream here. The county has an important
role to play. How do we communicate back. Great. There's
beds. There's not enough beds. And what can be done?
What's plan B? Because otherwise, as we know, our service
agencies will provide what they need to for people to
be outdoors with whatever's over their head or indoors under
our roof. And I have a concern that we're already
under service. Before the winter even arrives. Councillor Farmer. Uh,
one question for Annette and two questions for staff. Um,
just quickly, there was a comment about not a place
for youth. Um, we hear a lot about from various
sources that the people coming to access services are not
from here, um, can you speak to that comment about
youth, um, because to my understanding, the teenagers that are
here are very much from here. Has safe and sound
been also providing services to people under the age of
18. To answer through you,
Mayor Safe and Sound has been providing services to youth
under the age of 18 last winter. When I became
aware that this wasn't just happenstance that the youth night
kind of went sideways and they were ending up at
Safe and Sound. And instead that was the plan for
the youth to be staying. We made a rule that,
okay, no more people under the age of 18 are
allowed in the facility after 10 p. m. The second
night that was imposed or that was enacted. Youth was
sexually assaulted in a snow bank, um, in the downtown.
And so we then the following night let the youth
back in, um, because the harm that was occurring in
that situation was a lot worse when the door wasn't
open to them. Uh, then what it was. Um, of
course the youth have a significant amount of time to
Grey County, but so does, so too does the adults,
um, who access our services as well. Um, we did
a poll last summer of everywhere everyone went to high
school in over 90 percent of the people in attendance
at Safe and Sound for that one week period had
gone to high school in Grey or Bruce County. Um,
and, uh, so this is really, uh, Owen Sound and
local area, um, folks who are accessing the service. And
also to address councillor Mertens question about the, I think
that I partly answered that with there will be people
being turned away, um, and yes, I am actually quite
tepid on the plan in that it is not meeting
the full need. This is where it comes back to.
We got 500, 000 dollars and that is in enough
to address this problem in full. The answer to that
and what, um, I think that we all need as
a community to start to talk about is a purpose
- built facility that is integrating medical beds. A lot
of the people who are accessing safe and sound services
are in medical conditions that are not, um, honestly, probably
believable for a lot of people about the kind of
support they need from PSWs and nursing. Um, and we
don't want to be providing emergency shelter services. We want
to be providing transitional housing. We want to be providing
pathways for people to not just be surviving another 24
hours. And I see very strongly the future in Owenstown
being one with a facility that is bringing a lot
of services together and then has transitional housing above that
are meeting different people's medical needs. We are not going
to talk tonight about our palliative care program, but palliative
care is a huge need in the homelessness sphere and
something we have a worker addressing. Um, and so this
is not our destination. This is just where we are
today. And we are going to continue to build and
learn from every endeavour we do. Um, and build towards
a better future for all of our community. Okay. Two
questions for the City manager. I'll just stack them in
if you need the second one repeated. Feel free. One,
we've heard that there's a plan from the city to
develop regulations for emergency care establishments. Can you tell us
how the new regulations might impact this new shelter? And
secondly, what does the work plan from the city look
like and timeline for outreach to stakeholders like Safe and
Sound, Breitshores, uh, and the county to make sure that
any increased regulation is mutually beneficial. Through you mayor to
Councillor Farmer. So staff are not currently proposing an emergency
care bylaw on its own. We're looking at, um, an
update or Revision to the business licensing bylaw that could
have elements of an emergency care pieces within it. We've
just started looking at that now. Uh, the notion from
Bylaw would be to set up and speak with various
stakeholders over the next few months, that being Owen Sound
Police Services Safe and Sound United Way. The county, et
cetera, and bring a report back at some point in
the fall with an update to business licensing bylaw. So
neat. To you, Mayor. Thank you, Annette, for the presentation.
Just a quick question for my own gender knowledge. That
you meant the SOS programs and the neighbourhood response team
programs and the shelter that you're proposing. So all these
facilities, they are only in Omen Sound out of Grey
County. Or are there in any other municipalities for Grey
County? Like where folks can go other than Owen Sound.
Thank you for your question through you, your mayor. SOS
and the neighbourhood of response team are not physical buildings.
Um, and they're not tied to anything physical. SOS is
not also directly only tied to Grey County. Safe and
Sound is somewhere that SOS provides services too. Um, but,
um, some of the SOS folks in the Crowder are
much better to answer. But they host different clinics, um,
and drop in times at various places across Grey County
throughout the week at different days. So they'll go to
Hanover. There's also in Mark D. There's the Grey Booth's
health access, sorry, not the Great Bruce. Southeast Grey Health
Access Centre that has a drop - in for people
to access. So, um, I think that it is a
great future to think about where a version of the
NRT and Safe and Sound could be providing drop -
in services outside of Owen Sound. But our capacity is
not of that now. And so SOS does a fantastic
job at serving those other communities. But that is not
the role of the NRT or of, um, Safe and
Sound. Go ahead. Thank you. And no denying that is
a very valuable need in the community. And I think
you've got a great location, the building, uh, itself. So
great to see the plans that you brought forward here
tonight. And that just going to build quickly off some
comments from Councillor Farmer. At the May Committee meeting at
the county at Community Services, you stated, um, the public,
in response to a question that public surrounding neighbours had
been consulted and communicated with. June 15th, I got an
email from a neighbouring resident and business owner in our
community to express their strong concerns regarding the shelter. Staff
responded to that email June 24th after meeting with Safe
and Sound on the week of the 15th to the
19th, which stated that Safe and Sound staff mentioned in
that meeting, they would be doing some Community outreaching communication.
So the example where I'm not sure what's been done.
One thing was said at the county that they'd already
been outreach and communicating with neighbours. Then I get an
email that would seemingly contradict that to a certain extent.
Um, there's a letter attached in the package that's in
support of the plans, both the NRT and this one
here tonight. Uh, it's from a public person identifying as
a public member. Why does that individual get included in
the correspondence to council as a singular individual as opposed
to a multitude of various personalities that could have contributed
various concerns? So at the end of the day, I
do want to know more about how you're going to
consult with the public. And effectively how you're going to
hold yourself to a level of accountability measured against concerns
from surrounding neighbours and your response to them when you
get them. Because that is critical. The concerns are valid
and real. Um, when people have devaluation in their house
price, uh, dependent upon sensitive uses, that might be close
by. That hits home for people. That's a very real
concern. And it should be acknowledged. And we have to
respond to it. Um, so I guess that's what level
of communication are you going to commit yourself to and
how are you going to hold yourself accountable to those
concerns? I am first and foremost accountable to the participants
of Safe and Sound. Um, I am also accountable to
the board of Safe and Sound. I'm accountable to our
funders. I am accountable to our neighbours. I am accountable
as a Community member within this community. So I think
that trying to pick the singular way and the quick
answer about how I am going to be held accountable.
Is not really that fruitful. Um, of a conversation. But
I'm hearing that, uh, more communication is needed from Safe
and Sound. And I think we can take that back.
And we can continue to do better at that. Um,
unfortunately, we didn't have enough funding to continue to employer
communications manager. So they, uh, left the agency in January.
And so that has a compounding effect. When you don't
fund places well enough to do anything barely, then just
survive. You have results that are also partial. If you
partially fund something, you have a partial result. And so,
um, we, as I said, we're going to have an
open house for Community members to come in and meet
with people. Um, and, um, we, I think that our
board and I am very accessible. We are getting the
letters and the messages too. We are meeting and responding
to the people. We are answering the phone calls. And
I do also think it's important to note that not
all of the, some of the concerns are definitely valid.
And some of them are really hateful. And some of
the things that are being brought, um, to my voicemail
are really, really awful things. Um, and, you know, I
should put my truck in four by four and deal
with this problem myself. You know, that kind of thing.
And so engaging, the only death threats I've received in
this job are not through participants of Safe and Sound.
It is through Community members. So like, I think that
we can do a better job at Communicating with the
Community around us. Um, but I'm not concerned about a
lack of avenues to hold me accountable for how this
all goes. Melny. Thank you through your worship. Um, something
just struck me when I was looking at your logo.
I've always referred to you as Safe and Sound Owen
Sound, but your marketing yourself is Safe and Sound Grey
Bruce. And I was just reading your mission statement. And
it says that you provide services to individuals experiencing homelessness
housing insecurity poverty and marginalization in grey and Bruce Counties.
Where else are you located in Grey and Bruce County's
other than in Own Sound? So that name was circa
2007. So long before my time within Safe and Sound,
currently, as I said, our capacity is not limited to
a physical presence outside of Owen Sound, like as a
location. Um, we had not had time today to talk
about our palliative care program, but we have a palliative
care program coordinator story who works with people who are
indigenous or homeless across Grand Bruce to help them get
connected to palliative care services. Um, and so she travels
significantly throughout the region. And currently that is the main
way in which we are positively impacting the rest of
the counties outside of Own Sound. Thank you for that,
um, just in your comments earlier, you said that you,
the county needs to spread services wider across the county.
So I just, I feel like in your mission statement,
you're kind of inviting grey and Bruce to send to
you because it's in your mission statement. You're safe and
sound located in Owen Sound, but your mission statement is
that you're providing the service to all of Grey Bruce,
which I think is where a lot of the frustration
from Owen Sounders comes from because I feel like we
feel like we are the homelessness hub of Grey Bruce
County. And we want Grey County and it's up to
our reps to also speak up at Grey County that
we want the services spread out. We don't want to
be the homeless hub. We feel like people should be
looked after in the community from which they come from.
So whether or not you have any role in that
going forward, you know, I know that funding is an
issue at all times. But, um, I personally would like
to see services spread out across Grey County so that
people can be looked after where they're from. Through you
briefly, your Mayor, I don't, that like, I'm not sure
if that was something you thought I was going to
disagree with, but I don't. Like obviously people need to
be supported naturally within their own homes, you know, through
their natural support system. Um, so you're not, yeah, of
course people need to be able to stay closer to
their natural supports. Grey Bruce is a big area. I
think that, um, people not even realising it says Grey
Bruce is kind of and it thinks it says Owen
Sound may be as reflective of it not really being
an invitation. If you already thought it said Safe and
Sound Owen Sound, the Grey Bruce thing maybe isn't even,
I guess, registering for a lot of people. All right.
I think we need to move on with our meeting.
Thank you very much for coming in and to presenting.
And, you know, this is probably the first time. What
you're doing is so important in the community. We all
know what. I'm not going to tell you what the
Community thinks because you already know as you talk about
the phone calls you take some of those phone calls
are worse than what I get. There is some concern
of the perception very clearly and that's been communicated with
you tonight on eight Street. I got more phone calls
about people in front of your place on eight street
than just about anything. The last little while it has
been. It hasn't been the same recently. It's been, I
don't want to use word cleaned up, but it has
been, it's been different. And I encourage you to continue
to listen to the Community and what they're saying as
well. It's a two - way street and keep doing
what you're doing and keep trying to perfect it with
your 1. 5 employees and three volunteers. But thanks for
doing what you're doing. Thank you. So, so if you
are here just for those, it's probably a good time
to leave. We'll just turn off the microphone because this
is going to take a minute. We'll encourage you to
go right outside because anything outside that door just echoes
like crazy in here. So we'll just give you a
minute.
Okay. So we'll, uh, put it back in gear at
us. 7C, we have a presentation from the City Manager
with regard to his update. Thank you Mayor and through
you. I'll bring a brief city manager's update. It's the
last or the second meeting of the month of which
I do every month for council. Highlights for the month
thus far. So highlights July has been a busy month.
Um, our bullet points on this slide speak to Camp
Tom and sports camps are well underway. They're all at
full capacity and we made it full capacity over the
summer. Our Canada Day celebrations took place at Kelso Beach
at Naywash Park. It was a hugely successful. A lot
of great feedback on Owen Sound's first drone show. Doors
open Owen Sound took place July 18th. We had a
very strong turnout to the locations that participated in that.
