1 00:11:00,221 --> 00:11:02,280 One, we're now going to ask staff to begin recording 2 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:05,842 the meeting. We're good. This meeting is being live streamed 3 00:11:06,023 --> 00:11:08,242 and publicly broadcast. The recording of this meeting will also 4 00:11:08,242 --> 00:11:11,202 be available on our website in the future. We'll call 5 00:11:11,202 --> 00:11:14,002 this meeting to order at nine o'clock. We will begin 6 00:11:14,023 --> 00:11:16,402 by sharing the land acknowledgement statement. We would like to 7 00:11:16,442 --> 00:11:19,682 begin by respectfully acknowledging that Denver County resides within the 8 00:11:19,682 --> 00:11:23,842 traditional territory and ancestral lands of the TNT. Attawader on 9 00:11:24,023 --> 00:11:28,082 Hodenoshoni and Inishinaabe peoples. We also acknowledge that various municipalities 10 00:11:28,103 --> 00:11:30,562 within the County of Duffrin reside within the treaty lands 11 00:11:30,983 --> 00:11:34,082 named under the Haldeminded of 1784, and two of the 12 00:11:34,122 --> 00:11:37,762 Williams treaties of 1818, treaty 18, the Nautilus Saga purchase 13 00:11:37,783 --> 00:11:41,522 and treaty 19, the Agitant's treaty. These traditional territories upon 14 00:11:41,522 --> 00:11:43,522 which we live and learn are steeped and rich indigenous 15 00:11:43,623 --> 00:11:46,082 history and traditions. It is with this statement that we 16 00:11:46,103 --> 00:11:48,562 declare to honour and respect the past and present connection 17 00:11:49,303 --> 00:11:52,802 of indigenous people with this land is waterways and resources. 18 00:11:52,903 --> 00:11:54,482 I'll now ask the clerk to do the roll call. 19 00:11:54,482 --> 00:12:00,137 Thank you, Warden. Councillor Krillman. Present. Councillor Garthouse. 20 00:12:03,942 --> 00:12:12,481 Here. Councillor Garrett. Councillor Hall is absent. Councillor Hawkins present. 21 00:12:13,551 --> 00:12:23,256 Councillor. Little. Present. Councillor Mills is running late. Councillor Nix. 22 00:12:23,222 --> 00:12:32,488 Here. Councillor Wrench is absent. Councillor Solomon. Is online Councillor 23 00:12:32,528 --> 00:12:37,234 Taylor. Present. Councillor White. Present. And Warden Post present. Thank 24 00:12:37,234 --> 00:12:39,474 you. Can I have a motion please to approve the 25 00:12:39,495 --> 00:12:42,914 agenda and the addendum for today? Councillor Taylor and Councillor 26 00:12:43,015 --> 00:12:45,953 Nyx. Any questions or comments? All in favor. And that's 27 00:12:46,214 --> 00:12:49,713 carried. Members may declare any pecuniary interest now or at 28 00:12:49,753 --> 00:12:51,873 any time through the meeting. Was there any pecuniary interest? 29 00:12:51,873 --> 00:12:55,513 Councillor Taylor. Yes. I had to declare a conflict. I 30 00:12:55,513 --> 00:12:58,513 think it's apologised. I don't have 10. 2. Thank you. 31 00:12:58,513 --> 00:13:00,593 And the reason being is a member of my family 32 00:13:01,014 --> 00:13:04,952 works for the County. Councillor Taylor. Was there any other 33 00:13:05,453 --> 00:13:08,780 declarations of conflict. Okay. Seeing none. Can I have a 34 00:13:08,820 --> 00:13:11,020 motion please to adopt the minutes of the statutory public 35 00:13:11,041 --> 00:13:15,068 meeting and regular meeting of Council from September 10. Councillor 36 00:13:15,068 --> 00:13:18,521 Taylor and Councillor White all in favor. And that is 37 00:13:18,862 --> 00:13:23,601 carried. We will move into proclamations delegations and presentations. We 38 00:13:23,601 --> 00:13:25,481 will have one come up on the screen there. I 39 00:13:25,582 --> 00:13:29,241 hereby proclaim September 30th as every child matters day in 40 00:13:29,241 --> 00:13:31,481 the County of Duffyn. There will be a flag raised 41 00:13:31,502 --> 00:13:34,281 at the Dufferin County Administration Office to honour the day 42 00:13:34,382 --> 00:13:38,230 on the 30th. Thank you very much for that one. 43 00:13:38,230 --> 00:13:41,830 Next we will officially proclaim the month of October 2026 44 00:13:41,851 --> 00:13:45,190 to be early Childhood Educator and Child Care Worker Appreciation 45 00:13:45,211 --> 00:13:47,590 Month in the County of Duffrin. I'd like to invite 46 00:13:47,771 --> 00:13:50,150 Sarah early years and Child Care Manager to come forward 47 00:13:50,491 --> 00:13:53,549 and accept the proclamation. Sarah, did you have anything you 48 00:13:53,589 --> 00:13:55,469 wanted to say first? Okay, perfect. 49 00:14:25,836 --> 00:14:29,247 Okay. Unfortunately, it looks like our first delegation was unable 50 00:14:29,247 --> 00:14:32,607 to attend today. That was regarding the homelessness crisis in 51 00:14:32,647 --> 00:14:36,207 Dufferin County. Um, so we will move on to the 52 00:14:36,468 --> 00:14:38,927 Food Bank Update. And I would like to welcome Heather 53 00:14:38,967 --> 00:14:40,927 Hayes, Executive Director of the Orange Bill Food Bank to 54 00:14:40,927 --> 00:14:43,247 provide an annual update on the local Food Bank usage 55 00:14:43,268 --> 00:14:45,487 and the current state of Hunger and our community and 56 00:14:45,487 --> 00:14:47,967 in the province. Come on up Heather. Y'all set up 57 00:14:47,967 --> 00:14:54,334 there in the middle. Yep. Sorry right in the middle 58 00:14:54,355 --> 00:14:55,454 there Heather. Yep. 59 00:15:06,583 --> 00:15:11,852 Just to turn your mic. There we go. Perfect. Okay. 60 00:15:13,451 --> 00:15:15,830 Um, thanks so much for having me today. I appreciate 61 00:15:15,931 --> 00:15:19,030 your time. Um, we have a presentation in front of 62 00:15:19,030 --> 00:15:20,550 the screen, but I wanted to do something a little 63 00:15:20,571 --> 00:15:23,270 different today. Um, I'm sure you've had a chance to 64 00:15:23,291 --> 00:15:28,227 read it. It's, uh, it's not great. Um, but I 65 00:15:28,328 --> 00:15:30,827 wanted to start off my presentation differently this year. So 66 00:15:30,827 --> 00:15:33,427 I wanted to state that the world is generally a 67 00:15:33,427 --> 00:15:36,878 good place. That we're fortunate to live in Canada. That 68 00:15:36,878 --> 00:15:39,518 people have good intentions and they do well if they 69 00:15:39,518 --> 00:15:42,878 can. The sunrise was glorious. This morning if you got 70 00:15:42,918 --> 00:15:45,518 a chance to see it. And the community cares about 71 00:15:45,619 --> 00:15:47,838 its neighbours or we at the Food Bank wouldn't exist. 72 00:15:49,565 --> 00:15:52,904 And we're fortunate to have all of you working on 73 00:15:52,925 --> 00:15:55,064 behalf of the residents of the county. This is not 74 00:15:55,165 --> 00:15:59,064 an easy job. And, uh, slings narrows and all the 75 00:15:59,064 --> 00:16:01,546 good things that go with it. And I say this 76 00:16:01,807 --> 00:16:04,666 in my presentation this year, because it never gets easier 77 00:16:04,687 --> 00:16:07,386 for me to give this. I'm 12 coming up on 78 00:16:07,407 --> 00:16:10,106 12 years in on this job. Um, most of you 79 00:16:10,767 --> 00:16:13,626 have some sort of relationship with me. You know me 80 00:16:13,666 --> 00:16:17,866 from, from my past work. Um, and generally I'm an 81 00:16:17,906 --> 00:16:22,346 optimistic person. But after this many years giving this presentation, 82 00:16:22,346 --> 00:16:26,106 um, I feel like I'm only leaving you with negatives, 83 00:16:26,106 --> 00:16:28,746 um, when I come out of the presentation like this. 84 00:16:28,746 --> 00:16:33,626 And I've done Grand Valley already, um, East Gary and 85 00:16:33,626 --> 00:16:38,346 leaving that. I'm like, woohoo Ray of Sunshine. She is. 86 00:16:38,346 --> 00:16:41,946 So as I was writing this, um, and preparing to 87 00:16:41,946 --> 00:16:45,066 talk to you guys today, um, I started off by 88 00:16:45,727 --> 00:16:49,066 writing, um, I had a privilege of delegating to minister 89 00:16:49,167 --> 00:16:53,626 Bethanhalvi regarding the Ontario budget. While optimistic, I'm also fully 90 00:16:53,666 --> 00:16:57,146 aware that my three minutes moved the needle. What I'm 91 00:16:57,146 --> 00:17:01,546 meant to write was, I believe that my three minutes 92 00:17:01,727 --> 00:17:04,266 did not move the needle. It's three minutes in a 93 00:17:04,306 --> 00:17:06,966 room full of people. You've been there. It's, you know, 94 00:17:06,966 --> 00:17:09,786 it's a bit of a firing line. Um, and I 95 00:17:09,786 --> 00:17:12,586 started erasing it this morning. I was typing madly and 96 00:17:12,626 --> 00:17:15,546 going, Oh gosh, can't say that. Um, and then I 97 00:17:15,567 --> 00:17:19,157 stopped. And I thought, no, no, no, my three minutes 98 00:17:19,197 --> 00:17:22,773 did matter. Okay. Like all of our three minutes in 99 00:17:22,813 --> 00:17:26,493 this world regarding whatever issue that we have. Mine is 100 00:17:26,714 --> 00:17:29,813 Food insecurity. And I will always be a voice for 101 00:17:29,994 --> 00:17:32,933 Food insecurity. Couple of months ago, I was, uh, in 102 00:17:33,034 --> 00:17:35,573 the ice cream room, uh, which is what we call 103 00:17:35,573 --> 00:17:38,693 the break room because we pay people in ice cream. 104 00:17:38,693 --> 00:17:41,733 And I'm there and I whip out my portable soapbox 105 00:17:41,754 --> 00:17:44,213 set it up and I start going off. Um, and 106 00:17:44,794 --> 00:17:48,613 a very gentle staff, um, person of mine, a lovely 107 00:17:48,653 --> 00:17:51,973 man, um, was sitting eating his lunch doesn't say a 108 00:17:51,973 --> 00:17:53,893 whole lot. And then all of a sudden he starts 109 00:17:53,914 --> 00:17:58,581 doing this. Stirring the pot and I was like, whoops. 110 00:17:58,581 --> 00:18:02,021 Okay. Time to pack up that soapbox and head out. 111 00:18:02,021 --> 00:18:04,581 And, and I thanked him later on, um, for the 112 00:18:04,762 --> 00:18:07,341 gentle reminder that sometimes I'm a lot and maybe I 113 00:18:07,341 --> 00:18:09,381 don't always have to be the biggest voice in the 114 00:18:09,381 --> 00:18:13,215 room. And then later on, um, he came back to 115 00:18:13,215 --> 00:18:16,015 me and said, you know, I didn't mean that. What 116 00:18:16,015 --> 00:18:19,375 I meant was stirring the pot is a good thing. 117 00:18:19,375 --> 00:18:21,615 And so I'm coming here today. I'm going to talk 118 00:18:21,615 --> 00:18:25,295 about food insecurity, not a rosy picture, but I also 119 00:18:26,116 --> 00:18:28,655 want to reaffirm that stirring the pod is not a 120 00:18:28,655 --> 00:18:33,215 bad thing. Having conversations, pulling up new ideas, working together 121 00:18:33,716 --> 00:18:36,990 to find a different way. You at the county, us 122 00:18:36,990 --> 00:18:40,870 at the Food Bank, at all of your municipalities, you're 123 00:18:40,870 --> 00:18:42,950 doing the absolute best that you can with what you 124 00:18:42,971 --> 00:18:46,550 have. Right. And often the issues that you face that 125 00:18:46,590 --> 00:18:50,630 often issues I face are not always in our purview 126 00:18:50,630 --> 00:18:53,714 to be able to change. Okay. But speaking up and 127 00:18:53,735 --> 00:18:56,194 saying your peace and trying to find new ways to 128 00:18:56,215 --> 00:19:00,034 engage, I think is important. So thank you for being 129 00:19:00,055 --> 00:19:03,074 those voices for us out in the community. Um, and 130 00:19:03,114 --> 00:19:05,394 I thank all the people attached to the food bank 131 00:19:05,434 --> 00:19:08,754 for their voices, uh, to make a better world and 132 00:19:08,794 --> 00:19:11,474 to do better than we're doing right now. So, okay. 133 00:19:11,495 --> 00:19:14,914 It's fine. Now it's all fine. All right. Moving on. 134 00:19:14,914 --> 00:19:17,634 Um, okay. So I'll pop back to the, uh, delegation, 135 00:19:17,634 --> 00:19:19,874 uh, to the little thing on the screen, wherever that 136 00:19:19,914 --> 00:19:23,101 happens to be. And thank you to whoever's tech savvy 137 00:19:23,141 --> 00:19:25,981 enough to pull this off. Awesome. And I'm not pushing 138 00:19:26,002 --> 00:19:29,101 these buttons, I assume. Right. Awesome. Okay. If we could 139 00:19:29,141 --> 00:19:33,391 move to the next screen, please. All right. So, um, 140 00:19:33,912 --> 00:19:37,811 reconciliation. As I mentioned last year, um, we gave up, 141 00:19:37,811 --> 00:19:41,811 