They got to explore the city's history. Architecture and cultural
landmarks. T. D. Harbour nights in midweek music have been
taking place on Sunday and Wednesday evenings and continue to
be well supported and attended. Arenas and banquet halls at
the city have been very busy over June and July.
And we're hosting the lacrosse tournament, graduations, proms and more.
Just some of the events happening around. We have multiple
community improvement playing grants that have been approved to various
properties throughout the harbour and river district areas. We have
the online survey for the park renaming at 823 5th
Avenue East is now open at our City. Owen Sound.
ca where the public can rank the names provided. The
survey is open until the end of August. So another
four weeks. The Owen Heights and Commerette Park Playground Replacements
are complete. The new playground equipments open for the public
to enjoy. I know we've gotten some emails from public
members public in those neighbourhoods really appreciate in the new
playground equipment. Multiple Road Construction Projects are underway throughout the
city. We know these causes this causes temporary traffic disruptions.
Uh, we thank everybody for your patience as these works
are completed. I guess we are continually in a two
seasons here. Winter and construction and we're in the construction
season right now. The Farmers Market Public Washroom Project has
been completed. It is open for the public use. However,
there are some minor finishing touches that will be added
in the coming weeks and that includes some signage, et
cetera. The 2026 municipal election is coming up. And, uh,
this slide really is just for, if you're interested in
being a candidate nominations are now open and packages can
be filed through August 21st at 2 p. m. So
August 21st, 2 p. m. is the cutoff for more
information. Please visit Owen Soundvotes. ca. In addition to that,
if you want to make sure you're on the Voters
list, you might be new to the city or new
to voting in this Coming Municipal election to confirm, register,
amend your information. Please register to vote o n. ca.
So that's not a city website. That is a provincial
website. Register to vote owen. ca. And you need to
do that by August 12th of this year. Looking at
our upcoming Committee meetings for September. September 12th is the
Tom Thompson Art Gallery Advisory Committee. We'll have an Art
Gallery September update report. Service review implementation ad hoc committee
is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9th. We'll have a report
through that on revenue and KPIs. Park Service levels that's
been ongoing. We've been touching various services within that large
group. This one will be horticulture. We have a winter
maintenance review. And then also a service review summary report
of what's been going on with service review over the
past few years. Our Corporate Services Committee Thursday, September 10th.
We have two report scheduled right now. The Reserve Fund
Policy Update and the 2025 Financial Audit. The Community Services
Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, September 23rd. We have an
ICE allocation policy. It's a kickoff report, Community Ambassador Program
update. And the Owen Sound Minor Baseball Agreement. Our operations
Committee meets Thursday, September 24th. There's only one report right
now scheduled for that. The water supply outside the municipal
boundary. And then finally, in case you have missed it,
there are opportunities through our media advisories throughout the month
that are happening. These are from June 10th to through
July 19th. If you've missed any of that, Owen Sound.
ca slash news. All of those media advisories are aggregated
into this one place so you can easily go to
that one site, click on the links and read about
various happenings around the city. And then lastly, we always
invite everybody to stay connected. We have a number of
websites. The Owensound. ca, the City's main website, ourcity. Owen
Sound. ca has planning information surveys, et cetera. Owen Sound.
ca, report a concern. And then, uh, other websites, Owen
Soundriverdistrict. ca and own SoundTourism. ca, both excellent locations to
get calendar of events and things going on in the
downtown and around the city in general. That concludes my
report, Mayor. Thanks. Any questions. Seeing none move to number
eight in our agenda public forum. Anyone wish to take
the microphone. Andre, just before you go. Your campaigning. This
is not the opportunity to campaign. The rest of us
have got rules that were not to use public city
facilities for campaigning. We didn't see a before there was
election. Now you're here every meeting. Go ahead. Andres Vojin
from Owen Sound. Thank you for the work that went
into that pilot. It showed that civilian responders can provide
useful help and lower risk situations where police powers are
unnecessary. The weakness was the structure. The five - month
pilot cost 160, 000 with large share going to administration.
It operated mainly as an added outreach service. And it
didn't clearly measure how many police calls or officer hours
were actually avoided. Council could consider a leaner 12 -
week pilot using part - time responders existing supervision and
direct referrals through Owen Sound's Emergency Communications Centre. That could
lower administrative costs while sending suitable mental health wellness and
de - escalation calls to less expensive civilian responders. Residents
could receive faster and more appropriate help while police remain
focused on crime and emergencies by measuring police hours avoided
and applying zero - based budgeting council could determine whether
the program can reduce over time avoid future hiring and
help bring police costs under control. And I just want
to be of the greatest service I can in whatever
endeavour I'm involved in. I love you all unconditionally. Thank
you for your time. Campaigning. Thank you. Anyone else? Richard.
Anyone else wished to speak to the microphone. I'm Anne
Finley Stewart. I live in Owen Sound. And I have
two things to say. First is that in 2007 I
was on the founding board of Safe and Sound. So
anybody thinks this is a new problem. We had it
then because the Salvation Army men shelter closed and we
were determined that people would not freeze to death on
the street. And that's where Safe and Sound began. That's
number one. Number two. So yeah, and they didn't all
come from everywhere else. They were our boys. And we
still have nothing for men. Um, but number two was
about, I know you've taken a lot of grief on
social media and I don't intend to pile on there
about the, um, the litter and the garbage and the
public receptacles. But I do have a question that I
haven't been able to find an answer to yet. And
that is when I pick up garbage that is identifiable.
When I'm picking up litter and there's something with somebody's
name on it, which I do all the time. Things
blow out of people's recycling and they have their names
on them. I've picked up pill bottles, prescriptions, envelopes, packages,
all kinds of things. And I don't want to pay
to get rid of them. So I put them in
a public garbage. Am I in fact causing a problem
for somebody else. Am I by putting that back in
the garbage. That I found on the street? Am I
guilty of the problem? I didn't steal that box out
of the woman's recycling. But I just want to know
if I throw these things out. Who is actually responsible.
I would suspect that bylaw would do an investigation and
to determine what they can determine based on the evidence
that they collect. So I could be responsible for throwing
garbage out in a public receptacle that belonged to somebody
else. Because I did it. And number two, they could
be responsible because I did it. Would that be accurate.
You would potentially be part of the evidence, wouldn't you?
You're a statement would be part of the evidence. Yeah.
So I think the bylaw needs to be revisited. That's
all. Thank you. Number nine correspondents receipt for rich direction
of Council is required correspondence from the Chief Librarian CEO
of Own Sound and North Grey, Union Public Library with
regard to a five - year review of the 2022
to 2031 agreement. Go to you, Branna. Through you your
worship, the Public Library Agreement is for a period of
10 years. It began in 2022 and goes until 2031.
Now that it is halfway through the agreement, the library
is hosting your review meeting on Thursday, September 10th at
7 p. m. in the library auditorium. They are requesting
that Representatives from each member municipality attend the meeting and
are looking for the names of those who will be
attending. Up on the screen is a draft motion directing
staff to notify the library of the Owen Sound attendees.
We just need the names of the Council Members to
add to the motion. I will note that this meeting
is on the same evening as the Corporate Services Committee
meeting. And we need to make sure that there isn't
a quorum of council that attends the library meeting. With
that, I will let council discuss who was able to
attend the meeting on the 10th and move the motion
on the screen. Who wishes to attend. Councillor Koepke's put
her hand up anyone else? Yeah? No. Peers be Councillor
Koepke. Like in the tender, I only had a question
pertaining to the lame duck period. If that had any,
um, impact on this corresponds whatsoever. Councillors are able to
attend this type of meeting during Lame Duck. Okay. So
Councillor Koepke has said yes. Deputy Mayor Gregett said yes.
Does anyone else? Councillor Farmer said yes. Just let me
finish then. Uh, anyone else. I'll move that in consideration
of correspondence received July 27th, 2026 from the Owen Sound
in North Grey Union Public Library. Chief Librarian CEO respecting
a five - year review of the 2022 to 2031
OSNG UPL agreement. City Council Direct staff to notify the
OSNG UPL that councillors Kepke and Deputy Mayor Greg will
attend the review meeting on behalf of the city. Thank
you. All in favor. And that is carried. Thanks Brianna.
Uh, number 10 reports from City staff at 10A report
from Ms. Coulter with regard to the zoning bylaw amendment,
which I think we just heard a while ago. Thank
you. Worship as required by the Planning Act. Zoning amendments
must conform with the provincial planning statement and consider the
goals objectives and policies of the city's official plan and
also land use compatibility. The technical report describes four council
in the Community, the subject property, the proposed amendment to
permit the semi - de - touch dwelling and really
outlines the policies of the PPS and the official plan
that will be relevant to council's consideration of the matter
when the recommendation report comes forward. The recommendation is that
Council would just continue to process the application in accordance
with the planning act. Questions, motions. The traves. Thank you
worship. I'd move the recommendation. Just like to make a
comment, you worship. This is likely the last time I'll
have an opportunity to publicly thank the developer for all
the work that he does around on Sound in cleaning
up buildings and making them more presentable. And it certainly
appreciated. Okay. Any other comments? Seeing none, I'll call the
question on favor. That is carried. Uh, 10 B, a
report from the manager of public works and engineering with
regard to Grey County Urban Road transfer update. There you
are. Uh, good evening Mayor and Council. Um,
our first, my first report this evening is the, uh,
Grey County Urban Road Transfer Update, uh, that a consideration
of staff report OP - 26041 respecting the update on
the Grey County Road Urban Transfer, the Stealth received for
information. Uh, so this is following staff's report we brought
forward at the Special Counsel meeting on March 2nd. Just
with some updates. Excuse me. Um, on where the county
task force and county Council have gone. Uh, Grey County
Council Committee of the Whole passe of motion for the
enhanced version B framework on June 25th of this year.
Uh, Later Ocean being adopted and improved the minutes at
the July 9th meeting. Version B, what this means for
the City. Uh, so this is an effective transfer date
of June 1st, 2027. Uh, we have a 10 -
year transitional funding model. That we're moving through, including five
years of declining operational funding. Minor traffic signal funding, development
charge transfers. And a commitment to share data relevant to
the transfer. Um, so the financial supports outlined version B
plus breakdown generally to 11. 26 million in transitional funding
over the 10 - year period. 3. 3 million development
charge. Uh, transfers over one time. Uh, 23, 1000, PAYDOR
five years to help offset winter maintenance and other operational
costs. 183, 000 or five years to help with traffic
light costs and a 269, 000 one - time cost
for capital projects, uh, which could be included in the
Harrison Park Hill, as we all know, needs some work.
Um, staff of BYU. Some of the key items that
we'll be reviewing here in the next several months are
review and negotiate the transfer agreements, completing assessment. And final
due diligence. For the assets will be collecting. Undertake a
service delivery review, update our 2027 budget and long -
term capital plan, review the impacts of our 2027 and
ongoing operating budget. Review existing contracts and service agreements we
have with third - party vendors, update asset management, lifecycle
planning, and return back to Council with Farther updates. Um,
I think that's the best I could do for a
highlight through this. If you have any questions, be happy
to answer them. Okay, there are any questions. Councillor Farmer.
Uh, through the Mayor, two questions. Um, one initially, when
we spoke about this, there were concerns about the quality
of the data for each of the assets that we
were receiving from the county. Where our staff now at
a scale of still really worried to super confident that
you've got all the information you need. And will you
get all the way to the end before we own
these things? Uh, the gap is definitely narrowing. We have
received a little bit more information. And the county continues
to, um, committing us everything we need prior to the
transfer date next year. And a separate question. To what
extent does ownership over these roads and traffic signals make
it possible for us to update signalization and movement patterns
to improve walkability or traffic flow. And how soon can
we start to do that? Great question through your mayor.
Um, currently there is a combined traffic timing and single
plan for all lights and all itself now sound, including
the county ones. So we'll have a negligible impact. Like
owning these lights rather than just, uh, helping with the
operation of them. Good for you, John. Yep. Yep. Okay.