uh, doing a land acknowledgement. We have one. It was 142 00:19:41,811 --> 00:19:44,851 written with brave canoe. We appreciate it. Um, but it 143 00:19:44,891 --> 00:19:47,251 wasn't really doing what we thought it needed to do. 144 00:19:47,251 --> 00:19:49,971 It was becoming, um, words in the back of our 145 00:19:49,971 --> 00:19:53,171 head as opposed to something we lived. So we now 146 00:19:53,432 --> 00:19:56,651 introduce a new Inishinabe word on a regular basis. We 147 00:19:56,651 --> 00:19:59,391 don't always get it right. Uh, to be fair. Um, 148 00:19:59,432 --> 00:20:02,051 but if we're standing on these lands, perhaps we should 149 00:20:02,091 --> 00:20:04,531 learn a little of the language of the lands we 150 00:20:04,571 --> 00:20:10,371 inhabitant. So, uh, Giza Weniman is, I appreciate you in 151 00:20:10,371 --> 00:20:13,851 brackets. I love you. So, um, cause I do. So 152 00:20:14,072 --> 00:20:18,804 moving on. Please. And thank you. Um, so year over 153 00:20:18,844 --> 00:20:22,884 year usage, um, another bizarre chart. You can see one 154 00:20:22,924 --> 00:20:24,564 of the things that always strikes me about this chart 155 00:20:24,585 --> 00:20:27,104 is A, the need goes up year over year. But 156 00:20:27,104 --> 00:20:30,564 B, you'll notice that, uh, the dark green or light 157 00:20:30,585 --> 00:20:36,244 green says COVID, little word there. Um, and that was 158 00:20:36,265 --> 00:20:41,604 when the pandemic was declared. And when, um, uh, income 159 00:20:41,625 --> 00:20:45,044 replacement was introduced, the need of the Food Bank drops 160 00:20:45,084 --> 00:20:49,684 substantially when the income, uh, support was removed, the need 161 00:20:49,785 --> 00:20:51,764 continued to grow. We actually do know how to fix 162 00:20:51,804 --> 00:20:54,764 this problem because it's an income - based problem. It 163 00:20:54,825 --> 00:20:58,724 is not, um, a people problem. Food insecurity is a 164 00:20:58,764 --> 00:21:03,535 policy failure. It's not a person failure. So since 2022, 165 00:21:03,535 --> 00:21:07,615 we've seen an 84 percent increase in need banana pants. 166 00:21:07,615 --> 00:21:10,770 If you want to flip to the next screen. Awesome. 167 00:21:10,951 --> 00:21:15,490 So this year we have distributed 700, 000 pounds of 168 00:21:15,511 --> 00:21:18,690 food out to clients and community partners. We just did 169 00:21:18,730 --> 00:21:20,770 a little bit of math for another grant that we're 170 00:21:20,810 --> 00:21:24,770 writing. And since 2011, we've actually moved 4 million pounds 171 00:21:24,810 --> 00:21:28,130 of food out of the food to the community. Uh, 172 00:21:28,551 --> 00:21:32,290 235 pounds of that was purchased because our donations have 173 00:21:32,311 --> 00:21:35,090 dropped by 11 percent this year If you look at 174 00:21:35,090 --> 00:21:38,450 the numbers from 2021, there's been an 88 percent increase 175 00:21:38,631 --> 00:21:41,170 in need. Um, If you look at the increase in 176 00:21:41,210 --> 00:21:47,050 donations from 2021, there's been a 22 percent increase. We 177 00:21:47,050 --> 00:21:50,530 cannot donate our way out of this problem. Uh, 72 178 00:21:50,570 --> 00:21:53,810 percent of what we distributed was perishable, including milk eggs, 179 00:21:53,810 --> 00:21:57,330 produce, and proteins. Um, and last year, 25, 000 plus 180 00:21:57,991 --> 00:22:02,850 visits came through Orangeville and the Grand Valley Food Banks. 181 00:22:02,850 --> 00:22:08,530 Um, some of the steerer ones, 20 percent increase of 182 00:22:08,570 --> 00:22:12,850 inflation. And 32 percent of our visitors are working with 183 00:22:12,951 --> 00:22:16,487 33 percent being kiddos. So if you want to pop 184 00:22:16,487 --> 00:22:20,185 to the next one, please and thank you. Uh, Operations 185 00:22:20,225 --> 00:22:21,945 some of the things that people don't know about the 186 00:22:21,985 --> 00:22:24,825 food bank about three years ago we had to make 187 00:22:24,846 --> 00:22:26,985 a decision our building was not big enough to support 188 00:22:27,966 --> 00:22:30,985 Um, all the people coming in. And so instead of 189 00:22:31,726 --> 00:22:34,025 people to the food, we had decided to get food 190 00:22:34,065 --> 00:22:36,985 to the people. So we started really making sure that 191 00:22:37,025 --> 00:22:40,745 we moved food out into the community. So that is, 192 00:22:40,745 --> 00:22:43,225 um, making sure we had delivery supports for those who 193 00:22:43,246 --> 00:22:46,905 aren't mobile. The community markets that operate in Shelburne Grand 194 00:22:46,905 --> 00:22:51,385 Valley and Orangeville, um, with a sliding scale, uh, produce 195 00:22:51,726 --> 00:22:54,265 piece to that. The three vending machines that we have 196 00:22:54,305 --> 00:22:58,025 in the community, which this year distributed about 12, 000, 197 00:22:58,025 --> 00:23:01,865 um, 11, 600 meals to be precise out into the 198 00:23:01,905 --> 00:23:05,545 community for a dollar, uh, we guarantee personal and menstrual 199 00:23:05,726 --> 00:23:10,265 hygiene does not get to dodge that bullet and it's 200 00:23:10,265 --> 00:23:13,945 expensive. We have community garden. Uh, we supported about 700 201 00:23:13,945 --> 00:23:17,065 people in our senior market. We rescue food from all 202 00:23:17,105 --> 00:23:20,185 the grocery stores and with our community kitchen, we're able 203 00:23:20,185 --> 00:23:26,185 to process that rescued food as well as, um, once 204 00:23:26,185 --> 00:23:29,365 again, the zucchini fairies have visited the food bank, um, 205 00:23:29,365 --> 00:23:32,665 and helps us process the zucchini that comes in. Please, 206 00:23:32,705 --> 00:23:35,625 please, please 30 pound zucchinis aren't funny. Stop it. Um, 207 00:23:36,206 --> 00:23:39,465 the, and then also to support our operations and grand 208 00:23:39,505 --> 00:23:42,905 valley. We have 270 volunteers that support food bank. They 209 00:23:42,905 --> 00:23:45,465 give about 2, 800 hours. Um, a month to the 210 00:23:45,505 --> 00:23:47,705 food bank and it works out to 16 full - 211 00:23:47,705 --> 00:23:50,185 time staff, uh, at the Food Bank. It is incredible 212 00:23:50,606 --> 00:23:54,185 to do what we do. Um, requires staffing. It requires 213 00:23:54,286 --> 00:23:58,025 buildings. It requires facilities and cold storage. We are not 214 00:23:58,446 --> 00:24:02,345 acute little knot for profit. We are moving hundreds of 215 00:24:02,446 --> 00:24:05,545 thousands of pounds through the Food Bank safely and feeding 216 00:24:05,566 --> 00:24:08,185 the residents. And that has to be done in a 217 00:24:08,225 --> 00:24:11,545 safe and dignified manner. And that requires resources at the 218 00:24:11,545 --> 00:24:15,132 end of the day. Um, so if we want to 219 00:24:15,313 --> 00:24:18,850 pop off to the next slide, that'd be awesome. Great. 220 00:24:18,850 --> 00:24:20,690 So those are some of the stats I talked about. 221 00:24:20,690 --> 00:24:22,850 I did miss the X for the meals. It was 222 00:24:22,850 --> 00:24:27,890 11, 600. Our community market supported 1500 people, uh, throughout 223 00:24:27,930 --> 00:24:31,570 the county and our seniors market, um, supported over 700 224 00:24:31,570 --> 00:24:34,450 people, um, in the community, as well as our community 225 00:24:34,631 --> 00:24:39,170 food share, which supports agencies like, um, uh, FTP and 226 00:24:39,191 --> 00:24:44,850 choices, all the variations of, of choices. Um, the lighthouse, 227 00:24:44,850 --> 00:24:48,050 the other food pantries in town with about 74, 000 228 00:24:48,090 --> 00:24:50,210 pounds of food that goes out as well. We do 229 00:24:50,250 --> 00:24:55,390 that because food only comes to us in skids. And 230 00:24:55,390 --> 00:24:58,370 after a while, you can't give away Frank's Red Hot 231 00:24:58,410 --> 00:25:01,890 Fishcrackers. Just can't be done. So with those community partners, 232 00:25:01,890 --> 00:25:04,370 we're able to move and rotate food. Um, through the 233 00:25:04,391 --> 00:25:06,450 food bank. So if you want to pop to the 234 00:25:06,450 --> 00:25:10,010 next one, please and thank you. Grand Valley, I think 235 00:25:10,010 --> 00:25:13,410 most of you know that we, uh, we, we're graced 236 00:25:13,431 --> 00:25:16,770 with the offer in 2024 of Grand Valley joining our 237 00:25:16,810 --> 00:25:20,370 operation. Um, we were lucky enough last year that we 238 00:25:20,410 --> 00:25:23,250 were able to take on 27 Main Street North, which 239 00:25:23,271 --> 00:25:28,543 is the old schoolhouse, um, in Grand Valley. We have 240 00:25:28,644 --> 00:25:31,103 a lease for that building. And with some support from 241 00:25:31,284 --> 00:25:34,463 RBC and the JB Bickle Foundation, um, we were able 242 00:25:34,463 --> 00:25:37,183 to add a vending machine to the Grand Valley library. 243 00:25:37,183 --> 00:25:40,223 And we're also able to host agencies at the Food 244 00:25:40,263 --> 00:25:43,023 Bank right now. And we host care days with the 245 00:25:43,063 --> 00:25:46,463 OHT, ODSP is there on weekly basis. And the Alzheimer 246 00:25:46,503 --> 00:25:49,003 Society of Duffrin is in there on a monthly, um, 247 00:25:49,364 --> 00:25:53,663 basis in order to ensure that residents in Grand Valley 248 00:25:53,663 --> 00:25:57,023 have access to services because transportation is an issue in 249 00:25:57,023 --> 00:25:59,389 any rural community. So if you want to pop to 250 00:25:59,389 --> 00:26:03,941 the next one, please. And thank you. So Food Security 251 00:26:04,042 --> 00:26:06,501 is a community issue. I've mentioned that. It is a 252 00:26:06,541 --> 00:26:09,461 failure of policy, not a failure of people. How do 253 00:26:09,461 --> 00:26:11,541 we have an impact on that? We can talk about 254 00:26:12,042 --> 00:26:15,461 affordable housing. I understand that it is not the purview 255 00:26:15,461 --> 00:26:19,301 of municipal government that it should land provincially and federally. 256 00:26:20,024 --> 00:26:22,003 We still have to support people. We still have to 257 00:26:22,043 --> 00:26:25,683 have those conversations, uh, appropriate transportation that we are so 258 00:26:25,704 --> 00:26:30,323 blessed in Orangeville to have free transportation, but it's still 259 00:26:30,323 --> 00:26:33,343 difficult for people in rural areas to access services, um, 260 00:26:33,343 --> 00:26:34,883 and how do we help that? How do we make 261 00:26:34,883 --> 00:26:36,803 sure that they have the services that they need in 262 00:26:36,843 --> 00:26:41,043 their communities? And when we're planning and developing partnerships, how 263 00:26:41,144 --> 00:26:45,203 do we put food security into those, um, discussions? Because 264 00:26:45,203 --> 00:26:49,443 it's critical. Without food, people can't thrive. Your community cannot 265 00:26:49,624 --> 00:26:55,123 thrive. And strong communities will build a better system. Okay. 266 00:26:55,224 --> 00:26:58,483 Even if it's not ours to build, not for profits 267 00:26:58,483 --> 00:27:03,043 have been handling food insecurity for 30 some odd years. 268 00:27:03,043 --> 00:27:05,763 And it was never hours to hold. But food security 269 00:27:05,864 --> 00:27:09,023 lands at no level of government and no ministry. And 270 00:27:09,144 --> 00:27:13,523 that's wrong. Absolutely wrong. So moving on to the next 271 00:27:13,523 --> 00:27:17,923 slide, which I think is my, um, yes. So this 272 00:27:17,963 --> 00:27:20,963 is a lovely volunteer. Um, he's been with us for 273 00:27:21,864 --> 00:27:25,043 probably close to a decade now. Uh, he was digging, 274 00:27:25,043 --> 00:27:27,843 um, and planting at the different garden centre of sadly 275 00:27:27,883 --> 00:27:30,563 no longer with us and dug up this beautiful heart 276 00:27:30,603 --> 00:27:32,403 - shaped potato. It was very excited about it. He's 277 00:27:32,443 --> 00:27:34,963 also one of our top fundraisers for coldest night of 278 00:27:34,963 --> 00:27:39,363 the year. Um, he's there weekly. And we treasure his 279 00:27:39,403 --> 00:27:43,039 volunteering. So I wanted to end with a quote. Hunger 280 00:27:43,060 --> 00:27:46,417 is not a problem. It's an obscenity. So let me 281 00:27:46,417 --> 00:27:48,857 say that again. It's an obscenity. We live in Canada. 282 00:27:53,212 --> 00:27:55,591 How wonderful it would be that nobody need to wait 283 00:27:55,692 --> 00:27:57,751 a single moment before we start to improve this world. 284 00:27:58,777 --> 00:28:01,396 So thank you for being part of that improvement. I, 285 00:28:01,396 --> 00:28:04,116 again, I know I come all sunshine and lollipops of 286 00:28:04,116 --> 00:28:06,469 these presentations. And I apologise for that. But we have 287 00:28:06,469 --> 00:28:12,004 to start, continue. Um, move forward the conversation on Food 288 00:28:12,025 --> 00:28:15,204 Insecurity because it's not getting any better. And it's affecting 289 00:28:15,225 --> 00:28:18,464 the people that you serve. If you can't eat, you 290 00:28:18,505 --> 00:28:20,404 can't think if you can't think you can't get a 291 00:28:20,404 --> 00:28:22,084 job. If you can't get a job, you can't take 292 00:28:22,084 --> 00:28:25,524 care of yourself, your people. It starts at the very 293 00:28:25,564 --> 00:28:29,924 beginning of feeding people. So thank you so much. What 294 00:28:29,964 --> 00:28:33,844 another lively presentation by Heather. So don't go anywhere yet. 295 00:28:33,844 --> 00:28:35,364 Heather. Thank you for your presentation. There are some questions 296 00:28:35,465 --> 00:28:39,273 from council. We'll start with Councillor McClain. Great. Thank you. 297 00:28:39,294 --> 00:28:41,673 And thank you Heather for the presentation. And please don't 298 00:28:42,174 --> 00:28:46,793 apologise. I think, um, hearing the raw truth is incredibly 299 00:28:46,814 --> 00:28:48,553 helpful. And we need to hear this from time to 300 00:28:48,593 --> 00:28:52,627 time. Um, I've got a couple of comments. The first 301 00:28:52,627 --> 00:28:55,827 is that food security is one of those rare policy 302 00:28:55,827 --> 00:28:59,167 files that no single level of government actually owns, let 303 00:28:59,167 --> 00:29:02,783 alone a specific ministry. And because nobody's directly accountable for 304 00:29:02,783 --> 00:29:04,463 funding it, we end up in the exact mess that 305 00:29:04,503 --> 00:29:07,663 we're in right now. Right. We've got underfunded programs and 306 00:29:07,703 --> 00:29:09,983 a lot of finger pointing between the municipal provincial and 307 00:29:10,324 --> 00:29:13,723 federal governments. Um, at the end of the day, I 308 00:29:13,723 --> 00:29:16,363 think this is a provincial responsibility. I think it belongs 309 00:29:16,363 --> 00:29:20,523 to MCCSS right alongside their other course social service spending. 310 00:29:21,232 --> 00:29:24,411 Um, but I think the real problem that we're up 311 00:29:24,451 --> 00:29:27,691 against is both the federal government and the provinces have 312 00:29:27,712 --> 00:29:31,831 really shifted their focus almost entirely to economic issues. And 313 00:29:31,831 --> 00:29:33,451 I'm seeing this in my own full - time work. 314 00:29:34,201 --> 00:29:36,260 Where social policy has been pushed to the back burner. 315 00:29:37,023 --> 00:29:41,242 And so I think we as a community, not just 316 00:29:41,423 --> 00:29:45,162 the nonprofit community, but, uh, our local governments as well. 317 00:29:45,162 --> 00:29:47,882 We need to really, uh, change our approach. And so 318 00:29:48,703 --> 00:29:51,322 a couple of things that I would want counsel to 319 00:29:51,362 --> 00:29:54,042 consider as we move forward is looking at how we 320 00:29:54,082 --> 00:29:57,922 could do joint advocacy with our frontline service provider. So 321 00:29:57,983 --> 00:30:01,885 we're actually speaking with one unified voice. I also really 322 00:30:02,386 --> 00:30:04,925 believe that we should look at hiring a government relations 323 00:30:05,266 --> 00:30:09,245 official, either full time or halftime, uh, to actually drive 324 00:30:09,285 --> 00:30:13,005 this work forward. Um, having a dedicated official in the 325 00:30:13,106 --> 00:30:16,525 office of the CAO that can help us with advocacy 326 00:30:16,565 --> 00:30:18,925 that has a government relations background, I think would be 327 00:30:19,026 --> 00:30:22,803 an incredible value add and a great investment. And as 328 00:30:22,843 --> 00:30:24,243 part of that, I think we need to do more 329 00:30:24,283 --> 00:30:27,283 than just show up to Roma and AMO, um, for 330 00:30:27,323 --> 00:30:33,815 our 15 minutes with, with ministers. That's a very, um, 331 00:30:34,576 --> 00:30:37,355 passive approach. I think we really need to come up 332 00:30:37,395 --> 00:30:41,115 with a government relations strategy on things like food security 333 00:30:41,376 --> 00:30:44,555 on things like homelessness, um, and other priorities that we 334 00:30:44,656 --> 00:30:47,338 have. And have a strategy around it so that we're 335 00:30:47,519 --> 00:30:49,818 regularly going down to Queen's Park and we're meeting with 336 00:30:49,839 --> 00:30:53,578 ministers throughout the year. We're not just waiting for August 337 00:30:54,479 --> 00:30:57,738 and January. So those are my comments. I think again, 338 00:30:58,079 --> 00:31:01,318 Heather, it's, it's a delight to have you in, um, 339 00:31:01,318 --> 00:31:04,058 we need to hear this messaging, but I think at 340 00:31:04,058 --> 00:31:06,058 the county level, we need to have a plan for 341 00:31:06,159 --> 00:31:11,304 this to support you and others in our community. Thank 342 00:31:11,344 --> 00:31:14,424 you, Councillor McClain. Well said absolutely agree. Was there any 343 00:31:14,464 --> 00:31:19,410 other questions for members of council. Councillor Nix. Yeah. I 344 00:31:19,410 --> 00:31:22,510 just had a question, but first, thanks Heather for, uh, 345 00:31:22,551 --> 00:31:26,370 presentation. I remember when you started the job, your goal 346 00:31:26,391 --> 00:31:29,470 was to close the doors of the Food Bank. And 347 00:31:29,470 --> 00:31:32,210 obviously that's not working. It's not your fault. My question 348 00:31:32,311 --> 00:31:36,610 was simply this. Okay. 25, 000 visits. That's not, that's 349 00:31:36,650 --> 00:31:40,370 visits. That's not unique individuals. No unique individuals is 1600 350 00:31:40,410 --> 00:31:43,730 people a month, give or take. Um, unique individuals. That's 351 00:31:43,730 --> 00:31:46,930 right. And they're coming between nine and 10 times in 352 00:31:46,951 --> 00:31:50,930 a year. Okay. Okay. So that's okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. 353 00:31:50,970 --> 00:31:52,210 Okay. Makes sense. I just wanted to make sure I 354 00:31:52,210 --> 00:31:57,253 was interpreting the 25, 000 correctly. Absolutely. Thank you. Thank 355 00:31:57,293 --> 00:31:59,733 you, Councillor Nix. Any other questions or comments for members 356 00:31:59,733 --> 00:32:04,786 of Council. No. Oh, councillor little. Go ahead. I'm sorry. 357 00:32:04,786 --> 00:32:07,506 I'm just wanted to make a comment, um, thank you 358 00:32:07,767 --> 00:32:10,786 Heather once again for your words and for bringing this 359 00:32:10,967 --> 00:32:14,386 issue forward. I think it is a concern to all 360 00:32:14,386 --> 00:32:18,426 of us and there are perhaps other, um, options. We 361 00:32:18,487 --> 00:32:22,466 should be doing, uh, support you with your words. Thank 362 00:32:22,466 --> 00:32:25,346 you for the three minutes or whatever time. And you 363 00:32:25,346 --> 00:32:28,226 take when you make your presentations, those words are always 364 00:32:28,266 --> 00:32:30,146 very important. So I just want to encourage you to 365 00:32:30,807 --> 00:32:34,866 continue on that, uh, vein. Because silence is not the 366 00:32:34,906 --> 00:32:38,066 answer either. So, um, I just, I wanted to add 367 00:32:38,066 --> 00:32:40,606 my thanks for all the work that you do. And 368 00:32:40,647 --> 00:32:42,466 for the work that you have done to make that 369 00:32:42,647 --> 00:32:46,786 Food Bank as strong and end as vibrant as it 370 00:32:46,786 --> 00:32:49,986 currently is to serve the community, the wonderful, um, initiatives 371 00:32:49,986 --> 00:32:52,866 you have taken. So thank you for that Heather. Okay. 372 00:32:52,967 --> 00:32:56,829 Group effort. Thank you, Councillor Little. Anything else. Okay. Thank 373 00:32:56,829 --> 00:32:59,229 you for being here. Heather always appreciate your presentations. Okay. 374 00:32:59,410 --> 00:33:01,309 Thank you. Take care. Take care. Be well, be safe. 375 00:33:01,349 --> 00:33:04,749 Thank you. We'll move into public question period. Was there 376 00:33:04,749 --> 00:33:06,909 anyone in the gallery who had a question regarding an 377 00:33:06,909 --> 00:33:10,970 item on the agenda. Okay. Not seeing any. We will 378 00:33:11,010 --> 00:33:13,610 move into the consent agenda, which we don't have today 379 00:33:13,871 --> 00:33:16,450 because all of the reports have already been pulled. So 380 00:33:16,450 --> 00:33:19,130 we will move right into 10. 1, which is the 381 00:33:19,471 --> 00:33:22,010 E - Scare Fraxa OPA Councillor Nyx. You pulled that 382 00:33:22,010 --> 00:33:26,004 one. Yes. And I just have a couple of related 383 00:33:26,025 --> 00:33:31,204 questions to the, uh, physical plan in East Gara Frax. 384 00:33:31,225 --> 00:33:34,484 One, I wanted to know how many lower tier municipalities. 385 00:33:35,569 --> 00:33:37,708 In different have actually changed their official plan to be 386 00:33:37,809 --> 00:33:40,666 in accord with OP number four. That's the first question. 387 00:33:40,706 --> 00:33:42,626 Let me ask both questions at the same. Yeah. Go 388 00:33:42,626 --> 00:33:46,986 ahead. And if, if a municipality such as mine hasn't 389 00:33:47,026 --> 00:33:49,866 got their official plan up to date with the counties, 390 00:33:49,866 --> 00:33:53,706 OP number four, can we, because it's a lot of 391 00:33:53,706 --> 00:33:55,946 work to change an official plan. Can we wait until 392 00:33:56,127 --> 00:33:58,426 OP number five is done. And then, and then do 393 00:33:58,426 --> 00:34:01,594 everything together. Those are my two questions. Rush, I'll turn 394 00:34:01,594 --> 00:34:04,474 over to you through you warden post. Um, so as 395 00:34:04,495 --> 00:34:07,114 of right now, we have Grand Valley E - Scare 396 00:34:07,215 --> 00:34:11,194 Fraxa and Malmur, um, that have submitted their completed OPs 397 00:34:11,295 --> 00:34:15,354 in accordance with OP number four or the MCR process. 398 00:34:15,354 --> 00:34:18,954 Um, in regards to your second question, uh, yes, obviously 399 00:34:19,055 --> 00:34:21,514 we don't want for the lower tiers to be doing 400 00:34:21,695 --> 00:34:24,474 additional work if it's not needed. All that we would 401 00:34:24,655 --> 00:34:27,434 ask is to be able to demonstrate that there are 402 00:34:27,474 --> 00:34:31,674 conformity exercises being done. Because, um, right now, if you're 403 00:34:31,714 --> 00:34:38,474 not in conformity with the completed MCR process, then that 404 00:34:38,514 --> 00:34:39,914 tends to be a lot of work. We just want 405 00:34:39,914 --> 00:34:42,874 to see that there is some progression. We are hosting 406 00:34:43,775 --> 00:34:45,754 numerous meetings with all the lower tiers and working through 407 00:34:45,855 --> 00:34:48,534 all of the questions that they may have. But, um, 408 00:34:48,655 --> 00:34:50,874 if you want to hold off for a final submission 409 00:34:51,295 --> 00:34:55,674 after OPA5 is done, then that's absolutely fine. Um, because 410 00:34:56,015 --> 00:34:58,554 we, we don't want to create more work and also 411 00:34:58,594 --> 00:35:06,714 create more of a financial burden. Okay. Councillor Garrett's. Thanks. 