Carol. Through you mayor. We've heard. That currently staff have
huge workloads. When I look at this report in all
of the work that's entailed, I have to ask the
question. How can this amount of workload be absorbed as
an additional loading on staff? It looks like a project
and is there a project lead? Who will, who will
take this forward, coordinate everything. Because this is a lot
of work on staff that are already carrying heavy workloads.
So I'm not sure if you can answer that or
if I should look to my left to the city
manager. Three, you mayor to Councillor Merton. You were always
cognizant of workload with staff. Uh, this is a major
project. Mason and team have taken the lead on it.
Uh, I guess officially unofficially. Um, however you'd want to
look at it. We have had conversations about the quantity
of work that's going to be required between now and
when the agreements come forward and staff are looking at
other elements of what, what projects are on their plate,
et cetera. Some things through future updates might come back
to say something has been delayed a few months depending
on how the flow of information comes. And that's one
of the things that we can't really put our finger
on. It's not as if we have a basket of
information today to start working with. So as the information
flows in. Um, it all, it'll take priority or precedent
as needed as we move forward. And there might be
small amounts of work surge time involved with this project.
And then it will ease back a little bit. And
then another work surge. But we'll try to manage that.
We always try to manage that as best as possible.
Okay. Looking this way. Go ahead. Just a quick question.
And I could ask it now or in the multi
- year capital plan. But in 2027, there's a 620,
000 dollar line item for 2nd Avenue west from 10th
Street north to 14th Street. How are you incorporating that
project into this, into the agreement. And aligning it with
the fact that 4th Avenue West is going to be
under reconstruction the whole year. Um, in terms of projecting
out for traffic patterns and what's doable. Because that would
seem to be, um, a real outlier, that project there
on our plans. Um, you're correct. That number was carried
in our budget. Um, as Briar to a commitment we
made through the development process with the former BCK property.
Um, we will have to look into that on how
we're best going to achieve that now that there'll be
a city primary project instead of being led by the
county. And I think those are some things we'll have
to answer back to Counselon. Okay. I think I need
a motion. Councillor Middleborough. I'll move the recommendation to receive.
Okay. Any questions cover them all. I'll call the question
all in favor. That has carried. Don't go away, Mason.
Next public works in engineering, superior street water, main replacement.
Thank you, Mayor. Uh, so my next report here is
that in consideration of staff report, OP - 26040, respecting
the superior street water main replacement project, City Council proved
project budget increase of 75, 000, including non - refundable
HST and authorized the purchasing agent to execute contract change
orders for the replacement of water mains of the ninth
Avenue of Hatian Project to the new water main completed
during the 6th Street East Phase 2 water main looping
project. Um, so this section of severe street has 190
metres of aging cast iron. Um, God is a history
of breaks. Our water team has a history of having
to deal with numerous issues on that between breaks and
flow issues. Um, this work was originally included in the
ninth Avenue Real Petition Scope. Um, it was removed by
staff and the consultant as we are concerned by budget
constraints at the time. Um, and we wanted to have
a healthy contingency to be able to complete all the
work on Ninth Avenue. Um, pricing for ninth Avenue came
in competitive and we have a healthy contingency moving forward.
Um, so we would like to change the scope back
and into include this work. Um, as of last Friday,
the project has a proximity 480, 000 remaining in our
contingency. Um, of the original 530 Contigency Allowance, we have
approximately 125, 600 dollars on anticipate extra cost currently on
the books that I'm not currently come through and change
orders. These are, um, predominantly due to the increase in,
uh, for asphalt. So based on OPS 100, if the
price of asphalt goes up, um, the cost goes up
per game price. So that's where a lot of those
extras will be born currently. Um, the quote we have
from EC King to complete the work is 316, 000.
Um, that will include contract administration services by the engineering.
Bring into a total estimate of 442, 000. So while
within the remaining budget, we have left within the project.
Staff have asked, we include a 75, 000 dollar from
the water reserve just to ensure that if any other
incidental has come up while finishing the project, we will
be in good shape. Hi, Patrick answered any questions of
anyone has any. Council Farmer. To the mayor, I'd like
to put the motion on the floor. I think it
makes sense. Uh, if we have an opportunity to remove
a known liability while we have contractors mobilised to the
site, it's an example to me of appropriate spending isn't
just like spending the smallest amount. It's also spending money
that gives you the biggest return over the longest period.
And maybe it'll even save us money in cathodic protection
costs. Thank you. Any other comments, councillor. Deputy McGregor. Two
questions. Or yeah, two questions. Couldn't disagree whatsoever with those
comments. Questions being the additional engineering and geotechnical cost estimated
almost 55, 000 are a little outside of the standard
10 to 15 percent. So is there additional complexities here
that we should be aware of as to why we're
budgeting that much additional for engineering? And part two is
instead of funding it all from water reserves because we
are upsizing the waterline from its existing 15 centimeter. Do
we get an opportunity to apply any DCs to that
growth. That we're building up to? Through Mayor, I'll answer
the engineering question first and then I'll defer over. Um,
so in this section, we are anticipating encountering bedrocks with
us, the geotechnical, which has increased the cost for that
section greater than the 10 to 15 percent like you'd
expect. So we're going to have to do some due
diligence to find out where we're going to hit the
rock. And then there's some bedding and, uh, insulation requirements
that we're going to be looking into as we move
forward. But should be well captured in that cost. So
going forward to Kate. Three of your worship. I don't
have the balance of the water DC reserve in front
of me to verify what's available. But however, ninth of
East and Superior Street, we're already contemplated to utilise development
charges funding. So certainly if this portion is suitable, we
can draw a little bit extra for that. Provided there
are funds in the reserve for that. Okay. Does that
need to be an amendment and emotion or you've got
that flexibility? Okay. Be great to use as if we
have it. And we're upsizing. So. Ms. Allen's indicating that
yes, there's flexibility. We don't need motion. It's soft microphone.
Uh, okay. I need someone to move the motion. Oh,
John did already. Okay. All in favor. That's carried. Thanks.
Next year of Corporate Services on Sound Police Services, uh,
facility needs assessment. Hi, Jason. Thank you Mr. Mayor. Members
of Council. Tonight, I'm presenting report CR - 26071, which
is a request to authorize a comprehensive facility space needs
assessment. And business case for the Own Sound Police Service
building. Under the Community Safety and Policing Act, the municipality
is legislatively responsible for providing and maintaining adequate police facilities.
This report is the next step in meeting that responsibility.
Back in 2023, a facility condition audit by Macintosh Perry
gave us a good look at the physical building deficiencies,
like our upcoming 1. 6 million dollar and air handling
unit replacement and other capital maintenance items in the multi
- year capital plan. However, that previous audit only looked
at physical condition. It did not evaluate whether the facility
actually continues to meet the modern operational staffing legislative accessibility
and service delivery requirements of our police services. The police
service board requested this comprehensive review to answer that question.
The study will provide us with an objective common set
of data to evaluate all our options. Whether we are
best served through refurbishment and expansion or a brand new
purpose - built facility. Turning to the resource alignment in
financial details, the estimated cost of the study is 100,
000 dollars. Importantly, no additional tax levy funding is required.
The budget will be fully funded through a combination of
development charges. The police station facility reserve and one -
third funding contribution directly from the Owntown Police Service Board
Revenue Reserve. If Council approves the recommendations tonight, staff will
prepare an issue a competitive request for proposal through our
purchasing policy later this year. The project team, including the
City Manager, the chief of police and the Manager of
Corporate Services will oversee the consultants'work. We anticipate receiving the
final report in business case early in the next term
of council, ensuring that the newly elected council has the
objective data and cost estimates they need to make an
informed long - term capital decisions. And I'd be happy
to answer any questions. Council might have. Good. Thank you.
Questions Councillor Koepke. Not a question you worship. I'll move
the recommendation. Okay. Comments. Deputy Mayor Greg. Well.
I'll go first. I think back nine years, and I
had the old OPP costing in front of me on
the computer. That costing, I never recall reading a single
paragraph about a new building being contemplated at all. Through
the Onsen Police Services. Or if the OPP were to
take over as part of their project. And I know
early on, uh, or when we had that meeting and
we made that decision, I think there was hesitants, uh,
hesitancy to move forward with the OPP costing, because in
the first couple of years, we were absorbing some considerable
costs on the building as, uh, would have to be
refurbished for certain elements of what the OPP required. Um,
but nowhere. Did I ever read the contemplation of a
new police building? We cannot afford it. We have the
multi - year capital budget coming up later. There's 34,
just on our 34 million dollars of unfunded in it.
There is, well, we haven't even got the urban road
download all captured fully in terms of our long -
term requirements now. We are one of the highest tax
communities. And in relation to household average household incomes, it
places us even worse provincially amongst our comparators. We have
no ability. To be able to absorb a new building.
So I can't support the motion to expand another 100,
000 dollars We do have certain reconstruction, refurbishment projects that
are sprinkled through the multi - year capital plan. We
have since the, since it was moved into, and I
think in 1999, maybe, uh, was a date in one
of the reports. It's ongoing. It needs to continue to
be ongoing. We just had that 2023 study and I
cannot support another 100, 000 dollars to provide us more
information potentially for a new building that we know municipally,
we cannot afford in our tax base anyway. So, um,
I'm opposed to it. Um, this, this actual request even
has me inquiring or wishing to inquire more so to
align ourselves with Sarnia, who recently is just, I think,
uh, been public about their desire to look for an
OPP costing once again, because of the desire for a
new police building in Sarnia that they also cannot afford
in today's times. Thank you through the
mayor. My first instinct is to support the recommendation in
the report. I think that if we've got funding from
the reserves, if the one third, one third opportunity for
us to get to a place where we, we have
a more robust set of data that says not just
what's falling apart or moldy that we need to fix,
but also how does this fit for the long, how
does this facility help us to provide what is a
legislated core service for the long - term of this
community that is growing if we build every unit of
what, 3, 000 plus units that are somewhere in the
development pipeline. We're going to have more people. We already
hear routinely from the OSPS. That they would appreciate having
more people to provide more service. We certainly get letters
to that effect from the police board. But I don't
think that we've had enough opportunities to actively sort the
apples and the oranges together in the data that we're
talking about and the issues that we're assessing. Regardless of
whether or not Owen San was being served by a
municipal service or by the OPP. I think that the
stresses of modern policing would mean that there are elements
of a building that's older than me that might need
to be updated or might no longer be sufficient. In
my first year on Council, I heard folks talking about
just the problem with parking, like that the struggle for
parking for staff. We've heard that again recently. And I
don't feel like we currently have a common set of
data to let us say what makes sense. And I
would find that helpful, I think. Councillor Meddleman. Thank you.
Pardon me. I'm with Councillor, or Deputy Mayor Greg on
this one, 100, 000 dollar needs assessment for me. Is
a troubling amount of money to come up with a
plan that we really, I feel like it's already heading
towards. The idea that we're going to build a new
building. Because the parking constraints and all the different things.
We can't afford it. We're already staring down almost 5
million dollars on a fire building upgrade. I question how
much money in IT upgrades and equipment have been done
over the past year and a bit for the communications
centre and the NG - 911 in this building. And
what in the world would it cost to move all
of that if you're planning to either move to a
different space or build something new? How much in capital
projects do we have on the books that we've either
just completed or are going to be done in 2026,
2027? What happens with those are removing forward with those
while we're waiting for this 100, 000 dollar plan to
come back and tell us that it doesn't even meet
our needs. For me, I feel like costs are getting
out of control. Between police and fire. We are sitting
at about 16 million dollars and people in the city
are saying, why are our services not being met and
wire taxes so high? And why can't we do this?