412 00:35:08,035 --> 00:35:10,494 It asked a couple of questions of staff. And so 413 00:35:10,534 --> 00:35:12,454 I just wanted to highlight a couple, I think it's 414 00:35:12,454 --> 00:35:17,054 less brief scare fracts and more for our OPA five, 415 00:35:17,054 --> 00:35:21,854 which is a few sections where, um, we've referenced that 416 00:35:21,854 --> 00:35:25,934 there should be an identified need for, for the removal 417 00:35:25,974 --> 00:35:29,374 of lands from employment or an identified need for something, 418 00:35:29,374 --> 00:35:33,454 but we don't specify who gets the final decision on 419 00:35:33,555 --> 00:35:35,614 that. And I think it would be good to, to 420 00:35:35,614 --> 00:35:41,134 reference, um, who's making that decision so that an applicant, 421 00:35:41,134 --> 00:35:45,774 um, can't argue that if their consultant says there's an 422 00:35:45,795 --> 00:35:48,734 identified need that should be the, the only bar that 423 00:35:48,774 --> 00:35:51,374 needs to be satisfied. So I think we should just 424 00:35:51,475 --> 00:35:56,109 highlighting that further room. Um, and similarly, you know, when 425 00:35:56,130 --> 00:36:02,029 we reference qualified professionals for certain things, um, what, what, 426 00:36:02,029 --> 00:36:08,429 uh, qualifications go along with that. So thanks. Rush, do 427 00:36:08,429 --> 00:36:11,229 you want to take that? Uh, three warden post. Yes. 428 00:36:11,229 --> 00:36:15,549 So in our definition section, we will identify, um, in 429 00:36:15,549 --> 00:36:18,029 terms of qualified personnel, what we would consider to be 430 00:36:18,069 --> 00:36:23,709 qualified personnel. Um, and in addition, uh, your first question, 431 00:36:23,709 --> 00:36:27,389 um, we are highlighting within OPA five that it is 432 00:36:27,429 --> 00:36:30,909 a collaborative effort, not just the county deciding or the 433 00:36:30,949 --> 00:36:35,497 lower tier deciding, but a collaboration. Is that good Councillor 434 00:36:35,537 --> 00:36:43,092 Garrett. Okay. Councillor Garthouse. Okay. Thank you. Um, I, my, 435 00:36:43,092 --> 00:36:46,212 I guess what I'm just wanting some clarification on process. 436 00:36:46,212 --> 00:36:51,332 So because we're doing OPA five, then if there's little 437 00:36:51,372 --> 00:36:55,092 some details here, what's presented here. Sometimes we just need 438 00:36:55,273 --> 00:36:58,012 clarification, get used to the, uh, how it's going to 439 00:36:58,073 --> 00:37:00,772 be implemented, but there'll be time to, I guess, make 440 00:37:00,793 --> 00:37:05,325 further amendments. And, um, is that a, is that realistic. 441 00:37:06,492 --> 00:37:11,581 Rush. Um, sorry, councillor guardhouse. Can you just clarify further 442 00:37:11,581 --> 00:37:15,261 amendments to the plan that's been submitted that we're the, 443 00:37:15,261 --> 00:37:19,844 for the report today? Or yes, correct. Yes. Yes. Absolutely. 444 00:37:19,844 --> 00:37:24,494 So you can. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Council Horner. 445 00:37:31,797 --> 00:37:37,456 Raj, through you, Warden. Rush, I see that, uh, 35 446 00:37:37,957 --> 00:37:42,076 kind of corrections have been made on this. And, um, 447 00:37:42,117 --> 00:37:45,516 I'm just trying to figure out, is that a lot 448 00:37:45,877 --> 00:37:49,216 or is that a little bit? And I think it 449 00:37:49,797 --> 00:37:56,096 probably shows that we really require the upper tier oversight 450 00:37:56,136 --> 00:38:02,016 on this. And in order for everyone's, um, official plans, 451 00:38:02,016 --> 00:38:06,656 even if they've been developed by consultant to align with 452 00:38:06,677 --> 00:38:11,696 each other. And I just found 35 being an extraordinary 453 00:38:11,877 --> 00:38:16,052 high number. Am I right on that. Rush? Uh, three 454 00:38:16,092 --> 00:38:18,852 warden posts. So just to clarify the 35 mods that 455 00:38:19,113 --> 00:38:23,172 were submitted were mainly grammatical in nature and also to 456 00:38:23,212 --> 00:38:26,772 align with definitions and terms that have been changed or 457 00:38:26,793 --> 00:38:30,172 updated as a result of legislation that was passed. So 458 00:38:30,473 --> 00:38:34,052 there is a lot of time that's elapsed typically between, 459 00:38:34,052 --> 00:38:37,952 um, between, I guess, updates between, um, official plans. And 460 00:38:37,952 --> 00:38:39,652 as a result, we just want to ensure that we 461 00:38:39,692 --> 00:38:43,692 can catch all the conformity issues within the submissions. So 462 00:38:44,073 --> 00:38:46,132 35, while it does seem like a high number does 463 00:38:46,132 --> 00:38:50,132 also include grammatical, um, issues that we've identified as well 464 00:38:50,132 --> 00:38:52,052 as sort of definitions that have changed over time with 465 00:38:52,153 --> 00:38:58,138 policy updates. The other question, if I may, um, so 466 00:38:59,679 --> 00:39:01,898 there's a line in there. And I'm trying to find 467 00:39:02,079 --> 00:39:03,798 it. I just can't find it at the moment, but 468 00:39:04,079 --> 00:39:13,018 talks about, um, trying to keep development, um, land open 469 00:39:13,058 --> 00:39:19,994 for commercial uses on roadways. Is that, um, in thinking 470 00:39:19,994 --> 00:39:23,514 about the proposal that we had, uh, at the public 471 00:39:23,695 --> 00:39:27,514 meeting. So is that the kind of thing that, that 472 00:39:27,554 --> 00:39:33,274 is directing that that development be at those roadways and 473 00:39:33,695 --> 00:39:38,994 not, um, be switched from an employment into residential. Is 474 00:39:38,994 --> 00:39:41,114 that the kind of thing that we've got now in 475 00:39:41,535 --> 00:39:46,234 this plane post. Um, so yes, you are correct. We're 476 00:39:46,234 --> 00:39:49,114 trying to encourage through land use policy where that growth 477 00:39:49,135 --> 00:39:51,754 is going to go. So that way we don't end 478 00:39:51,754 --> 00:39:55,354 up with, um, applications or submissions where we're taking residential 479 00:39:55,394 --> 00:39:58,134 or we're taking employment and converting it to residential. Um, 480 00:39:58,335 --> 00:40:00,794 and this is also to promote just the nature of 481 00:40:00,815 --> 00:40:04,374 what Dufferin County is in terms of highway commercial, um, 482 00:40:04,495 --> 00:40:06,794 because we do see that as a trend moving forward 483 00:40:07,375 --> 00:40:09,779 and more of a need for the community. Thank you. 484 00:40:11,320 --> 00:40:14,219 Councillor Garthouse. Uh, thank you as a follow - up 485 00:40:14,840 --> 00:40:18,419 by this, uh, obviously came up at our East Gary 486 00:40:18,459 --> 00:40:22,499 Council meeting, um, and overall we were very pleased with 487 00:40:22,520 --> 00:40:25,459 the review and how it's gone. And we thought 35 488 00:40:27,400 --> 00:40:30,819 modifications wasn't that high because most of it, as you 489 00:40:30,819 --> 00:40:34,339 said, Raj was, was housekeeping, uh, we thought I was 490 00:40:34,360 --> 00:40:37,619 an excellent job overall was comments from the township. Thank 491 00:40:37,619 --> 00:40:41,981 you. Thank you, Councillor Garthouse. Any other questions or comments 492 00:40:42,021 --> 00:40:45,486 on this item. Can I get a motion for the 493 00:40:45,526 --> 00:40:49,966 recommendation in the report, please? Council Horner and Councillor Nyx, 494 00:40:49,966 --> 00:40:53,541 any final questions, all in favor. And that is carried 495 00:40:54,282 --> 00:40:56,821 for item 10. 2 councillor Taylor. I'll have you leave 496 00:40:56,842 --> 00:40:59,061 the room, please. That's the one you've declared conflict on. 497 00:41:06,865 --> 00:41:15,446 Yeah. I know. Okay. The recommendation and the report is 498 00:41:15,467 --> 00:41:18,306 that the report from the manager of Corporate Finances, uh, 499 00:41:18,827 --> 00:41:20,806 cost of living adjustment be received and that the cost 500 00:41:20,806 --> 00:41:23,286 of living adjustment for 2027 be said at 2. 44 501 00:41:23,547 --> 00:41:26,246 with an effective date of January 1st, 2027. Can I 502 00:41:26,246 --> 00:41:30,585 get a mover in a second or please. Councillor Mills 503 00:41:31,006 --> 00:41:33,465 and Councillor White. Any questions or comments on this one. 504 00:41:34,966 --> 00:41:39,638 All in favor. And that is carried. We'll get Councillor 505 00:41:39,638 --> 00:41:40,118 Taylor back in. 506 00:42:11,521 --> 00:42:13,900 Okay. So we will move into 10. 3, which is 507 00:42:13,900 --> 00:42:17,180 the budget management policy. It was Councillor Taylor who pulled 508 00:42:17,201 --> 00:42:18,620 that one. So I will turn it over to you 509 00:42:18,641 --> 00:42:22,391 for your questions, Councillor Taylor. Um, thank you very much, 510 00:42:22,391 --> 00:42:26,231 Warden. Um, as with, I read that report, I did 511 00:42:26,231 --> 00:42:28,871 have time to speak with our CIO this morning and 512 00:42:28,911 --> 00:42:32,951 get further clarity. However, it felt like it wasn't news 513 00:42:32,951 --> 00:42:35,511 to me. I wasn't grasping really what we were trying 514 00:42:35,511 --> 00:42:39,271 to do in the report. It circled for me and 515 00:42:39,271 --> 00:42:41,511 I apologise, but I just didn't understand what the report 516 00:42:41,532 --> 00:42:44,551 was trying to get at. And the naturon a little 517 00:42:44,551 --> 00:42:47,811 bit further, why it was important to me is, um, 518 00:42:48,972 --> 00:42:53,911 Councillor McClain had put through emotion that we would look 519 00:42:53,951 --> 00:42:57,431 at our budget differently as we move forward. And it 520 00:42:57,431 --> 00:42:59,511 was exactly what I was looking for the entire time 521 00:42:59,692 --> 00:43:02,071 I was sitting here. And this is a regurgitation for 522 00:43:02,172 --> 00:43:03,911 the CO, but I want everybody to hear what my 523 00:43:03,911 --> 00:43:07,351 thoughts were. Um, when I sat here in year one, 524 00:43:07,351 --> 00:43:09,511 this is your four now at Council is we're going 525 00:43:09,511 --> 00:43:12,791 to finish this. In year one, I said, Oh, I'll 526 00:43:12,791 --> 00:43:16,711 prove the budget because all of you are more knowledgeable 527 00:43:16,732 --> 00:43:19,651 about the institution than I am. I was learning, but 528 00:43:19,651 --> 00:43:22,311 I didn't understand it. It was really difficult for me 529 00:43:22,311 --> 00:43:25,911 to grasp what we were doing. In year two, I 530 00:43:26,012 --> 00:43:27,971 felt like I understood it a little bit better, but 531 00:43:27,971 --> 00:43:31,831 it was still difficult. And the way it's presented is, 532 00:43:31,852 --> 00:43:34,711 is hard. And now at year four, I just don't 533 00:43:35,292 --> 00:43:37,511 want to, I don't want to enable it any further. 534 00:43:37,511 --> 00:43:39,971 It's not a good process what we've been doing. Um, 535 00:43:40,172 --> 00:43:43,351 I'm excited about what the future will bring, but the 536 00:43:43,372 --> 00:43:47,111 report itself, I just, it just felt like I know 537 00:43:47,111 --> 00:43:49,591 what this is. I understand it, but I don't know 538 00:43:49,631 --> 00:43:51,831 where we're going. And I just think it's important to 539 00:43:52,412 --> 00:43:55,671 not let it go by and we should discuss it. 540 00:43:55,671 --> 00:43:57,351 And I'm sure if it's vanilla to me, maybe it's 541 00:43:57,532 --> 00:44:01,600 vanilla to other people too. And Zana, do you want 542 00:44:01,600 --> 00:44:04,740 to take some of those questions. Thank you through you, 543 00:44:04,740 --> 00:44:07,220 Warden Post. So thank you for raising the questions, Councillor 544 00:44:07,220 --> 00:44:10,340 Taylor. The budget process that we've identified in the budget 545 00:44:10,441 --> 00:44:13,300 policy is really about the internal process here and how 546 00:44:13,561 --> 00:44:16,020 we will put together the budget. We have not had 547 00:44:16,201 --> 00:44:19,760 a policy around how those pieces come together, what the 548 00:44:19,801 --> 00:44:22,420 internal systems need to look like. And we're continuing to 549 00:44:22,521 --> 00:44:24,980 build on that. This will be part of what becomes 550 00:44:25,321 --> 00:44:29,540 a larger long - term financial strategy for the county 551 00:44:29,561 --> 00:44:31,100 that we need to work on. And we need to 552 00:44:31,161 --> 00:44:33,940 continue to add pieces. So this is the first step 553 00:44:34,361 --> 00:44:37,840 is the budget policy. The piece you're speaking about, and 554 00:44:37,840 --> 00:44:40,820 I think the completion between the two is the budget 555 00:44:41,081 --> 00:44:44,020 package, what council sees in terms of when they have 556 00:44:44,121 --> 00:44:47,120 to approve the budget and how that's laid out, how 557 00:44:47,120 --> 00:44:50,340 navigating that document. I've heard has been challenging in terms 558 00:44:50,380 --> 00:44:52,660 of having to flip through pages, trying to figure out 559 00:44:52,700 --> 00:44:55,460 what the overall number is. So Amy and I have 560 00:44:55,460 --> 00:44:58,260 