Why can't we do that? Because emergency services are costing
16 million dollars a year and we don't have any
more money to do anything else. And today I was
going through and looking at the other communities in Grey
County. Out of all the communities in Grey County, most
of them are OPP service. Georgian bluffs, OPP 1. 5
million, Grey Highlands, OPP 1. 85 million. Blue mountains OPP
3. 4 million Southgate 1. 4 million OPP, CHETSworth OPP,
Miford OPP. And we are 9. 8 million dollars the
police are costing. And then I was searching other communities
out of all of the communities in Ontario. There are
only about 40 that have our own municipal force. And
all of these other ones that have gone to OPP,
Midland, 5 million dollars, Schellburn 1. 6 million, Collingwood 7
million dollars OPP. And these are similar communities. And that
is after the big OPP increase of 10 to 20
percent. That's what they're paying versus us at 9. 8
million dollars We need to do something. If we don't
ask for an OPP costing, we are not doing justice
to the citizens of Owen Sound. Because if we can
do the same job for less money than it deserves
us at least asking for the OPP costing, and I'm
willing to put that on the floor as a motion.
Currently on the floor is the recommendation. So you can't
put that in the floor just yet. Councillor Martin. To
you mayor. We don't want to assume or jump to
a bias around a new building or refurbished. This is
demonstrations of a collaborative cost sharing initiative. That will give
us information that will help in the future make an
informed decision. It is tempting to jump to a conclusion.
But I think it's perhaps too soon. So the advantage
of moving through this process is that it does assist
us in having information that forms the framework for looking
at various options. There will be people who will want
to jump to the conclusion we should do it this
way versus that way municipal versus OPP. Having spent two
hours in the last two weeks asking that question. Of
our police board chair and our chief of police so
that I could understand better. It is more than a
facility. It involves contract. Established contracts. There's a lot of
costs. More than a facility. Should that be contemplated? This
report would give us a framework to at least begin
looking at what is the best direction. We can't make
an informed decision by piecemeal bits of information and goal
or narrative information or a perception. I support the motion
not just because I'm on the police services board, but
I think we need additional information to go forward. Wants
to, doc. Go ahead. To your mail, just a few
questions. I agree that if we're planning investment and you're
not asking for the construction or the decision to construct
a brand new building. But then 100, 000 dollars for
the needs assessment, like it seems to me like a
lot of money. And if we are spending that to
collect factual data, so a few months down the road,
if we have the report back. So the outcome that
you mentioned in the report is either a Renovation, expansion
or a brand new building. But I don't think so
right now. There is, I'm not clear, like, do you
have funds like how, like we don't have funds, of
course. But do you have an estimate on what it
cost if we are going for the renovations or if
you're going for a brand new building? Or if you're
just expanding it into the neighbouring buildings? Like is there
an estimate number on that. Through you mayor. No, there
isn't. And that's a big part of what this assessment
will tell us is what the potential costs would be
for those options. So if we don't find funds anyways,
like if we can't afford a brand new facility so
that all these hundred thousand dollars they're down the drain.
So that's a waste. Right. Through you, your mayor. Uh,
I'm not sure it'd be staff's opinion that that would
be a waste. As I do feel, or the staff
does feel that there is value and understanding what, what
the best approach is for this facility. Councillor Dodd. Thank
you, worship. And maybe I'm just looking for some clarity
because I heard what Councillor Merten had mentioned there, but
let's not put the carpet for the horse of getting
to a conclusion without having something first. Um, there was
a previous, the minutes of a previous meeting noted that
there was, um, the conversation of striking a new building
committee with the police board. So. How does that fit
into play if there was a discussion of the board
about having setting up a new building working group, but
then not putting the cart before the horse, having a
discussion here about saying that we would look for physically
space needs assessment. So just need some clarity on how
that goes together.
The conversation prior in the minutes of police service was
basically the facility needs. It was minuted incorrectly to be
a building searching for a new building. Or a building.
The end results would be, we need to do something
to meet our adequate standards. We need to do something
to meet the legislation. And it was minuted as a
building. It was never thought to be initially a building
committee. It was to be needs assessment committee. Because you
have to start somewhere. I hope that helps. Councillor.
I don't disagree with anything that's been said, but the
one thing that I kind of keep coming back to,
we have a building, we own a building. We talk
about this all the time. I have, I have no
idea what the state of the building is. And I
think we do need to know, um, what we're dealing
with. And how we make it operate appropriately. Um, to
me, I don't think that I think it's a perfectly
good building, but it just probably needs some reorganization and
some better use of space, but that's what this will,
I think, prove in time. So, so right now there
was a report. Maybe I'm looking at Kate, his report
down a couple of years ago on what the building
needs. Can you help explain that helped me understand that?
Uh, yes, absolutely. Through you, Mayor. So in 2023, there
was an, um, a building assessment audit done, uh, that
identified critical upgrades or upgrades that needed to be done
to that building. And so the biggest things that came
out of that assessment were, uh, the air handling unit
replacement, electrical system upgrades, exterior masonry repairs elevator replacement and
windows and doors. Uh, that Macintosh Perry condition assessment, um,
came to accumulative total of 6. 4 million dollars. And
do we have a plan right now that we're working
on that, uh, 6. 4 million dollars of upgrades. To
your worship, not to the entire 6. 4 million dollars,
but within the next five years of our, our, our,
our, our multi - year capital plan. We have 2.
7 million dollars in projects that are slated to be
worked on. Okay. So the work is already being done.
Kate, anything you need to add to that. I don't
think so other than to just confirm that that work
is planned and it is funded. So we have money
set aside to move forward with those projects. And we
are moving forward with some pretty significant ones currently, including,
um, an electrical upgrade, which touches many facets of the
building as well as the HVAC update. Thank you. So.
I was around and was mayor, I think, when we
did the, uh, the last OPP costing. And the OPP
had a whole list of building changes that they needed
that we're going to be expensive. And we were told
by the local police force that we would not need
any of those changes. Now I recognise it's a number
of years later. But if you're going to be doing.
A new building, renovating building for one police service, I
don't understand why you wouldn't want to. I'm listening to
my friends why you wouldn't look at. Before you take
that step, look and see, do a place OPP cost
and see what they require. Um, I was criticized at
a police board meeting for being an accurate. However, we
do have one of the most expensive police forces in
the province per capita. So I'm relying on the BMA
study and it showed that we're number one or number
two of municipalities are a size that I think went
from 19 to 29, 000 people for the last five
years. When you looked at all of them on the
BMA study, we were in, I think it was 64,
65 municipalities, uh, we're somewhere between 12th and 14 of
four or five years. Our total expenditure for the police
is 15. 5 million dollars. It's approximately nine or just
under nine, just around 10 that is coming from the
taxpayers because there is other grants and things that are
applied for. I look at Collingwood. Now 27, 000 people,
very similar homeless problems, yes. Crime problems, yes. Very similar.
They've got to know PPP contract. Their contract for the
OPP is under 7 million. The cost of their building
was, I think they said 133, 000 might have been,
I think it was 133, 000 to operate their building
plus some other cost to it. Our expenditures are twice
as high. At some point, you need to look after
the taxpayers and go back and have a look and
say, where do we compare? Maybe OPP can't commit and
compare. Maybe they're, maybe they're out to lunch by now
too. But if you don't ask, you're not going to
know. I would, my point of view, I would, uh,
not do this. Moving ahead with this study until you
look at both police forces and see what they need
and make a big decision amongst everybody. Go ahead. Um,
through the mayor to that point. Is people are suggesting
an OPP costing, but is a, are these two things
at odds with each other? Or could they be parallel
if a costing is also going to require us to
know how many people, how many offices, how many staff,
how much parking, how many garages, um, I don't know
how many baths and half baths, but like, uh, do
we not need to know what this building will, has
space for, to Councillor Hamily's comment. And could those two
things coexist. I think that's putting the cart before the
horse because you don't know what one is going to
require compared to the other. So that's why I think
you want to find out what they both require. This
is part of that decision making process before you go
with a council murder. Through you mayor. I'd like to
suggest that we need to widen our lens if we're
going to even engage in that type of dialogue. Right
now we're talking about a building. However, around that is
the wider lens that by contract we are, we will
pay a price to break an existing contract. That is
an agon expense that needs to be factored in. And
there are other issues as well. So I think facilities
are one component, but not the main component and should,
it's important to also recognise that the equipment besides the
facility itself that may factor in. Having a wider lens,
if we're going to engage in that dialogue is important
because it may actually be that those ancillary costs run
into the millions of dollars. To even consider a change.
And I know that that information could be made available.
Should it be requested? Thank you. And that's the exact
reason that you get that information and make a fair
comparison looking at all that costs. Council Kepke. Hopefully this
is to wrap it up your worship. First of all,
the Macintosh Perry report was to assess a building. Not
particularly a police service building. And the needs of police
service. This report that's being asked for or this assessment.
It's being asked for is to determine whether this particular
building can accommodate the requirements under legislation, et cetera, of
a police service. The other thing that I would comment
on is there's quite a difference in Community Policing and
OPP policing. And how they provide the service and how
readily available they are to provide the services needed in
our community. So I would just, I would leave it
at that. I'm going to take the bait. I'm responding
to both those comments. It used to be an insurance
company, the police board took it over. They had one
floor. They expanded to two floors. There have been millions
of millions of dollars put into cells at the back
expanded cells to make that into a police building. So
to suggest that it's not a police building is it
has been renovated a couple of times by the police
services to their recommendations to make it into a police
building and with regard to, uh, all the consequences of
an OPP costing. That's certainly something that would come out
and would be looked at at the time. If I
can comment, I'm not disagreeing that it's not a police
building and hasn't been for a long time. I'm just
saying that the Macintosh Perry didn't assess it for what
the police needs are at this time or in the
future. Thank you. I'm going to call the question so
the motion was Councillor Koepke's in front of us. The
recommendation all in favor. One, two, three opposed. One, two,
three, four, five. It means six. So what's next?
Looking to the clerk, because it is a police related
matter. Am I good to make a motion on the
city manager bringing back a report in September, sorry, on
what is involved in going to a police, OPP costing.
I would suggest Mr. Simmons that, uh, it is, um,
to ask staff to bring back a report of what
is required. It's even possible to do. No BPP costume.
Does that make sense? Through you mayor. Um, hearing the
proposed motion and the update. For clarity, I think what
I'm hearing is you would like for staff to come
back in September. With an update to Council of what
goes into an OPP cost and what is involved with
the steps. Because I know my most recent memory of
an OPP costing is Orangeville. Um, and I know the
solicitor general has taken over some aspects. Of municipalities asking
for OPP costings, et cetera. So probably my work between
now and September would be to at least have an
informational meeting with the solicitor general's office to understand what
goes into it, not initiate one, not under take one,
not spend any money on one, but just find out
what those steps are and bring that back to council
to inform your decision making as you move forward. Does
that sound right. Yes, I'm happy with that. I'm Ms.
Bloomfeld. If that is the request do we need to
waive notice because we're asking for a report to come
back. To you your worship, um, I would suggest that
as of report would be coming back in O final
decisions are being made and it does relate to this
police matter. Um, this could be done as a simple
motion. But of course if council wants to do a
point of order, that was, that is within their right.
Uh, thanks through the mayor. I'm happy to support that
request for information. I think that, um, it's sort of
say on one hand that the Own's Sound Police Service
and its officers provide really dedicated service and care to
our community. And if we're looking at this as a
structural problem, unfortunately this goes back to the issue of
police funding at the provincial level and the cost of
municipal policing is not being offset by provincial funding in
the way that OPP services are. And at a basic
level, we've got to figure out how to provide the
service. For a reasonable cost. And freeing up that kind
of budget would also let us do things like support
the type of project we heard about at the start
of the meeting tonight to get upstream and help take
care of each other so that we aren't at a
place where police need to be involved for matters. They
don't need to. So I'm really happy to support the
request for that report. Acknowledging that that's probably really complicated.
Okay. Anyone else. Councillor Metal. Thank you.
Thank you for those comments. And I also want to
reiterate that in no way is this anything about the
service that we receive from our own Sound Police Force.