been looking at what are some of the best practices 561 00:44:58,601 --> 00:45:01,140 we're seeing around the province in terms of how budget 562 00:45:01,321 --> 00:45:04,420 packages are visually laid out for a council to comprehend 563 00:45:04,521 --> 00:45:07,700 all of the moving pieces in a large and complex 564 00:45:07,721 --> 00:45:10,140 budget like our own. And in those one - on 565 00:45:10,140 --> 00:45:11,540 - ones that we talked about, we'd like to present 566 00:45:12,361 --> 00:45:14,900 for like maybe our top three options to you as 567 00:45:14,921 --> 00:45:18,180 council members. And then we will develop our packages to 568 00:45:18,281 --> 00:45:20,900 be presented in that way so that they will drive 569 00:45:21,161 --> 00:45:24,260 understanding and clarity. We want you when you're approving the 570 00:45:24,300 --> 00:45:28,260 budget to feel extremely comfortable. But understanding it and what 571 00:45:28,441 --> 00:45:30,660 you're approving and what you're not approving. And we know 572 00:45:30,660 --> 00:45:32,820 that work needs to be done in terms of historically 573 00:45:32,921 --> 00:45:35,140 how it's been presented and how we could present it 574 00:45:35,180 --> 00:45:37,300 out both to the Council and to the public to 575 00:45:37,321 --> 00:45:41,100 drive that transparency. So those are the two pieces, an 576 00:45:41,100 --> 00:45:45,142 internal process. In terms of the governance and the policies 577 00:45:45,163 --> 00:45:49,062 around the creation of the budget policy. And then the 578 00:45:49,243 --> 00:45:52,662 package that Council sees and the public sees. And finally, 579 00:45:52,662 --> 00:45:55,062 the budget document is also another piece that we're working 580 00:45:55,102 --> 00:45:57,862 on. This year you'll see quite a few edits and 581 00:45:57,862 --> 00:46:00,342 substantial changes in terms of what is going out to 582 00:46:00,342 --> 00:46:03,062 the public, um, the plain language that we're using to 583 00:46:03,163 --> 00:46:05,942 communicate it. Some of the visuals and graphs that we're 584 00:46:05,982 --> 00:46:08,582 trying to invest in to make it much more clear 585 00:46:08,683 --> 00:46:11,782 for everyone and bear with us, it's year one and 586 00:46:11,822 --> 00:46:13,942 we came into the process where the budget was already 587 00:46:14,363 --> 00:46:17,862 sort of in process. So there will be continuous improvement 588 00:46:17,963 --> 00:46:19,942 along those lines, but these are the investments we're making 589 00:46:19,982 --> 00:46:22,902 for this year. So I hope that that helps drive 590 00:46:23,083 --> 00:46:28,227 some further clarity. Yeah. Okay. Councillor McClain. Yeah. Uh, so 591 00:46:28,267 --> 00:46:31,587 thank you. And, uh, a big thank you to Antoinette 592 00:46:31,688 --> 00:46:34,847 and to Amy for pulling this together. I think, um, 593 00:46:35,608 --> 00:46:39,347 I think it puts the necessary pieces together in a 594 00:46:39,347 --> 00:46:43,987 framework, which is going to be absolutely critical. Um, and 595 00:46:44,008 --> 00:46:47,587 I think to councillor Taylor's point, I think this will 596 00:46:47,587 --> 00:46:49,027 become a little bit, hopefully become a little bit more 597 00:46:49,288 --> 00:46:52,787 real when we see the actual like plan that will 598 00:46:52,787 --> 00:46:56,219 flow out of this. Um, I like the idea of 599 00:46:56,320 --> 00:47:00,619 moving towards earlier budget engagement process, like perhaps starting it 600 00:47:00,619 --> 00:47:03,538 in the summer. Or members of Council can start to 601 00:47:03,538 --> 00:47:05,938 talk about priorities and items that we would like to 602 00:47:05,959 --> 00:47:08,338 include. And that can start to be built in earlier. 603 00:47:08,338 --> 00:47:11,918 And the perhaps other engagement that we could do. Um, 604 00:47:11,918 --> 00:47:15,458 but I really like the idea of having a list 605 00:47:15,559 --> 00:47:19,698 in the budget document itself about what are our mandatory 606 00:47:19,738 --> 00:47:21,858 services that we have to provide and what are the 607 00:47:21,898 --> 00:47:24,818 costs associated with that. And then right beside that, what 608 00:47:24,858 --> 00:47:27,698 are the discretionary services that we can choose to fund. 609 00:47:28,444 --> 00:47:31,063 And what are those costs? And I think that's the 610 00:47:31,244 --> 00:47:33,383 piece for me that's been missing. It's always been spread 611 00:47:33,404 --> 00:47:36,823 out across the package. And so having all of those, 612 00:47:36,823 --> 00:47:40,023 especially discretionary services in one spot would be incredibly helpful 613 00:47:40,524 --> 00:47:42,583 because then we as a council can determine what it 614 00:47:42,583 --> 00:47:45,623 is we can afford. Um, and then having it clearer 615 00:47:45,623 --> 00:47:50,423 budget, uh, document. The last point I'll share is just 616 00:47:50,423 --> 00:47:54,823 around, uh, limitations on in your budget adjustments. I think, 617 00:47:54,823 --> 00:47:58,743 um, with respect to all my colleagues around the table, 618 00:47:58,743 --> 00:48:01,303 there's, there could be a tendency for us to get 619 00:48:01,324 --> 00:48:03,303 ourselves into a little bit of trouble if we're making 620 00:48:03,644 --> 00:48:07,863 in your budget decisions, um, particularly because we haven't always 621 00:48:07,884 --> 00:48:11,703 had a more Folsom analysis of what that would mean 622 00:48:11,804 --> 00:48:16,022 to the full budget if we approve. Um, a major 623 00:48:16,062 --> 00:48:19,302 budget item in year. And so as we move forward, 624 00:48:19,403 --> 00:48:22,582 I'm excited to see that anytime there is an opportunity 625 00:48:22,622 --> 00:48:24,982 to make an in - your - budget adjustment that 626 00:48:24,982 --> 00:48:27,062 will get a more fulsome analysis of what this would 627 00:48:27,083 --> 00:48:30,022 mean, not only for the coming budget, but for future 628 00:48:30,283 --> 00:48:32,909 budgets as well. Um, I do have a question for 629 00:48:33,170 --> 00:48:37,069 Amy. And Amy, you kind of, I think, mentioned when 630 00:48:37,069 --> 00:48:40,169 we were kind of conversing before this meeting. But, um, 631 00:48:40,450 --> 00:48:43,789 in the document, in the policy, it says, uh, any 632 00:48:43,810 --> 00:48:48,349 significant unplanned funding requests considered by Council shall be deferred 633 00:48:48,349 --> 00:48:51,984 to the following year's budget process. Um, what would we 634 00:48:52,005 --> 00:48:55,504 consider significant? Like would it be worth putting a dollar 635 00:48:55,685 --> 00:48:58,544 figure on that? Because what may be significant for me 636 00:48:58,805 --> 00:49:04,075 may be very different from another member of council. Amy. 637 00:49:05,592 --> 00:49:07,731 Thank you, through you, warden post. Um, that's a great 638 00:49:07,731 --> 00:49:09,891 question. And we kind of went back and forth on 639 00:49:09,891 --> 00:49:12,511 that, whether to put a dollar amount in there, um, 640 00:49:12,792 --> 00:49:15,771 because it may have a small, it may be a 641 00:49:15,771 --> 00:49:18,771 small dollar amount now, but be something significant in the 642 00:49:18,771 --> 00:49:21,171 future. So that's why we kind of left that a 643 00:49:21,171 --> 00:49:23,491 little bit broad right now. Like it's a policy that 644 00:49:23,531 --> 00:49:27,971 will be reviewed regularly. So, um, yeah, the idea is 645 00:49:27,971 --> 00:49:31,103 kind of. We'll sort through it as we, as we 646 00:49:31,143 --> 00:49:33,503 go through and move forward, but it's definitely an area 647 00:49:33,524 --> 00:49:36,143 we will want to refine. And we just put that 648 00:49:36,164 --> 00:49:40,264 in there for now. That makes sense. I think, Antieta 649 00:49:40,285 --> 00:49:43,810 wants to add to that as well. Thank you through 650 00:49:43,850 --> 00:49:45,810 you, Wardenpost to add further. Claire Day, I think what 651 00:49:45,850 --> 00:49:49,330 Amy's alluding to as we may accept something that has, 652 00:49:49,330 --> 00:49:51,330 uh, let's say make a decision and the impact for 653 00:49:51,370 --> 00:49:54,030 this year is, I don't, I'll say 50, 000. And 654 00:49:54,030 --> 00:49:56,610 Mac doesn't seem significant, but that sets us on a 655 00:49:56,650 --> 00:49:59,970 course where the next year, maybe 500, 000, a million 656 00:50:00,010 --> 00:50:03,410 dollars. And so that's why we're struggling with what is 657 00:50:03,410 --> 00:50:06,450 the right threshold? Cause that year one threshold will be, 658 00:50:06,450 --> 00:50:10,410 well, we're going to enter into a partnership agreement. I 659 00:50:10,410 --> 00:50:12,510 don't, I'll say maybe the hub comes to mind. And 660 00:50:12,510 --> 00:50:16,050 so think, okay, good intentions, maybe limited budget, but then 661 00:50:16,050 --> 00:50:20,370 that actually evolves and becomes something quite larger in nature 662 00:50:20,391 --> 00:50:23,330 from a budgetary perspective. So there isn't a threshold that 663 00:50:23,351 --> 00:50:27,859 seems right. At this moment because sometimes things enter in 664 00:50:27,880 --> 00:50:31,139 a slow way, but snowball into something significant. So it's 665 00:50:31,160 --> 00:50:32,819 a piece that Amy and I wanted to sit with 666 00:50:32,920 --> 00:50:35,779 a little bit more. And then further discuss in those 667 00:50:35,800 --> 00:50:37,379 one - on - ones, what have we seen where 668 00:50:37,379 --> 00:50:40,339 we need to establish some guardrails and what could that 669 00:50:40,339 --> 00:50:43,379 amount be? And if the amount enters sort of insignificant 670 00:50:43,400 --> 00:50:46,259 in nature, maybe it's 10, 000 or less, but leads 671 00:50:46,299 --> 00:50:50,659 us on a path that has significant financial ramifications, then 672 00:50:50,659 --> 00:50:53,059 we need to actually think about more deeply that threshold 673 00:50:53,240 --> 00:50:55,699 and some other policies and guardrails that help us not 674 00:50:55,800 --> 00:50:58,579 to get into those types of situations, or at least 675 00:50:58,579 --> 00:51:01,059 if we're getting into them, we have clarity around what 676 00:51:01,160 --> 00:51:04,419 future, uh, budget commitments will be, because often it's not 677 00:51:04,520 --> 00:51:08,279 year one. It's the subsequent years that follow. James, you 678 00:51:08,279 --> 00:51:11,415 have follow up. Just a quick follow. I like that 679 00:51:11,436 --> 00:51:14,775 response. I think that's very well thought out. Um, instead 680 00:51:14,775 --> 00:51:17,335 of putting an arbitrary number, um, and I think that 681 00:51:17,676 --> 00:51:20,855 makes the case even more for why, if we are 682 00:51:20,876 --> 00:51:24,455 considering in your budget request, we need that analysis, right? 