They are a very, very dedicated police force. And they
do a fantastic job with the challenges that they face
on a daily basis. And I thank them for their
service. And this is not anything to do with being
unhappy with the way that it is performed. It is
strictly a budgetary matter. And it makes fiscal common sense
to ask for an OPP costing when you look at
the numbers of what other jurisdictions are paying versus what
we are paying. And that is simply what I'm asking
for is just to find out more about the OPP
costing for fiscal common sense. Thank you. Gonna call the
question on favor. One, two, three, four, five. And I'm
six. So it's three opposed. Three opposed. So that carries.
Thank you. Uh, 10 E, I think we're going back
to, uh, mason for engineering technology, service agreement for offsite
improvements to support UH site plan. Thank you through your
mayor. Um, so this report. Um, in consideration staff report,
OP26038, respecting the servicing agreement for U - Haul and
the city of Own Sound for 2010, 16th Avenue East
for Council Direct staff, bring forward a Biolot authorized there.
Service and agreement. Um, so this is at the intersection
of, um, 16th Street East and 20th Avenue. The U
- Haul property is the last property in that corner
to develop out. Um, which has been done through a
host of Kasharing agreements and service agreements dating back to
2011. Um. So this property received conditional site plan approval
in the fall of 2025. As part of that, um,
site plan approval for conditional Cyprian River rather. The applicant
is required, entered into a service agreement with the city
of own sound to construct the necessary offsite improvements, which
here include upgrades to the lights at 16th and 20th.
And upgrades to 20th Avenue east. Uh, between 16th and
17th. This report is being brought to council because there
is a potential for the CD2, um, front end accost
of 74, 032. Should future development not take place in
that time frame. Um. Our developmenta has provided a wealth
of background over the last 15 years in the latterhouse
report. And I may look to the director to help
me answer any questions you have. But that'll take questions.
Councillor Deputy Mayor Greg. Couple of questions to begin with.
Uh, those two pins, one's 1990, 17th Street. And the
adjoining property that is located to the west of it.
How are those two properties zoned. Um, I could look
at up. And I, I will, but I think their
designated e - city commercial, but still zoned M1, but
I will check that. And I'll come back if I'm
wrong. My problem here is that paragraph that states, if
no development of the benefiting lands occurs before 2032, the
City will provide payment to U - Haul on or
after May 1 in the amount of 74, 000 and
change. I'm not in favor of leaving the taxpayer on
the hook for that 74, 000 and change. Um, I
think when you go into developing these lands, you go
into developing these lands, acknowledging the types of responsibilities and
obligations financially that exist. Uh, even those properties if and
when they develop on 17th Street may have a substantial
requirement to financially compensate the city to build up 17th
Street or the 17th Street East extension, which right now
is effectively a cycling path. Um, so that's the part
here I can't agree with is leaving the taxpayers exposed
to 75, 000. Five years goes by in the blink
of an eye. The economy turns a little bit. And
then we are on the hook for 74, 303 two
dollars that I can't support, um, knowingly going into these
developments, uh, with certain expectations of development financial requirements. I'm
going to go to Laura. Thank you, worship. I just
wanted to make sure that we all have the same
understanding. The cost impact the city would be a temporary
one. The intention is that we would reimburse the current
developer at that point. And then continue to endeavour to
recover those funds when that property does, uh, develop in
the future. It's just a hub, a break point so
that the existing developer isn't waiting, say, 25 years or
something to be reimbursed those fees. So will they still
have certain financial obligations though to the future development of
the 17th Street, which exists right in front of them
right now and is a terrible road and terrible state.
Three worship Mayor Greg. Yes, that's the intention that that
debt wouldn't disappear. Those properties would still owe that money.
It's just that they would owe the city, uh, that
money. Cause they would, if it doesn't develop until after
that point, they would have already been paid back. Got
it. Good. We ran into this, uh, we are still
running into this with Heritage Grove where it was left
open - ended. And, uh, that's been 15 years. So
the idea is that you want to develop it quickly.
The other piece of property share of it. Is being
carried or front - ended by the developer. If we
aren't able to collect from those others, we would step
in, put the money up. And then we would collect
from those other developers for their share. I don't know
if that still makes sense or if I got it
more confused. But, uh, I think I got it more
confused. There's a recommendation there. I'm confused every
day. So, um, I'll move that recommendation. But not always
by me. Okay. Any questions. Call the question all in
favor. Not as carried. Thank you, Mason. Uh, next, 10
F. Report from deputy mayor from Grey County Council. This
time it loaded on my machine the way it should.
Uh, last week, council approved to 1. 4 million dollar
contract with Community Living Owen Sound to provide annual special
needs resourcing services across the county. The program is funded
by the province and accordance with early learning and childcare
guidelines. The single provider, third party delivery model seeks to
improve service coordination access efficiency accountability and equality of service
across the county. Council determined to debenture to new paramedic
bases in Durham and fever sham over 15 years, increasing
the payment next year by 44, 000 dollars, However saving
over 700, 000 dollars in mortgage terms. This returns debt
onto the county books after remaining deventure payments were paid
off at the start of 2026. And Council had an
update from the graveyard's Ontario Health team in the form
of a deputation with a goal of attaching 23, 500
residents from a primary care provider by 2029 with 7
million dollars and enhanced based funding received since last August
and hopeful of a further 4 million dollars supporting plans.
The hope is to attach a further 9, 000 residents
with a primary provider by early 2027. I welcome any
questions and ask for council's endorsement of the verbal report.
Any questions, Councillor Firm. Thank you through the mayor. The
Ontario Health team update. We've heard a lot about how
expanding primary care access is different in communities that qualify
for additional provincial funding to rook fruit and retain doctors
and nurse practitioners at the county level, was there any
conversation about how the success of that program might look
different in a place like Owen Sound that doesn't qualify
for that additional funding in those programs compared to Grey
County as a whole? Or was it really just at
that county perspective. I guess what's in it for us
is my question. The one response there I can provide
was that infrastructure, um, is a considerable impediment, um, for
building out, um, attachment for individuals and grabers. We didn't
have any discussion about, uh, inconsistencies in terms of financial
renumeration, uh, through the province in terms of benefiting some
municipalities more so over others. Okay. So call the question
on favor of receiving that. Endorsing that carried banks. Next
is consent agendas or anything that anyone wants to be
pulled in dealt with separately. Councillor. As I was on
motions, I did reach out to folks to ask if
there was anything that they'd like to be pulled. I
had request to pull items C, D, and E. I
don't know if that covers everyone's bases. And that is
the integrity commission meeting calendar, the approval of the multi
- year capital plan and the outdoor public water stations
reports, uh, for those of you following along at home.
Did you have a separate one. So I will.
Do you hear worship? I'll just give an overview of
what is listed on the consent agenda this evening. So
there are reports respecting potential land sale of part of
part two, plans 16R - 8752, a request to remove
a one - foot reserve at 1389 - 16 of
East. Updates on the integrity commissioner in the 2027 Counseling
Committee meeting calendar. Approval of the 2027 to 2031 multi
- year capital plan. Update on the transition to outdoor
public water stations, approval of non - standard procurement for
the e - scribe software and iCERE surfacer and a
report on the Continuation of Guelphal and Sound Transit after
August 31st. There are minutes for receipt from Grey Sobble
Conservation Authority Board, Library Board, and the Police Board. There
are several business licences were issued. Prince Yahad Transit Solution
at 127, 8 Street East, Red Swan Pizza at 925
- 16th Street East, Unit 2, Toppers Pizza at 1057,
second half east. Carsley's at 1350 16th Street East, Joaquin
Moose Barneill at 1315, 16th Rede's Fresh Coat Owen Sound
at 2125 16 Street East. Adele's Taylor Shop at 1035,
3rd Ab East, First Health Counseling at 894 Ab East.
Once on Pickleball Club at 3225 East Bay Shore Road
Unit 6, Schmitt Plumbing Company at 1255 - 45 West.
Grey Bruce Transportation at 601 - 7th Street A -
East. Redline Taxi at 650 - 16 Street East. The
Admirals Barber Shop at 975 Second East and Telcom Courier
Canada at 1875 - 6v East Unit 2 and Province
Electric at 1475 second Ab East. A flag flying request
was approved for child - care worker and early childhood
educator appreciation day and an illumination request was approved for
world thrombosis day. The last item on the consent agenda
is the information package of full listing is available at
11 - 0. Good, thank you. So, Councillor Farmer is
going to move all except C, D, and E. That
move by myself that in consideration of the items listed
on the July 27th, 2026 consented agenda that City Council
won receives items 11a to B, and 11F to 11
- 0. And to approves the recommendations contained in items
11a to 11b and 11f to 11h. And all in
favor. That's carried. Thanks. So we'll double back to 11C,
that's you. So this is a quick question. Uh, I'm
in agreement with sending individuals to the AMCTO conference, which
impacts the, uh, previous schedule for the June meeting. Do
we have the ability, we have had individuals not named
Brianna or Stacey fill in on Monday nights here in
the past. If they are both absent, do we have
the ability to backfill and maintain the previous or previous
schedule, or is it legislatively prohibited that we're not able
to be absent both of them? Ms. Blumfield. Through your
worship to Deputy Grey, thank you for the question. Um,
we can make accommodations to Council want to continue the
meeting in our absence and our absence. I thank the
clerks for putting it on the screen right now. I
think the previous schedule, um, is something that I preferred
more so. I think tonight is just another example of
at times you get massive agendas, and it increases the
workload. Um, it locks it into one in June, two
in July, and then the break. And I just see
massive volumes, uh, before council. I don't think it's, I
understand, um, where staff are coming from in altering it
with the conference. But I think it is more beneficial
to counsel if we were to. Maintain the previous schedule
of June 14th and June 28th, keeping the two meetings
in June as opposed to one. And I think tonight
is a shining example of why you do that. Go
ahead. So your worship, I suggest that the councillor make
a motion, um, to. Um, prove the calendar, sorry, I
had it written out here. Bring forward a motion to
direct staff to update the calendar as presented in the
report Save and accept the regular Council meeting in June
and maintain two regular Council meetings in June. So moved.
Okay, any questions. Seeing none, call the question all in
favor. That's carried. Uh, 11 D, is that yours? I'm
Mayor, thank you again. 11, uh, D and E, were
both me. 11 D is the approval of the multi
- year capital plan. And we had been expecting an
update with a report about the fortress. Um, so those
not familiar with the term. Um, in the 900 block
of First Avenue west, there's a stone looking structure, uh,
that has multiple levels. And we were expecting a report
back about that for this meeting that report is not
on the agenda. And I was just hoping for some
more information from staff about, uh, yeah, why that is
and what we can expect going forward. Thank you, worship.
I believe last week I had sent Council a note
to just let you know that the report on the
fortress wouldn't be presented with the Capitol budget this evening.
I haven't been able to secure costing for that work
and I didn't want to bring council that before I
had a good estimate of cost. So I hope to
bring that at your next update in December. Thank you.
And a final question to eleven D. And we might
need, um, Jay back up. But I just, uh, 11
E, which I've also pulled to speak to, is about
the water fill station slash water bottle water fountain issue.
And I just want to, before we get to that
point, um, make sure that I understand correctly that the
capital item listed as, uh, CAP 27 - 0025 or
on general facilities, bottlefill stations, that that's the same project
that budget line that's been carried forward annually. That will
be speaking to in 11E. If I can ask that
question English, uh, just making sure that we see in
the multi - year capital plan is again, that same
project that we're around water bottle and fountain refill stations
just in its annual presence. Is that, am I correct
in that? Um, it's not carry forward funds. Those were
the funds that were budgeted for this year. I believe
that that's the answer to your question. Okay. Thank you.
Then I would move the motion for the multi -
year capital plan with that additional information. Um, that in
consideration of staff report, CR - 26074, respecting the approval
of the 2027 to 31 multi - year capital plan,
the City Council won approves the project's funded within the
2027 to 2031 multi - year capital plan and two
direct staff to bring forward a further update to the
2027 to 2031 multi - year capital plan for subsequent
approval in December of 2026. Okay. Any questions. You're not
used to asking questions. You're not going to ask yourself
a question. Very good question. I don't want to get
between you and yourselves. I'll call the question all in
favor. That's carried. So that gets us through the consent.