683 00:51:24,876 --> 00:51:27,095 To go exactly to what you're saying, Antoinette, in terms 684 00:51:27,095 --> 00:51:30,055 of, um, yes, this may look like a small expense 685 00:51:30,076 --> 00:51:32,215 now, but it will have a, it has a potential 686 00:51:32,236 --> 00:51:35,255 to have a snowball effect. Right. And so I think 687 00:51:35,516 --> 00:51:39,175 having that, that fulsome analysis will position council to make 688 00:51:39,215 --> 00:51:41,735 a much more informed decision. So thank you. And thank 689 00:51:41,735 --> 00:51:45,303 you again, guys, for pulling us together. Thank you, Councillor 690 00:51:45,343 --> 00:51:48,503 McClain. Any other questions from members of council? Council Nix. 691 00:51:50,007 --> 00:51:53,346 Yeah. I, I had two questions, but just, just before 692 00:51:53,386 --> 00:51:57,266 I ask them to respond to count something, Councillor McClain 693 00:51:57,306 --> 00:52:00,146 said, it's interesting what you were asking for in the 694 00:52:00,186 --> 00:52:03,826 budget presentation, but they've mandatory services versus the ones that 695 00:52:04,167 --> 00:52:06,866 what we call them optional, because that is in fact 696 00:52:06,866 --> 00:52:10,546 how the conservation authorities now present their budget. We present 697 00:52:10,586 --> 00:52:14,186 them as category one services and category two, well, we 698 00:52:14,186 --> 00:52:16,706 actually have a category three. But it's the category ones 699 00:52:16,706 --> 00:52:19,666 that are the, are the mandatory. So anyway, enough of 700 00:52:19,666 --> 00:52:23,986 that. That's just a comment. Sorry, John. Uh, my questions 701 00:52:26,487 --> 00:52:29,746 are based probably on my ignorance. There's one statement in 702 00:52:29,746 --> 00:52:32,786 here that I wasn't quite sure I understood. Each capital 703 00:52:32,887 --> 00:52:35,506 project must be fully financed through and it gives, it 704 00:52:35,546 --> 00:52:38,786 gives five things. Capital project must be how it must 705 00:52:38,786 --> 00:52:42,386 be finance. Uh, reserves long - term borrowing senior government 706 00:52:42,407 --> 00:52:47,106 grants subsidies or third party recoveries. Isn't it true, Amy, 707 00:52:47,106 --> 00:52:49,746 are that in some years for a capital project, we'd 708 00:52:50,007 --> 00:52:53,897 use current tax levies to pay for that also. Amy. 709 00:52:54,924 --> 00:52:57,223 Yeah to you warden post. The way we set up 710 00:52:57,223 --> 00:53:00,503 the capital budget is we actually, we're contributing to the 711 00:53:00,764 --> 00:53:04,103 capital asset fund. And then we're pulling from that capital 712 00:53:04,143 --> 00:53:08,320 asset funder reserve to pay for the project. Okay. So 713 00:53:08,341 --> 00:53:10,640 I, I, I get you. There still could be current 714 00:53:10,821 --> 00:53:13,120 tax levies that you're going into the final. Okay. Got 715 00:53:13,160 --> 00:53:16,800 it. The other question again, probably based on my ignorance, 716 00:53:16,800 --> 00:53:22,160 but just, just below that. So, so it says the 717 00:53:22,200 --> 00:53:25,360 reserves are going to be for capital projects only and 718 00:53:25,360 --> 00:53:28,640 not to adjust the operating budget, et cetera, et cetera. 719 00:53:28,640 --> 00:53:30,400 So what you're going to do over the next few 720 00:53:30,400 --> 00:53:32,860 years is get rid of the rate stabilization reserve. Now 721 00:53:34,261 --> 00:53:37,600 I understand what you've written or what's in the policy. 722 00:53:37,640 --> 00:53:41,096 I guess I'm just not a hundred percent sure. What 723 00:53:41,096 --> 00:53:45,736 would be wrong with keeping that rate stabilization, reserve, that 724 00:53:45,757 --> 00:53:49,096 can be used for sort of ad hoc things or 725 00:53:49,277 --> 00:53:54,056 rate stabilization. Why is it so is it mandatory or 726 00:53:54,077 --> 00:53:57,816 is this just something that why are we doing this? 727 00:53:57,816 --> 00:54:02,753 Amy. Warden post. We're not getting rid of the rate 728 00:54:02,753 --> 00:54:06,193 stabilization reserve. We currently have a contribution from the rate 729 00:54:06,214 --> 00:54:10,353 civilization reserve to the operating budget. And that contribution we 730 00:54:10,614 --> 00:54:13,003 want to eliminate over time. So that we adhere with 731 00:54:13,043 --> 00:54:14,603 the policy. It doesn't mean we get rid of the 732 00:54:14,643 --> 00:54:19,348 reserve. We still we will still have the reserve. With 733 00:54:19,529 --> 00:54:23,188 respect. You say palsy and thus will be phased out 734 00:54:23,228 --> 00:54:27,241 over time. Am I misreading this? Yeah. It's just that 735 00:54:27,342 --> 00:54:30,041 amount that we currently have in our operating budget that 736 00:54:30,041 --> 00:54:32,601 we're going to phase that out over time. We I 737 00:54:32,601 --> 00:54:34,321 think we have a million dollars in the budget. We 738 00:54:34,321 --> 00:54:37,721 want to reduce that contribution to the budget over time 739 00:54:37,902 --> 00:54:39,881 so that the money can be used for something else. 740 00:54:42,649 --> 00:54:46,108 Councillor next. Well, we still might have a rate stabilization 741 00:54:46,148 --> 00:54:50,388 reserve that next, next year. Okay. I had misunderstood, I 742 00:54:50,388 --> 00:54:55,305 guess then. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions, Councillor White. 743 00:54:57,458 --> 00:55:00,317 Thank you, Warden. I think part of, to address Fred's 744 00:55:00,338 --> 00:55:03,117 question, I think part of the problem with the rate 745 00:55:03,117 --> 00:55:07,917 stabilization fund is that we've historically used it for ad 746 00:55:07,938 --> 00:55:10,397 hoc projects, like you mentioned. But the problem is, is 747 00:55:10,498 --> 00:55:14,797 those added projects are causing the problem we have where 748 00:55:14,797 --> 00:55:16,957 we put it in this year. And then it snowballs 749 00:55:17,138 --> 00:55:20,237 like we're talking about. And five years down the road, 750 00:55:20,237 --> 00:55:22,397 uh, you know, it's now, uh, it's something we do 751 00:55:22,418 --> 00:55:26,237 regularly. And it's, it's, you know, essentially unfunded. So I 752 00:55:26,237 --> 00:55:28,877 think it's probably trying to roll some of that up 753 00:55:29,138 --> 00:55:31,677 and stop a little bit of that from happening is, 754 00:55:31,717 --> 00:55:35,893 is the intent. Hey. Was there any other questions or 755 00:55:35,914 --> 00:55:40,251 comments for members of council. Okay. Can I get a 756 00:55:40,251 --> 00:55:43,051 motion then for the recommendation in the report that it 757 00:55:43,051 --> 00:55:48,712 be received and approved. Councillor White. Seconded by Councillor Taylor. 758 00:55:48,712 --> 00:55:54,254 All in favor. And that's carried. Okay. So 10. 4 759 00:55:54,294 --> 00:55:57,374 is the governance review and it was Councillor Taylor who 760 00:55:57,374 --> 00:56:01,561 pulled this one. Thank you very much, Warden. Um, I 761 00:56:01,601 --> 00:56:05,241 bring this forward because I think there's a misunderstanding about 762 00:56:05,342 --> 00:56:08,201 what we're trying to do here. And quite honestly, it's 763 00:56:08,201 --> 00:56:12,201 very frustrating to me. So we are an election period. 764 00:56:12,201 --> 00:56:14,361 Um, and so we've got a lot of money morning 765 00:56:14,361 --> 00:56:18,521 quarterbacks who are questioning what the amount of money is 766 00:56:18,561 --> 00:56:21,401 set aside for. And the report states that it's up 767 00:56:21,441 --> 00:56:25,161 to 100, 000 dollars to do the report. And then 768 00:56:25,182 --> 00:56:27,941 the commentary is essentially what a, what a joke. Why 769 00:56:27,941 --> 00:56:30,521 would we do this work? Well, let me tell you 770 00:56:30,782 --> 00:56:33,541 from my perspective why we would do this work. Um, 771 00:56:34,622 --> 00:56:38,521 there, there is a need to understand the value of 772 00:56:39,022 --> 00:56:43,321 council, um, and the work that we do moving forward. 773 00:56:43,321 --> 00:56:46,601 And I think that things like understanding the size and 774 00:56:46,641 --> 00:56:50,041 efficiency of council is a really important thing that we 775 00:56:50,062 --> 00:56:53,961 do. And to have staff do that, we already have 776 00:56:54,222 --> 00:56:59,401 staff at a capacity constraint perspective. I don't know why 777 00:56:59,422 --> 00:57:01,641 we would ask them to do a side of desk 778 00:57:01,641 --> 00:57:04,041 project. It makes no sense to me where we would 779 00:57:04,081 --> 00:57:07,081 do that. It's also important to me. I think it 780 00:57:07,081 --> 00:57:10,281 should be determined who should be here. Um, so long 781 00:57:10,382 --> 00:57:14,681 term, I don't think it's necessarily, um, right that just 782 00:57:14,721 --> 00:57:16,521 the mayor and the deputy mayor are considered for these 783 00:57:16,542 --> 00:57:21,561 positions. It should be decided, um, who should be in 784 00:57:21,561 --> 00:57:25,081 these positions moving forward. And to that, I think the 785 00:57:25,121 --> 00:57:28,521 great benefit in discussing about whether or not these are, 786 00:57:28,521 --> 00:57:32,101 uh, elected positions or not. And it doesn't say, I'm 787 00:57:32,101 --> 00:57:34,761 not suggesting that I'm in favor of blowing up anything. 788 00:57:34,761 --> 00:57:36,761 I just merely think that this work needs to be 789 00:57:36,801 --> 00:57:40,761 done. And the money morning quarterbacks need to understand that 790 00:57:40,862 --> 00:57:42,841 to be able to do this work, you have to 791 00:57:42,862 --> 00:57:46,521 pay. And I can tell you that, uh, consultants aren't 792 00:57:46,542 --> 00:57:51,481 necessarily a bad thing. Consultants are there to, um, allow 793 00:57:51,582 --> 00:57:55,561 us to push forward initiatives that will eventually save money. 794 00:57:55,561 --> 00:57:57,641 Like it's, it's, it's just not something that we can 795 00:57:57,681 --> 00:58:01,561 put on to town staff. And quite candidly by suggesting 796 00:58:01,742 --> 00:58:05,161 otherwise it says that you don't understand what you're talking 797 00:58:05,201 --> 00:58:09,241 about. And so I am speaking to folks who are 798 00:58:09,902 --> 00:58:13,561 not paying attention in our communities. Um, and I think 799 00:58:13,582 --> 00:58:16,681 it's important that they listen. And I'm happy to talk 800 00:58:16,721 --> 00:58:19,321 about this as an issue as we go forward over 801 00:58:19,342 --> 00:58:22,533 the next couple of weeks. And Councillor Taylor, Councillor White. 802 00:58:25,359 --> 00:58:30,438 Sorry. Thanks. Thank you, Warden. Um, as some, like I'm 803 00:58:30,438 --> 00:58:32,218 one of the members that sit on that committee and 804 00:58:32,258 --> 00:58:34,538 I went into that meeting thinking that there was going 805 00:58:34,538 --> 00:58:37,818 to be some fundamental disagreement at that table, but there 806 00:58:37,818 --> 00:58:40,938 wasn't. Um, I'm more surprised that we came out with 807 00:58:40,959 --> 00:58:43,958 so many things that we wanted to talk about. And 808 00:58:43,958 --> 00:58:47,658 I think that's a good thing. Um, and, and Todd 809 00:58:47,759 --> 00:58:49,978 is right. Uh, I mean, there's been some commentary talking 810 00:58:49,999 --> 00:58:52,058 about, you know, what a waste of a hundred thousand 811 00:58:52,058 --> 00:58:54,458 dollars I don't, I don't see it that way. First 812 00:58:54,458 --> 00:58:56,298 of all, it's an up two number. We've also talked 813 00:58:56,319 --> 00:59:00,698 about things like engaging some, uh, university post - secondary 814 00:59:00,738 --> 00:59:04,858 students in maybe some of their study areas, uh, maybe 815 00:59:04,898 --> 00:59:07,418 to help facilitate that. So I don't think that the 816 00:59:07,439 --> 00:59:10,218 final total will be anywhere near a hundred thousand. Maybe 817 00:59:10,218 --> 00:59:13,019 it will, who knows. But at the end of the 818 00:59:13,019 --> 00:59:15,819 day, many of the things that are scheduled to be 819 00:59:15,819 --> 00:59:18,219 talked about as part of this review, I mean, they 820 00:59:18,259 --> 00:59:21,339 have the potential to generate their own savings. And that 821 00:59:21,379 --> 00:59:23,939 would be ongoing savings. And some of those savings, I 822 00:59:23,939 --> 00:59:27,579 would think would be well along the lines of, of 823 00:59:28,640 --> 00:59:32,619 probably more than 100, 000 dollars. But at the end 824 00:59:32,659 --> 00:59:35,179 of the day, when you're going to do this kind 825 00:59:35,179 --> 00:59:37,579 of a review, I mean, you have to talk about 826 00:59:37,760 --> 00:59:40,459 some of the things you don't want to necessarily maybe 827 00:59:40,480 --> 00:59:43,819 one - off talk about, but I mean, you don't 828 00:59:43,859 --> 00:59:46,539 do a partial review. We've done that in the past 829 00:59:47,360 --> 00:59:49,339 historically. And it's always come back to bite us in 830 00:59:49,339 --> 00:59:53,499 the backside. So, I mean, I think this is well 831 00:59:53,539 --> 00:59:55,659 structured. There might be some things in there that could 832 00:59:55,699 --> 00:59:58,916 come out of the scope. At a next meeting. And 833 00:59:58,916 --> 01:00:01,096 maybe it is a little bit broad or maybe some 834 01:00:01,136 --> 01:00:03,096 things could be condensed. But I mean, I think this 835 01:00:03,117 --> 01:00:05,176 is a good process. It hasn't been done in a 836 01:00:05,176 --> 01:00:08,136 long time here, uh, that I can say, but I 837 01:00:08,136 --> 01:00:09,816 do think we need to talk about what this looks 838 01:00:09,856 --> 01:00:14,991 like moving forward. Thanks. Councillor Garretts, then Councillor McClain and 839 01:00:15,031 --> 01:00:19,992 Councillor Krillman and Council Horner. So just, and it might 840 