No, the next eleven. 11E. Okay. I thought we just
did that one. Sorry. Okay. Go ahead. Thank you. The
nuance of calling four questions and calling the question. Apparently
it lost on me. Um, so this report, 11E, we
asked for that at recent capital meeting. And for context,
so everyone's on the same page. So we passed this
motion in 2023. And every year or two, we've continued
to see the 10, 000 dollars set aside for water
bottle filling stations. And it's in the capital plan again
with a project start date of January 1st, 2027. Um.
And like considering that we have not moved the project
forward since 2023. And that water fountains cost more than
indoor bottle filling stations. I'm curious. How much unspent budget
is currently available for this project? Or would the previous
years worth of 10, 000 dollars for a bottle fill
station have just gone back into the regular pot? And
we didn't, cause we didn't use it. So it's back
in the regular pot of funding. And we get another
chance now in 2027 to allocate that funding. Through your
worship consistent with any other capital project, if it doesn't
get spent or if it's under budget, the funds go
back into the capital reserve. We don't continue to earmark
them for their original purpose. So they would be redistributed
in future multi - year capital plans. Um, that said,
we have been installing water filling stations consistently through a
number of years just recently we put one in the
Farmers Market washroom. We've put one in at the Bay
Shore more recently. So those have been happening on a
one - off ad hoc basis. That, yeah, thank you.
I appreciate that focus. The 2023 motion was specifically around
dedicating that budget to publicly accessible outdoor multi - use
water bottle fill and water fountain. Installations. And that under
the timing and scheduling section of the report, it says
the transition schedule is determined by capital planning framework and
the completion of site - specific assessments. Milestones are prioritized
based on staff capacity, capital resource availability, and the strategic
goal of enhancing public access and high traffic areas. And
the project aligns with the City's Anual Work Plan and
timelines are adjusted as needed to accommodate other organisational priorities,
ensuring that the transition remains responsive to Council's directives. And
yet we haven't since 2023 seen an outdoor water fountain
installed. And so I'm wondering if staff could tell us
whether there is currently a plan for when staff will
begin to explore outdoor public water stations in response to
the motion from three years ago, acknowledging that we haven't
spent the funding. So it's gone to other projects. We've
got a chance to get in 2027. And we know
that outdoor water fountains cost more than just putting a
unit in a wall. Um, what's the actual plan and
timeline. Three of your worship to Councillor Farmer. Thank you
for the question. So we do have a project for
2027. It's CAP 270025, which is 10, 000 dollars to
install a water station. Um, at this point, that project
is fully funded in our 27 Capitol Plan and staff
are currently, um, are completing site evaluations. For potential locations,
uh, if council were to have recommendations for spaces that
they could feel would be, we would be well warranted.
We would be open to that here in that as
well. Through the mayor, my concern is that this feels
a lot like the motion that we made in 2023.
And that type of unit that we discussed prioritizing has
not been installed anywhere. And so I'm. I'm going to
move that we accept the report for information purposes. And
then I'm going to move a subsequent motion that we
specifically put in the work planned for 2027 and outdoor
water fountain because the, I really appreciate the report and
the information that came back that made it clear that
they cost more money to buy. They cost more money.
And it's more complicated to install. There's winterization concerns, obviously.
And that none of those things have been worked into
the work plan. Um, and acknowledging staff bandwidth issues. And
that's why we have a capital projects coordinator now. But.
I'm just really confused about it not happening over a
series of years. We haven't increased the amount. We haven't
accrued the amount that would make this possible. And that's
why I'll make a subsequent motion. But I guess I'll
stop there and just move that we, um, receive the
report for information. Recommendation. Don't you dare. Recommendation before us.
He has moved the recommendation. Are there any questions on
it. Yes. Because there are a lot of residents out
there watching who identify themselves as taxpayers. And if you
read the report, it looks to be that there's 22
water bottle refilling stations that we have completed. And it's
a cause of 10, 000 dollars per unit. So point
of clarity. Have we expended 220, 000 dollars since 2017.
On water bottle refill stations. Because that's exactly how the
report reads. Through your worship, I wouldn't necessarily, I would
need some time to go back and figure out how
many of those were put in sort of individually. I'll
use an example City Hall has three. They were put
in as part of the rehabilitation of this facility. So
certainly some were put in as a one - off.
Others were captured as part of maybe building instruction, building
renovation. I would have to go back and see what
the nature of each of those installations was. Okay. So
we've got a recommendation in front of us. Which was
in consideration staff report 26 dies, 075 respecting an update
on the transition to outdoor public water stations, city council
receives this report for information purposes. I'm going to call
the question on favor. That's carried back to John. Thank
you. Through the mayor, I moved that the development of
a detailed project plan for the installation of an outdoor
water fountain, including the capital installation and operating costs. And
Identification of potential locations be included in the city's 2027
work plan. We made this original motion for this project
at budget meetings in 2023. Three years later, the project
hasn't moved ahead. We have that budget allocated for 2027
and the project already on the books. And I think
that could be used to help make our community safer
and more age - friendly by increasing public access to
water that doesn't rely on the buildings that have water
filling stations being open. I think it's time that we
at least see what the plan to make the plan
to move that forward would look like. So I'd like
to formally add that to the work plan. So it's
not another three years later when we're asking why I
can't get a drink of water on the street. When
the city halls closed. So we've passed a motion. It
is on the budget. What's different about this one? Uh,
through the mayor. The current budget line still says water
bottle refill stations. The report that we just passed highlighted
that water fountains are more expensive, both for purchasing them
and then all the infrastructure that goes into installing that
somewhere. You got to connect the water to something. Um,
it's recently come to my attention. You also need the
outflow to go summer. You can't just pour it on
the ground. Um, and it's not reading to me like
there has actually been the staff capacity or focus to
figure out how we get this budget that is dedicated
to getting people access to water. Outside of a building.
And if staffer identifying that they need the planning for
that, for those three stages, then I think we need
to formally add that to the work plan so that
it lands on the proper spreadsheet in the proper place
and doesn't get lost again. Where am I looking? Everyone's,
everyone's hands going up Kate. Uh, three year worship. A
number of the water bottle filling stations that we've installed
are exterior, um, I'll use one. I know the one
at Harrison Park. It gets winterized in the winter. Um,
there's one in Kelso Beach attached to the, um, good
cheer change house in washroom. Um, so there are a
number that are throughout town as well. We do have
the drinking fountain that is open across from the farmer's
market in that parquet currently. Um, so certainly we can
look at providing an outdoor water fountain, but it would
be helpful if the area that you're specifically seeking one
to have that information. We would be able to look
then at whether there's infrastructure in place to provide one.
Um, alternatively typically what we do is we look at
the projects that we're undertaking and now I'll use an
example. The entrance to this cemetery is a project that
is currently anticipated for 2027 when that moves forward, we
could look at an opportunity if we're enhancing that entrance
already at adding a water bottle filling station at the
entrance potentially on the exterior of the building. It would
have to be winterized in the winter if that were
the case. But, um, there's sort of a mix. There's
inside stations, outside stations. So if there's something more specific
that you would like us to look at, we'd be
happy to build that in. But I do think that
consideration is made when we look at where we put
water bottle filling stations every year. Just recognising Councillor Farmer's
motion. So it is on the table. Councillor Dodge, you
had your hand up. Thank you, worship. I was just
going to go back and say, um, historically back in
the day when we started this policy or this way
we were going to do this staff identified multiple different
locations that we're going to be included in this. And
now my only recommendation to Councillor Farmer was that if
there was a specific location that you'd like to be
included in the 2027 budget just to provide that to
staff and have that, uh, more detailed. Council Merton, you're
handed up anyone this way. Their hand is up. Nope.
Okay. I'm going to call the question. If you haven't
beaten the daylights out of it already. Thank you. At
the risk of it getting darker, um, if we cast
our memories back to when Brady was standing at the
podium in 2023 and he had to slide up that
showed a water bottleing station and then in the other
corner of the slide was three tiered thing that had
water fountain. It had a thing for dogs. It had
a place to fill your water bottle. And that the
discussion at that time was in fact initially, I think
maybe Councillor Hamily moved the motion to say, we've got
all these water bottle filling stations. Let's just pull this
from the budget where we filled all the places that
we possibly can for water bottle refilling stations. We collectively
moved to say, yeah, there's probably enough inside. There's three
in City Hall. There's all these other places. But there
is still a need for people to access water that
is not inside one of these buildings. And that was
why we made the motion in 2023. And I'm not
hearing from staff that in the current project allocation that
we've actually dedicated the focus or enough funding to actually
put in another water fountain somewhere. And I really think
that's important. I'm also, I totally hear Councillor Dodd saying,
if you want to be more specific, be more specific.
I'm just also conscious that I don't know what from
a technical perspective where all of the ideal locations would
be. I see people every day down at the corner
of First Avenue East and Ninth Street East. I think
that could be a place for an outdoor water fountain.
I think that in the 800 or 900, I'm just
going to cut you off there. Send it into them.
We've got to keep moving here. Okay. So the motion
is on the floor all in favor. One, two, three
opposed. One, two, three, four, five. So that's defeated. We
already moved the motion that was in the recommendation. Okay.
We're good. So we're down to 12A. Medici Community Services
Committee meeting held on July 22nd, 2026 Counseling Metal Bro,
I think. Community Services. Sorry, I was in a days
after that. Okay. Community Services meeting minutes from July 22nd.
We confirmed the minutes of the June 24th meeting. Committee
received report CS - 26073 from the Director of Community
Services regarding the 2026 Ontario Structure Inspection of the Rainbow
Bridge at Harrison Park. The bridge gets checked every two
years. And in 2024, when it was checked, there were
some minor deficiencies noticed and some work was done. But
in the 2026 structure report, there were major deficiencies. The
bridge had deteriorated significantly to the point that the engineer
recommended immediately prohibiting vehicle crossings on the bridge, but pedestrian
use can continue. Staff are working on various options for
either repair or replacement coming up with funding strategies and
strategy for winter snow removal since you cannot have vehicles
on the bridge. And they're going to report back to
committee in September of 2026. So that was received for
information. Committee received report CM - 26022 from senior manager
of strategic initiatives and operational effectiveness regarding the transfer of
artifacts to grey roots museum and archives. This report came
as a result of a service review initiative supporting lean
continuous improvement across the organisation. The artifacts are being improperly
stored at public works and have been deteriorating grey roots
has requested to take the artifacts as part of their
collection and they will be restored. Committee recommended that Council
approved the transfer donation request for the five bells, four
clock faces and the clock mechanism. Committee also received report
CS - 26072 from senior planner regarding Community Improvement Program
Grant Application for 612 Second Avenue East, which is the
Safe and Sound location of the new emergency shelter. Safe
and Sound had applied for funding under three different streams
of the CIP program, The Vacant Building Conversion and Expansion
Grant for up to 10, 000 accessibility improvement grant up
to 10, 000 and landscaping your property improvement grant up
to 10, 000. The fund has been well used this
year and the 13, 000 dollars available. So as part
of the recommendation and the report, um, staff recommended approving
the funding of the three - steed streams, uh, drawing
17, 000 out of reserves to cover the balance of
the three grants and then to approve another draw of
25, 000 from reserves to fund any additional applications coming
forward for the remainder of 2026. This would leave a
reserve balance of 43, 000 dollars and committee approved that
recommendation We received report CS - 26074 from manager of
planning inheritage regarding public art installation at intersections would collaborative,
289 - 10th Street East, a mural of a realistic
woodpecker is to be painted by a local artist, Sarah
Macombe Turbit, and it's being proposed for the side of
the building facing third avenue east. City does not have
a mural policy in place currently. Staff recommended that the
mural proposal be approved subject to the owner getting a
temporary encriptment permit for the work to be done with
on the city sidewalk and that the artist provide a
final sketch to the satisfaction of the city and that
staff consider an application to the CIP landscaping and property
improvement, uh, program should one come forward even after the
work has commenced. And Committee approved that recommendation. We received
the development update for June, notable things in June where
the harbour west building number two has started construction, Skydev
building number three is under construction, Safe and Sound has
received their permit for the emergency shelter, uh, farmers market
washroom is now completed. And Padjay Heights submitted an application
for site approval for the Georgian Heights Building Onten Street
East. In additional business, we had a reminder about the
municipal election, updates on Owen Heights and Comrade Park Playground
replacements that they are now complete. Weavers Creek Boardwalk is
going to be reconstructed starting in August. The Harrison Park
Mercury work is done and a reminder that the park
naming for the former Ryerson Park is underway. People can
vote on our city Owen Sound until August 28th. With
that, I move receipt of the minutes of the Community
Services Meeting of July 22nd and the recommendations contained within,
and I can take any questions. Good, thank you. Any
questions. Seeing none, call the question all in favor. That
has carried. Next, Councillor Coucration minutes the Corporate Services Committee
meeting held in July 9th, 2026. Thank you, Overship, through
you. The Corporate Services Committee was held on July 9,
2026 at 5. 30 p. m. at the City Council
Chambers. It was a short meeting. We only had two
reports that were presented under parking and by - law
enforcements. The first report was the staff report CR -
26067, respecting the regulatory by - law management policy. Number
AF - 015. It was presented by the By -
Law Enforcement Supervisor. The report recommended adopting regularly by -
law policy. Number AF - 015 and repeal Bylord Revision
and Review Policy Number CS - 73. The second report,
which was the CR - 26068, highlighted property standards by
- law, the Saint - Bylor and new vital services
by - law. The report proposed updates to the property
standards by - law to address concerns regarding moles, pests,
vacant lots, damage buildings, so that they align for the
city's by - law. A new vital science service by
- law was proposed to ensure that adequate and suitable
vital services were provided and available in rental units. With
that, I request the approval and recept of the minutes.
And anyone have any questions, Councillor Farmer. Thank you to
the mayor. I'm so excited to see the vital services
by - law coming into effect. Um, and to CS,
like, move on the rent - safe recommendations and all
that community work that took place over so many years.
It's also the middle of July, and it's really hot
outside. And I've lived in upper floor brick apartments that
aren't cooled sufficiently. And I'm curious whether there was any
consideration given to adding a maximum temperature component to the
vital services bylaw, or like a right to cooling, anything
like that, so that as we increasingly see high temperatures,
uh, that were not baking people in their apartments when
we could be adding that to the legislation. Just about
demoted to you again, Ms. Bloomfield. Thank you, worship, and
thanks to the councillor for providing this question in advance
as I was able to, um, coordinated response with the
Bylaw Supervisor, which I will read out. So section 11C
of the proposed bylaw requires that a landlord provides suitably
cool air. Which is a maximum of 26 degrees Celsius.
If the lease agreement outlines that an air conditioning system
is provided, this allows Bylaw to order the repair of
an air conditioning system if it is not operable or
charged the owner if they remove it or fail to
maintain it without a legal amendment to the lease agreement.
Under the residential tendencies act effect of July 1st. Tenants
may install a window or portable air conditioner, even where
at least prohibits it, provided they meet the prescribed conditions
and notify the landlord in writing. Landlords may apply a
seasonal rent increase to recover eligible electricity costs. There are
currently no municipal biles on Ontario that require all rental
properties to have permanent cooling systems. Such a program would
require the retrofit and our renovation of billings to install
a cooling system, which could impact the availability and affordability
of rental units in the city. The City of Toronto
and Hamilton are currently researching a maximum heat bylaw, and
we will monitor these initiatives. Okay, I'm going to call
the question again then. On favor, that's carried. So then
is minutes of operations committee meeting held on July 23rd,
2026, and that's 12C in the agenda. The July operating
service minutes from their committee recommends to counsel to authorize
utilising up to 35, 000 dollars to investigate opening Geno
landfill site for the disposal of excess soils. This would
be similar to the former Derby landfill, which took access
soils till 2025. Utilising a portion of the genocyte, it
is possible that up to 300, 000 cubic metres could
be stored there consisting of excess soils and public works
materials, some of which for storage or reuse such as
tree materials. Work at reopening for residential waste disposal options
would be placed on hold while the county completes its
regional waste study. And you will city activities can produce
between 4600 metric tons. And at a cost of between
105 to 175 dollars per tone, a considerable liability exists
to store such materials externally. Further studies will be completed
by the existing consultant and incorporated into existing staff work
plans. Committee had to report and recommends council to return
to the 30 - minute transit intervals following the 45
- minute trial, while the six - month pilot showed
some favorable results in margin, April missed runs increased in
May and June. Public feedback was gathered through surveys and
assessing 89 surveys completed and citing the 45 - minute
cycles as less convenient and not improving service reliability. Staff
and the transit operator will continue to look at opportunities
to locate operational improvements to reduce delays. The final report
regarding the transit app was received for information. The 2024
implementation of the GPS tracking servicing, the app, and improving
customer experience has been successful. There are issues when spare
buses are used, so staff are wishing to purchase GPS
systems, which being in a bag are portable and transferable
to spare buses. The approximate 10, 000 dollar cost would
be utilising remaining funds from the original capital project. Staff
also continue to work with Google to integrate the GPS
data into Google Transit to offer customers and option without
needing an additional transit app. A note of motion was
voted down regarding reporting back - related to a bus
and child incident a couple months ago. Staff responded that
there are processes currently in place which had staff attend
assess and collect data needed to inform any future decisions
about solutions, which are required enhancing safety for everyone. And
I would note that staff do make it part of
their work in responding back to individuals that have submitted
ideas or concerns. Welcome questions and asked councils endorsement of
the resolutions contained within. Questions. Seeing none, call the question
all in favor that has carried. So that gets us
through the reports. We're down to 13 matters postponed. We
have no postpone matters. Uh, motions for which notice was
previously given, and we have none discussion of additional business
councillor firmer. I think you had two items. Uh, yeah,
thank you. Through the mayor, my first item, uh, related
to bandit fests. So the third annual banded fest, which
is organised by local teens, um, including the organiser who
was our 2025 youth volunteer of the year, all of
Browski, uh, took place a week, two weeks ago. Um,
they brought young bands from near and far and hosted
the performances as well as a craft vendor market in
downtown venues and businesses, uh, it was great to see
an all ages grassroots event in livening downtown. And I
want to congratulate the organisers and thank them for their
work in making Owen Sound a great place. And, uh,
giving my one - year - old a chance to
get closer to the mosh pit than she normally does.
Uh, she was so enthusiastic. Uh, my second item was
just highlighting, so Councillor Merten brought at a previous meeting
that there municipal candidates, education session, hosted by the poverty
task force. But now there's a poster. And I just
wanted to bring that up and highlight that, uh, that's
happening Friday, September 18th. And that more information is available
both on the poster and at povertytask force. com. Thank
you Councillor Merten. Through you mayor. Today there was an
immediate media release from Southwestern Ontario Public Health Units and
a call for action. This is in relation to household
food insecurity, which links to poor physical and mental health
and a higher risk of chronic disease. And increased pressure
on our health care system. Among children and youth, it
impacts concentration, memory, mood, and motor skills, making it harder
to succeed in school. I bring this forward because we
all can do something about this. We are told what
needs to change. Public health units across southwest Ontario, including
ours locally. Support solutions which acknowledge that the root cause
of household food insecurity is inadequate income. And they propose
the following measures. Increase the social assistance rates, including Ontario
works. Improving income supports for low and modest income housing.
A households and implementing policies that reduce the cost of
housing and essential living expenses. And everyone is asked to
take apart. So what you can do as part of
the rule in addressing household food insecurity is to learn
more about how income impacts access to food. There is
a report from the Ontario dieticians and public health. They're
called to action. And our poverty task force, excuse me,
also has links to additional information about the importance of
income security in relation to people who are hungry. Also
we are encouraging the public to engage local elected officials
and to have discussions around income - based solutions. And
to support our community organisations volunteering, donations, while recognising that
food programs alone cannot solve this issue. I encourage you
to look for the media release. There is a quote,
certainly from our local assistant, um, uh, MOH. And this
packs all across southwestern Ontario. It is a critical issue
facing all of our communities. Thank you. Thank you. Deputy
Mayor Grey, can I pass the chair to you. Yes.
Um, back to you, Mayor Buddy. Thank you. I want
to talk about George McCollege here. Um, is everyone knows
colleges were running into financial squeeze in the spring. And
it hasn't really gone away. Uh, the loss of international
students, the shrinking of international students that have been able
to come, uh, tuitions were frozen at 2019 levels. And
then the financial, um. Grant from the province was lacking
and it has been upgraded. Uh, back in the spring,
I attended Georgian College Barry Campus, uh, with other municipal
regional provincial and federal elected officials to discuss our commitment
to working together to drive meaningful lasting pact. We were
able to receive an insight from their recent labour market
study and advance conversations about how we can achieve shared
goals. I was unable to find that labour market study
on a desk somewhere, but I couldn't find it. They
have gone and looked at what is needed for future
labour in this region and all around and tried to
gear themselves towards that. The labour force is not going
to be ready for the things that are coming without
colleges training and developing. And Georgian College is pretty important
for that. I met again more in June, as I
recall, with George and College, the president and senior staff
in on Sound and carried on the conversation. The main
message was that strong partnerships and bold solutions are essential
to address the complex workforce, social economic challenges facing a
region. Collaboration is essential and will ensure where future ready
and resilient. For all the jobs and economic drivers that
we want to have built out in the coming years,
George and College is leading the way with programs to
have people ready to fill those labour needs. We've got
a full - time, sorry, the fall complete honours bachelor
of science nursing program started four years ago, the first
cohort just graduated this spring. This is within - on
- sound marine navigation, marine engineering, their marine emergency duties
where everyone that's working on the Great Lakes Praders have
to come in and be trained. So they've got to
be firefighters. There are going to be emergency workers on
a boat. They can't phone the ambulance or the fire
truck to come and find them. So they all have
to be trained. They come in for a couple of
weeks here, so they're staying at hotels eating at restaurants,
etc. Power engineering is pretty important. There's power staffing skilled
trades are being beefed up in this area. Early childhood
education, I believe has just starting. All of these are
geared for where labour markets in our region will need
to be in the coming years. So due to the
frozen, I hit that. Yeah, due to the frozen tuition
and declining the international students and underfunding. Georgian College had
to make some pretty tough decisions and they closed two
campuses and cut a lot of programs. They did not
cut here. We were lucky that our campus was not
one of them that was cut. In the past throughout
my history and Owen Sound, I remember every time the
money got caught, it was on sound that seemed to
lose arts programs and the nursing programs and all those
things got pulled back. So we're pleased that we're able
to keep those programs going here.
Economic impact, so this goes back to 2023. The ONCO
campus adds approximately 105 million dollars in income to Green
Bruce Coconomy. Value approximately equal to 1. 2 total gross
regional product. You don't sound campus impacts supported 1, 311
regional jobs. Students support one out of every 59 jobs
in Greyborough's counties. The own sound campus employees a hundred
full - time equivalent employees. Payroll amounts to 12. 2
million dollars, much of which is spent in grocery stores
on mortgages, rents, dining out in the community. Use the
economic multiplier effect, which is 2. 5 to three probably.