01:00:19,992 --> 01:00:22,392 not be a fair question for staff, but do we 841 01:00:22,392 --> 01:00:25,512 know when the last time was that we undertook any 842 01:00:25,533 --> 01:00:30,694 sort of governance review. Michelle. So through you, Warden, I've 843 01:00:30,694 --> 01:00:32,614 been at the county for 18 years and it has 844 01:00:32,614 --> 01:00:35,094 not been done. I believe the last time it may 845 01:00:35,094 --> 01:00:37,094 have been done was when the County of Duffyn Act 846 01:00:37,195 --> 01:00:40,718 came into effect, which was in the 90s. Yeah. So 847 01:00:41,259 --> 01:00:45,938 I, uh, I agree. It needs to be done. And 848 01:00:45,938 --> 01:00:48,758 if it's a, you know, it's a budget number to 849 01:00:48,779 --> 01:00:54,287 councillor white's point. Might not, it's just a number that 850 01:00:54,327 --> 01:00:56,607 is going in the budget. It could be last, but, 851 01:00:56,628 --> 01:01:01,727 but, uh, I'm, I'm happy to proceed with the work. 852 01:01:01,727 --> 01:01:04,207 If it's, you know, project that we do every 40 853 01:01:04,207 --> 01:01:07,167 years, I think it's necessary. Probably should be done far 854 01:01:07,988 --> 01:01:10,047 more frequently than that. It's a, it's a good governance 855 01:01:10,068 --> 01:01:13,327 review. And we need to make sure that we're operating, 856 01:01:13,327 --> 01:01:17,007 um, the best way we can. We could go through 857 01:01:17,028 --> 01:01:21,754 the work and determine that nothing needs to change. And 858 01:01:21,794 --> 01:01:23,994 if that's the case, then we at least know that 859 01:01:24,175 --> 01:01:28,074 the way we're operating is supported. So I'm happy with 860 01:01:28,255 --> 01:01:31,777 the, uh, to proceed with the word. Thanks. Thank you, 861 01:01:31,777 --> 01:01:36,478 Councillor Garrett's Councillor McClain. Uh, thank you. I think, um, 862 01:01:37,639 --> 01:01:40,018 there seemed to be a bit of a robust debate 863 01:01:40,039 --> 01:01:42,578 that kind of broke out over the past couple of 864 01:01:42,578 --> 01:01:45,298 days on social media. And so it seems like at 865 01:01:45,298 --> 01:01:47,538 least some members of the public are, are dialing into 866 01:01:48,119 --> 01:01:51,339 this, which I think is ultimately a good thing. Um, 867 01:01:52,400 --> 01:01:56,299 I think for me, I'm kind of torn on this. 868 01:01:58,400 --> 01:02:00,939 I would find this incredibly fascinating to go forward with 869 01:02:01,200 --> 01:02:03,099 the scope as it's kind of laid out. But I 870 01:02:03,099 --> 01:02:05,379 think the fundamental questions that we need to kind of 871 01:02:05,520 --> 01:02:08,671 wrestle with. Like what, what problems are we trying to 872 01:02:08,852 --> 01:02:13,111 address specifically? Um, that to me hasn't been kind of 873 01:02:13,412 --> 01:02:17,151 laid out. Like we've talked about maybe composition, um, or 874 01:02:17,492 --> 01:02:21,951 representation or engagement with the public and making sure they're 875 01:02:21,991 --> 01:02:24,431 aware of the business of council. But I think we 876 01:02:24,452 --> 01:02:29,151 really need to be crystal clear on, uh, what challenges 877 01:02:29,572 --> 01:02:32,031 do we see and that we actually want this review 878 01:02:32,612 --> 01:02:36,271 to address? Um, almost like what is the research question 879 01:02:36,292 --> 01:02:39,871 that we would be handing off to these graduate students, 880 01:02:39,871 --> 01:02:43,191 for example? Cause that would help them to kind of 881 01:02:43,572 --> 01:02:45,951 focus their attention a little bit more as opposed to 882 01:02:45,991 --> 01:02:48,991 giving them kind of broad strokes, blue sky to work 883 01:02:48,991 --> 01:02:51,471 on. And so I think that's something that we need 884 01:02:51,511 --> 01:02:53,551 to talk about. Like what are the problems as we 885 01:02:53,551 --> 01:02:56,031 see them? Um, and do we agree that those are 886 01:02:56,031 --> 01:02:59,955 the ones that need to be investigated. Um, that's my 887 01:02:59,955 --> 01:03:02,515 first point. The second point is around the scope. There's 888 01:03:02,515 --> 01:03:04,115 a, the number of different ways that we could do 889 01:03:04,136 --> 01:03:08,035 this. One potential way would be to start more gradual 890 01:03:08,296 --> 01:03:11,235 and say, okay, like if, if we agree as a 891 01:03:11,275 --> 01:03:16,115 council that one of the challenges is around, um, public 892 01:03:16,136 --> 01:03:21,955 awareness and engagement with county business, um, do we need 893 01:03:21,955 --> 01:03:26,115 to go and look at massive changes? Or they're incremental 894 01:03:26,155 --> 01:03:29,652 things that we could be doing right now. To help 895 01:03:29,753 --> 01:03:31,972 build that awareness. Things that all of us could be 896 01:03:31,972 --> 01:03:34,932 doing in terms of raising awareness about the items that 897 01:03:34,953 --> 01:03:38,692 we're talking about looking at, um, how to bring more 898 01:03:38,713 --> 01:03:43,092 people into Council meetings, whether that means holding council meetings 899 01:03:43,433 --> 01:03:46,452 in each of the eight municipalities once a year. That's 900 01:03:46,492 --> 01:03:47,812 something that we talked about. I think it was one 901 01:03:47,812 --> 01:03:49,812 of the very first conversations that we had around this 902 01:03:49,993 --> 01:03:52,772 council table at the beginning of this term in a 903 01:03:52,772 --> 01:03:56,612 never really went anywhere. Um, but if, if one of 904 01:03:56,612 --> 01:03:59,012 the challenges that we're trying to solve is public buy 905 01:03:59,052 --> 01:04:01,412 - in, that there's some low hanging fruit stuff that 906 01:04:01,452 --> 01:04:03,892 we could do to get at that. That wouldn't require 907 01:04:04,393 --> 01:04:08,492 a massive study. So again, I'm open to this. I 908 01:04:08,492 --> 01:04:12,832 just, I just wonder if we, if the scope, the 909 01:04:12,873 --> 01:04:15,572 massive scope that we've kind of laid out is what 910 01:04:15,572 --> 01:04:19,077 we want to start with first. And, and if it 911 01:04:19,077 --> 01:04:20,837 is, then I think we need to be crystal clear 912 01:04:20,858 --> 01:04:24,056 on what our research questions are. And so you know. 913 01:04:28,943 --> 01:04:32,602 Councillor McClean a few things. I've said it before defining 914 01:04:32,602 --> 01:04:35,482 the problem we're trying to solve before entering into a 915 01:04:35,482 --> 01:04:38,362 scope of work is very important. And that will drive 916 01:04:38,383 --> 01:04:42,682 more clarity. It will create better project requirements for consultants 917 01:04:42,863 --> 01:04:45,722 and or students. So that point is well taken. I 918 01:04:45,762 --> 01:04:48,922 think at this point we need more conversation to really 919 01:04:49,343 --> 01:04:51,962 facilitate and we need a facilitator to create a safe 920 01:04:51,983 --> 01:04:55,002 space to say, what are some of the underlying issues 921 01:04:55,023 --> 01:04:57,882 that we're experiencing and what problem do we want this 922 01:04:57,922 --> 01:05:00,602 to solve? And the truth is there may be a 923 01:05:00,703 --> 01:05:03,402 subset of problems and maybe we phase in how we 924 01:05:03,983 --> 01:05:06,442 address those and how we roll out some sort of 925 01:05:06,543 --> 01:05:10,442 implementation plan. But we've had some very important conversations around 926 01:05:11,423 --> 01:05:15,702 sentiments around the weighted vote. Representation around the table, the 927 01:05:15,702 --> 01:05:17,722 structure, all of those things are things that we really 928 01:05:17,983 --> 01:05:20,522 actually need to dig into a little bit more so 929 01:05:20,543 --> 01:05:24,922 that clarity will be provided to whoever engages with this 930 01:05:24,943 --> 01:05:27,802 work. So we agree with that. We just don't, that's 931 01:05:27,802 --> 01:05:30,922 not the role for staff to facilitate what may be 932 01:05:30,962 --> 01:05:34,762 very challenging, important and hard conversations to have. So that 933 01:05:34,762 --> 01:05:37,402 will be the initial stage of this work in our 934 01:05:37,402 --> 01:05:41,642 mind to start to narrow the scope and or agree 935 01:05:41,663 --> 01:05:43,722 on the scope and the problem we're trying to solve 936 01:05:44,143 --> 01:05:47,562 and then create that implementation plan forward in terms of 937 01:05:47,663 --> 01:05:50,082 engagement with the public. We've chatted about this. Part of 938 01:05:50,082 --> 01:05:51,802 this is not knowing how much we want to engage 939 01:05:51,802 --> 01:05:54,362 with the public. So is it engaging on the public 940 01:05:54,863 --> 01:05:57,962 on how they feel represented at the county on this 941 01:05:58,143 --> 01:06:00,282 structure? Is it about what we do and what we 942 01:06:00,282 --> 01:06:03,482 don't do? And you're right. That's layered. Part of that, 943 01:06:03,482 --> 01:06:06,042 they'll also bring in the communications role here at the 944 01:06:06,143 --> 01:06:09,802 county and improving the way we communicate with the public, 945 01:06:09,802 --> 01:06:13,802 how we engage. Some of our engagement events, um, seem 946 01:06:13,802 --> 01:06:16,922 to be focused, you know, very singularly on a topic. 947 01:06:16,922 --> 01:06:19,762 That's not always connected very clearly to the county. So 948 01:06:19,762 --> 01:06:23,242 those conversations are happening at the management level and beyond. 949 01:06:23,242 --> 01:06:25,802 How do we increase exposure and awareness for the great 950 01:06:25,842 --> 01:06:28,122 things that we deliver? When you're out talking with the 951 01:06:28,223 --> 01:06:31,082 public, I can think of a recent event at the 952 01:06:31,103 --> 01:06:36,122 Oaks resounding sort of, uh, impact high community impact for 953 01:06:36,223 --> 01:06:39,162 this services that are provided there to seniors, both our 954 01:06:39,183 --> 01:06:41,882 day program, uh, and a lot of our support services 955 01:06:42,223 --> 01:06:45,002 as well as long - term care and not always 956 01:06:45,103 --> 01:06:47,562 do people connect that back to county work. So we 957 01:06:47,602 --> 01:06:49,962 have a lot of work to do in that space. 958 01:06:49,962 --> 01:06:52,442 And that ties into the public engagement piece. I think 959 01:06:52,463 --> 01:06:56,282 the public engagement piece contemplated for this project though in 960 01:06:56,282 --> 01:06:58,682 part was how much do we want to engage with 961 01:06:58,722 --> 01:07:01,642 the public on composition on weighted vote and not having 962 01:07:01,823 --> 01:07:05,482 clarity around those pieces, uh, we left the scope more 963 01:07:05,583 --> 01:07:08,282 broad. Is that fair, Michelle? Yeah. Okay. And then the 964 01:07:08,282 --> 01:07:10,922 other piece I wanted to speak to the cost more 965 01:07:10,962 --> 01:07:12,682 generally because it's come up. So thank you for those 966 01:07:12,703 --> 01:07:15,402 who've said it really is an upset limit. Anything that 967 01:07:15,442 --> 01:07:18,602 we think we can handle internally, like some benchmarking we've 968 01:07:18,602 --> 01:07:21,722 already done some of that work internally reaching out to 969 01:07:22,223 --> 01:07:26,282 municipalities who have done something similar around the leaded vote. 970 01:07:26,282 --> 01:07:28,602 SimCO County and others. We've already hosted meetings with them 971 01:07:28,623 --> 01:07:31,402 to see what process did you go through, what lessons 972 01:07:31,442 --> 01:07:33,322 did you learn? What advice would you give us as 973 01:07:33,343 --> 01:07:35,802 we enter this space? And how much money did you 974 01:07:35,842 --> 01:07:38,122 spend doing this work so that we can make sure 975 01:07:38,143 --> 01:07:41,402 that there's value for the taxpayer dollar here? So all 976 01:07:41,442 --> 01:07:44,442 of those pieces where it's something we can do that 977 01:07:44,543 --> 01:07:46,682 our capacity can handle. And that is, I would say 978 01:07:46,943 --> 01:07:51,722 neutral establishing a benchmarking exercise. We will do that. Engaging 979 01:07:51,823 --> 01:07:55,322 and facilitating some really tough conversations around the table. That's 980 01:07:55,322 --> 01:07:57,642 not a good position to put any of our staff 981 01:07:57,743 --> 01:07:59,642 members in. And that's why we think that role is 982 01:07:59,682 --> 01:08:03,362 important. And then giving ourselves some breath of budget, if 983 01:08:03,362 --> 01:08:05,562 we do want to do deeper engagement, if we decide 984 01:08:05,663 --> 01:08:09,162 to explore really tough topics, we needed that wiggle room 985 01:08:09,183 --> 01:08:10,842 to see how deep at the end of the day 986 01:08:11,103 --> 01:08:13,802 council wants to go with this exercise. So I'll add 987 01:08:13,842 --> 01:08:16,842 that we can go through more questions. Thank you, Antonetta. 