That dollar turns over. The grocery store owner goes and
pays employees. They go out and buy things. So it
keeps turning. The College spent another 4. 1 million on
day - to - day expenses related to facilities, supplies
and professional services. That impact of the college's operations spending
added 15. 1 million to the income of the Regional
Economy. From outside the region. So 20
to unsound rent spend money. Buy food. Some of them
stay. These students spend money in groceries mortgages rent payments
in the region. Adding about 1. 3 million dollars in
income to Grey Baruch's economies. To get to that, whatever
I said first, the 105 million, approximately 88. 6 million
is attributed to the income of alumni and graduates that
are working with their acquired knowledge of skills. There's thousands
of them. Working in Grey and Bruce counties. So Enson
Campus 2020, this is going back to 22, 23. Students
paid a present value of about 5. 2 million dollars
to cover the Constitution fees and supplies. Provincial taxpayers provide
ensemble campus with 8. 6 million dollars. And again, that's
22, 23, so it has changed. Return they benefit from
an added tax revenue stemming from students higher lifetime earnings
and increased business output amounting to 2. Sorry, sorry, 21
million. So just the financial impact is pretty important for
on - sound. And if I use the hockey team
as an example, there's things that we have done to
make sure that the attacker successful and partners in the
region. And because the number of kids that get jobs
and the number of jobs that spin out from that,
from hotels to restaurants, et cetera, it's all of these
are pretty important for our economy. Beyond that, if you
think about kids that live in Grey and Bruce, it
can afford to go to college here that might not
be able to pay rent might not be able to
afford to go to some other town based on their
family's ability to pay to go. And, um, and get
educated and then return here. So having a college here
is pretty important for access for students that maybe can't
travel and don't have the ability. In the past, we
have pledged money to the hospital for, I think, MRI.
I think it might be within this term of council,
or maybe the term before. We pledge 250, 000 dollars
per year for a, I think up to three years.
I think they raised enough money after two when we
used that money for something else. Um, we have had
a history of supporting. Agencies or institutions in our community
that really benefit the whole community and the whole area.
So with that, after talking with George in College and
working with their staff over the last number of months,
I want to bring a motion tonight. Based on. Whereas
the Own Sound campus of Georgian College is an important
part of the educational economic and social wellbeing. The City
of Own Sound and Greater Region of Greenburst Counties. And
whereas George and College has had financial challenges due to
external pressures. It's been forced to close other campuses. Whereas
the City Council wishes to support Georgian College campus in
the city of Owen Sound. I therefore be resolved that
I move that city Council Drex City Manager and Treasury
to enter into a funding agreement with Georgian College for
the transfer of 100, 000 dollars for the next four
years starting in 2027 in support of the ON Sound
campus. Um, recognising that. College Education has the responsibility of
the province. But they've given the money to say, here's
as much as we're going to give to you, survive
on that. The City of Barry has pledged 7. 5
million dollars, so 750, 000 a year to the Barry
campus, as well as what they're doing in Simco County,
Grey County in the past as pledge money as well
recognising the regional responsibilities. So that's my motion. Before I
do that. Um, I need to move that whereas the
Council meeting of the City of Own Sound scheduled for
this date tonight is the final scheduled meeting for the
Council before the Council will become restricted pursuit of Section
275. The municipal act for making any expenditures are encouraging
any liability which exceeds 500, 000. Therefore move the council
wave notice with regard to the motion to transfer bonds
to Georgia College. And I'm just going to go briefly
to the clerk. For clarity. The motion on the screen
states from making any expenditures or incurring any other liability
which exceeds 50, 000 the mayor spoke 500, 000. Could
you just clarify please? Through your worship, yes, some municipal
act requirements also known as lame duck is relating to
50, 000 dollars. Okay, thank you Councillor Kukraja. So yeah,
through you, Actor, I would declare a conflict of interest
because I've employed with Georgian College. Accepted. Councillor Farmer.
I'll speak against waving the notice of motion. We've heard
concerns in the past around the implication of tying the
hands of future councils in major capital decisions. And I
think that. This is very clearly a four - year
budget commitment to that deserves. Enough time for everyone to
see the motion, think about things, talk to folks. And
I'm not in favor of waving the notice of motion
for something that is a large capital amount spread over
multiple years. Okay, thank you. Any further councillors wishing to
speak to the waving of the notice of motion. Not
seeing any. So I'll call the vote on waiving the
notice of motion first. All those in favor of waving
notice. And I'm Counting six, those opposed. And that is
carried. So we will go back to the main motion.
It's been introduced. Any councillors willing to speak to Councillor
Farmer. Thank you. Through the chair, I'll speak against this
motion as well. Again, highlighting the previous concerns of tying
the hands of future councils with multi - year budget
commitments. I think that there's no question of Georgian College
being an asset to this community. We are so lucky
to have that here. And it has brought a lot
of great people to the area. It's helped local folks
cultivate their skills and professionalism. It's made of possible. Like
all the benefits that the mayor cited, I absolutely agree
with. I don't think that it's possible for one municipality
to pick up the Slack of a provincial system that
is trying to run on starvation rations for an institution
like this. 25, 000 dollars a year is less than
what it would cost to have one employee. And as
we talk about. All of the ways in which our
own operational and capital budgets are overtaxed, I think that
this is. A way in which it is not to
me financially or fiscally responsible to put tax dollars into
supporting a token amount of a, putting a drop in
a token amount to drop into a bucket that we
can't possibly hope to actually fill for the college. And
that doesn't actually come with any requirement of the college
to keep its operations. Here. This is very clearly an
act of support and solidarity. And I think there are
other ways that we can do that. I think that
we can better advocate with our own MPP for appropriate
funding and recognise the importance of Georgian College. I think
that we can look for more in - kind options
for support and promotion like we did with the banners
along 10th Street in years past. And. While the financial
impact is really important to the Owen Sound and Grey
County economy, we don't actually have a mechanism by which
municipalities get more money from supporting institutions like this or
businesses like this. And we've been really clear in the
past that we don't have a granting system. We don't
have a granting structure. That organisations who need additional support
have been encouraged to find Community Foundation funding and things
like that. And. While I again think the Georgian College
is an important partner and they deserve our support, I
don't think our support should be monetary. And especially when
we so actively critique other expenses in other areas that
are more specifically municipal jurisdiction. So I'll be voting against
the motion. Thanks Councillor Farmer. Councillor Kepke. Just a question
to the mayor. How does this differ from the money
that we would have given the hospital. My recollection as
we gave the hospital 250, 000 for three years. Pledged
250, 000 per three years, way by when we pledged
100, 000 dollars for 10, but the hospital had raised
enough money for the MRI at that time. So we
backed out. But Kate, do you remember the amount that
we were giving to, uh, the hospital a couple years
ago? I'm looking now, but I seem to recall it
was 50, 000 over two years. So I just got
yaw. So 25, not 250. Any further questions. Comments. I
mayor body. I just know that, uh, if you take
that 750, 000 dollars that Barry is giving per year
divided by 147, 000 people, it ends up being about
five bucks per person. So, uh, if we're to do
the same thing, we should be donating. I'm going to
reword that. We could be donating about a hundred thousand
dollars matching Barry. I don't think we've got the ability
to do that. That's, I tried to pick something that
would work. It is a drop in the bucket, but
hopefully it continues to support. It's, um, it's symbolic in
a sense, but, uh, and I hope future councils will
consider more. Thanks. Okay. I'm glad we're not going to
compare commercial and industrial size tax bases between the two
communities and their impact on overall taxation. I do have
one question to the City manager. A couple of months
ago, we had a deputation from Georgian College, uh, Kevin
Weaver was here and council did vote in favor of
proceeding with, uh, supporting the college in future endeavours. Can
you perhaps just provide an update to that at this
point? Is there anything to report on there as too
soon? Three of you are back to you, Deputy Mayor.
It would be too soon. We have had meetings with
the senior leadership here at the Georgian College. We've also
been meeting with the student body Executive team and discussing
with the students themselves on what supports the students would
look for from the city, whether that's from additional education
and information about happenings in the river district to transit
service to other things like that. But we haven't definitively
come up with a solid, here are three actions to
come forward with. Okay. Thank you. Not seeing any further
arms in the air. I'll call the question. Oh, I'm
going to go clerk. Through you, Deputy Mayor. If you
could get the motion on the floor. From the mayor.
Okay. So I moved the motion as I reckon then
be resolved that city Council Direct City Manager and Treasure
to enter into a funding agreement. George and College for
the transfer of 100, 000 dollars. Payable and installments for
the next four years starting in 2027 in support of
the Owensound campus. Okay. Thank you. No further questions. All
those in favor. Those opposed. And that motion is carried
with one opposed. Okay. Thank you Mayor Boddy and I
will pass the chair back to you. Thank you, Deputy
Mayor Greg. That's additional business. So now it's a motion
that the Committee, the horizon report. I'm here. Uh, move
by myself that the Committee of the whole rise and
report. All in favor. That is carried 17 motion to
adopt proceedings in Committee the Hall. I'm still here. Moved
by myself. And seconded by Deputy Mayor Greg that the
action taken in committee of the whole in considering public
meetings, deputations and presentations, public forum, matters arising from correspondence.
Matters of City staff consent agenda committee minutes matters postponed
motions for which notice was previously given and additional business
be confirmed by this council. Good. Thanks. All in favor.
That is carried. Are there any notices of motion being
given tonight. Before we go into lame duck? Uh, motions
to move into the closed session. We have nuns. We're
not going into clothes by loss, Ms. Bloomfield. To your
worship, the bylaws listed for approval on tonight's agenda include
the confirmatory by Biolate Execute a loan agreement with grey
roots museum and archives for the transfer artifacts. A Biotech
execute all documents necessary to complete the sale of the
southern portion of part two on 16R - 8751 to
Brad Duncan. A Biotech's Cuted General Assignment and Assumption of
Contracts with 14 acres parking in Byla. A Biotech Execute
of Fourth Amending Agreement with Voyagego for Intercommunity Transportation between
Own Sound and Guelph. A Biolite Execute a third of
many agreement with centre Wellington and a Fourth Amending Agreement
with Trasworth, Wellington North, Northern Credit Union, and 6 -
10 Mini Mart, respecting bus stops for the Ghostbus service.
A Biolatex execute a funding agreement. Amendment with Grey County
respecting ghost, a Biolate Executive Service Agreement with U -
Haul for property at 20th Avenue East in 16th Street
East. And a Byla dedicate an establish a one -
foot reserve at 1389 - 16 Street East as a
public highway. And there is one additional by - law,
but you have an interest, so I'll wait. To describe
that one. Thanks. Okay, go ahead with those, John. Move
by myself, seconded by Deputy Mayor Greg that by -
law numbers 2026 - 089 through to and including 2026
- 097 be passed and enacted. All in favor. That's
scary. So one more that I've got a pecuniary interest.
I'll hand the chair back to Deputy Mayor Greg. Okay,
I'll go back to the clerk to introduce it. Thank
you, Deputy Mayor. The last byla is to execute a
Lisa Greement Amendment with Brandon Vandershot for two additional parking
stalls on 11th Street West, east of First Aft West.
Moved by myself, seconded by Councillor Hamley, that bylaw number
2026 - 098 be passed and enacted. Any questions. Not
seeing any. I do have one. This question would be
to the director of Community Services. We did receive an
email from a resident regarding the opportunity for others to
evaluate spaces in this area. Before passing the bylaw tonight,
what type of. Opportunity, or what is the framework or
the setting like for others to now submit an interest,
um, because timing - wise, um, I think it would
be difficult just to pass this. Um, and then tomorrow
email back and say, we can't do anything. I'd just
like to know, uh, what was our process. Through you?
The report on last time spoke to the redevelopment of
these lands in the harbour and the parking spaces aren't
required to achieve the minimum parking in the zoning bylaw
about really, we're required or requested by the building owner
to support the redevelopment. I think three or four of
the units were occupied and this was the last one.
Certainly, I don't believe that staff were copied on the
email, but if there's parking spaces, in any municipal lot,
certainly through the City clerk, we can address any of
those requests to lease or look at. The use of
those spaces in accordance with our bylaws. Okay, thanks for
that replies. Just nice to know that there is an
element of fairness that he exists out in the Community
for others to, in the futures, to still reach out
to the city. So not seeing any further questions, all
those in favor. And that is carried. Thank you. We
will allow for, actually we don't even need mayor body
to come back because that was the last item of
a business and it's 8. 53 PM and we are
adjourned.