988 01:08:16,882 --> 01:08:23,336 Councillor Kraman. To start with, I don't think it will 989 01:08:23,376 --> 01:08:26,376 be anywhere near 100, 000 dollars to do the job 990 01:08:27,037 --> 01:08:30,536 for the reasons previously stated. And my observation is that 991 01:08:30,877 --> 01:08:37,389 AI generated memes are not helpful. Councillor Horner. I guess 992 01:08:37,970 --> 01:08:40,589 a couple of points. So first one is that I'm 993 01:08:40,589 --> 01:08:44,429 not sure that we're entering into this whole thing with 994 01:08:44,429 --> 01:08:47,069 the sole reason to save money. I think we want 995 01:08:47,109 --> 01:08:51,389 to understand how to work together more effectively and to 996 01:08:51,429 --> 01:08:55,229 get better decisions, um, out of this group. And so 997 01:08:55,730 --> 01:09:00,509 I applaud, um, your first meeting minutes were fascinating to 998 01:09:00,549 --> 01:09:03,789 me that you were able to get some of those 999 01:09:03,890 --> 01:09:08,109 things even out on the table. And so I fully 1000 01:09:08,290 --> 01:09:13,010 support a facilitator. And maybe the consultant is the wrong 1001 01:09:13,050 --> 01:09:15,330 word to use here because I'd like to see this 1002 01:09:15,431 --> 01:09:20,218 whole process driven by the folks on that committee. With 1003 01:09:20,218 --> 01:09:23,178 the help of a facilitator to get to the hard, 1004 01:09:23,199 --> 01:09:28,298 hard questions and the needs. And so I'm fully supportive 1005 01:09:28,319 --> 01:09:31,578 of what you've started. I think it will be a 1006 01:09:31,578 --> 01:09:35,018 fascinating thing. I didn't put my hand up because governance 1007 01:09:35,119 --> 01:09:38,298 is not my deal, but I, I really applaud the 1008 01:09:38,319 --> 01:09:40,098 folks on this committee. And I think we're going to 1009 01:09:40,239 --> 01:09:43,498 get some great results if they get supported in the 1010 01:09:43,599 --> 01:09:50,056 proper way. Councillor Little. Yes. Thank you very much. And 1011 01:09:50,056 --> 01:09:52,696 I appreciate the comments that have been made as a 1012 01:09:52,696 --> 01:09:56,056 member of this committee. I just wanted to, um, thank 1013 01:09:56,157 --> 01:09:59,656 everyone who participated. We had some really good discussion and 1014 01:09:59,677 --> 01:10:02,996 we all have the opportunity to present our priorities. And 1015 01:10:02,996 --> 01:10:06,616 as was mentioned, there was quite a few similarities in 1016 01:10:06,717 --> 01:10:10,136 that. We also felt it was very important that we 1017 01:10:10,237 --> 01:10:16,376 have the different pieces of information from different groups that, 1018 01:10:16,397 --> 01:10:20,216 that do things and have different ways of doing things. 1019 01:10:20,216 --> 01:10:22,776 And that we explore those and make sure that the 1020 01:10:22,816 --> 01:10:26,616 way we want to move forward is appropriate. It isn't 1021 01:10:26,877 --> 01:10:30,776 about saving money. It's about, um, making our decisions around 1022 01:10:30,877 --> 01:10:35,496 this table effective and appropriate. And the best way to 1023 01:10:35,536 --> 01:10:40,776 do that, the best way to, to, uh, be informed, 1024 01:10:40,776 --> 01:10:43,496 etc. So I feel that it's a very, this was 1025 01:10:43,496 --> 01:10:47,416 just an initial start on that, whether we engage a 1026 01:10:47,456 --> 01:10:52,136 student, consultant or a facilitator or something is yet to 1027 01:10:52,136 --> 01:10:56,216 be determined, but these are just, um, ideas that we're 1028 01:10:56,216 --> 01:10:58,856 putting forward. And I think that we need to follow 1029 01:10:58,877 --> 01:11:01,736 up on. We do need to do have some form 1030 01:11:01,736 --> 01:11:04,776 of a bit of financial support that we can do 1031 01:11:04,957 --> 01:11:07,576 the right job, um, and try and make sure that 1032 01:11:07,616 --> 01:11:09,896 we get all the information that we need in order 1033 01:11:09,936 --> 01:11:13,576 to make really sound decisions. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor 1034 01:11:13,597 --> 01:11:18,208 Little. Councillor Garrett's then, Councillor White and Councillor Mills. Yeah, 1035 01:11:18,208 --> 01:11:21,088 just, uh, I think councillor Kreelman touched on it with 1036 01:11:21,269 --> 01:11:25,568 his, his meme comment, um, maybe the public also needs 1037 01:11:25,608 --> 01:11:30,608 to be aware that, uh, as, as we sit here 1038 01:11:30,869 --> 01:11:33,168 discussing this and prepared a vote on it, we have 1039 01:11:33,168 --> 01:11:36,748 no correspondence from anybody through official channels and no, uh, 1040 01:11:36,869 --> 01:11:39,648 no in a public comment period providing any input for 1041 01:11:39,688 --> 01:11:44,128 us for decision making. So, uh, you know, meme chatter 1042 01:11:44,549 --> 01:11:47,728 and posts on social media, like social media is a 1043 01:11:47,728 --> 01:11:50,128 great tool to engage with your constituents. That's not an 1044 01:11:50,149 --> 01:11:54,288 official way to voice your opinion on, on policy. So, 1045 01:11:54,288 --> 01:11:57,488 you know, the public needs to be aware that if, 1046 01:11:57,528 --> 01:12:01,628 if they feel strongly about this matter, the, the, uh, 1047 01:12:01,669 --> 01:12:04,288 the best way to make that known is simply send 1048 01:12:04,328 --> 01:12:07,577 an email, uh, to your local member. That was all. 1049 01:12:07,577 --> 01:12:11,853 Thanks. Thanks Councillor Garretts. Councillor White. Thanks. Just, just to 1050 01:12:11,853 --> 01:12:14,013 be clear, we do have one. And that's from Mr. 1051 01:12:14,034 --> 01:12:18,773 McEwen. But what I, yeah, what I did want to 1052 01:12:18,834 --> 01:12:23,433 say was, uh, we thanked everybody on the committee, but 1053 01:12:23,794 --> 01:12:26,333 I did want to point out that, uh, I think 1054 01:12:26,354 --> 01:12:28,973 most of us walked into that room, not really knowing 1055 01:12:28,994 --> 01:12:32,093 what to expect from an introductory meeting on a, on 1056 01:12:32,133 --> 01:12:35,453 a topic. But I do want to say staff, Rebecca 1057 01:12:35,493 --> 01:12:39,053 and Michelle and whoever else was involved from this like 1058 01:12:39,093 --> 01:12:42,473 they came prepared to challenge us with things and, uh, 1059 01:12:43,154 --> 01:12:44,173 you know, they really put a lot of stuff on 1060 01:12:44,213 --> 01:12:46,733 the table that maybe should have been considered. And I 1061 01:12:46,733 --> 01:12:50,173 think, uh, what came out of that is a direct 1062 01:12:50,274 --> 01:12:52,733 result of, of the work that staff did to sort 1063 01:12:52,733 --> 01:12:54,173 of set that up. Cause I think a lot of 1064 01:12:54,194 --> 01:12:57,453 us were like went in there going, what are we 1065 01:12:57,453 --> 01:13:01,053 going to talk about? So thank you. Absolutely. Councillor Mills. 1066 01:13:03,149 --> 01:13:08,487 Thanks for, just briefly. I'm definitely supportive of moving ahead 1067 01:13:08,588 --> 01:13:11,047 with this work. Uh, and, and I certainly don't want 1068 01:13:11,047 --> 01:13:13,447 to repeat what's been said earlier, but I do think 1069 01:13:13,468 --> 01:13:16,727 that the task force deserves a tremendous amount of credit. 1070 01:13:18,020 --> 01:13:19,759 In one meeting coming up with a scope of work 1071 01:13:19,799 --> 01:13:22,159 that I think, in my mind, at least sort of 1072 01:13:22,159 --> 01:13:25,039 nails all the, all the big issues that we should 1073 01:13:25,039 --> 01:13:28,239 be looking at at this stage to the CAO's point, 1074 01:13:28,239 --> 01:13:30,639 um, I'm comforted by, by what you said in terms 1075 01:13:30,639 --> 01:13:34,839 of, you know, facilita or engaging a facilitator, because I 1076 01:13:34,839 --> 01:13:38,399 think that is the next logical step. Um, you know, 1077 01:13:38,399 --> 01:13:41,679 we have a pretty large bucket here of, of priority 1078 01:13:41,719 --> 01:13:44,879 themes, uh, which I think is the right place to 1079 01:13:44,919 --> 01:13:47,359 start, but we, we need to start narrowing that and 1080 01:13:47,399 --> 01:13:51,039 identifying, you know, a couple of primary issues that we, 1081 01:13:51,079 --> 01:13:53,999 we want to tackle. In my mind, you know, they, 1082 01:13:53,999 --> 01:13:56,799 they tend to kind of fall into, to two broad 1083 01:13:56,820 --> 01:14:00,319 categories. One is composite composition, you know, making sure that 1084 01:14:00,340 --> 01:14:02,799 the right people are around the table. Um, how they 1085 01:14:02,799 --> 01:14:05,679 get here, I guess is, is a crawlery of that. 1086 01:14:05,679 --> 01:14:07,999 And then the second piece would, would be that public 1087 01:14:08,020 --> 01:14:10,859 engagement piece. And I think if we can, you know, 1088 01:14:12,340 --> 01:14:16,639 lean into those two problem questions. Um, and come up 1089 01:14:16,639 --> 01:14:19,919 with answers to those. And then I'll think this work, 1090 01:14:19,919 --> 01:14:23,199 uh, will have been certainly well worth the effort and 1091 01:14:23,199 --> 01:14:26,479 whatever cost is associated with it. Um, I agree with 1092 01:14:26,580 --> 01:14:28,639 others who have said that I don't think it's going 1093 01:14:28,639 --> 01:14:31,593 to take a hundred grand. But, but let's set that 1094 01:14:31,633 --> 01:14:33,673 as the, as the Edward limit and try to work 1095 01:14:33,673 --> 01:14:36,990 down from there. Thank you, Councillor Mills. Any other questions 1096 01:14:37,251 --> 01:14:40,705 or comments for members of Council on this item. Not 1097 01:14:40,705 --> 01:14:43,105 seeing any. So if we can go with the recommendation 1098 01:14:43,206 --> 01:14:46,625 in the report then that the, uh, governance review scope 1099 01:14:46,625 --> 01:14:49,185 and framework dated September 24th be received that the minutes 1100 01:14:49,225 --> 01:14:51,745 from the task force be received and that the attached 1101 01:14:51,766 --> 01:14:54,145 governance review scope and framework be approved. Can I get 1102 01:14:54,145 --> 01:14:55,985 a mover in a second or please? Councillor Taylor and 1103 01:14:56,025 --> 01:15:00,847 Councillor Horner all in favor. And that is carried. Um, 1104 01:15:00,847 --> 01:15:03,827 we do have two items of correspondence. There was correspondence 1105 01:15:03,827 --> 01:15:06,307 from Josh McEwen that was circulated in the addendum on 1106 01:15:06,307 --> 01:15:08,947 Tuesday. Would any member of Council like to discuss either 1107 01:15:09,048 --> 01:15:12,460 piece of correspondence. Not seeing any. Can I get a 1108 01:15:12,460 --> 01:15:16,101 motion to approve both or receive both. Councillor McClain and 1109 01:15:16,141 --> 01:15:19,917 Councillor Guardhosts all in favor. And that's carried. Those are 1110 01:15:19,917 --> 01:15:26,012 received. Was there any notices emotion today. Councillor Little. Yes, 1111 01:15:26,012 --> 01:15:29,452 thank you. So we've had some discussion earlier about budgeting, 1112 01:15:29,452 --> 01:15:33,572 et cetera. Um, and at a prior council meeting, we 1113 01:15:33,633 --> 01:15:36,812 had a discussion about economic development. So I would like 1114 01:15:36,833 --> 01:15:40,892 to, uh, propose that, um, prior to the presentation of 1115 01:15:40,892 --> 01:15:44,732 the 2027 budget, our economic staff be directed to meet 1116 01:15:44,772 --> 01:15:50,332 with, um, task force members of Council and community to 1117 01:15:50,372 --> 01:15:54,172 develop a scope of work and activities for the economic 1118 01:15:54,212 --> 01:15:57,932 development at the county. And that this proposal work plan 1119 01:15:58,593 --> 01:16:02,572 be presented as part of the 2027 budget process. So 1120 01:16:02,913 --> 01:16:05,652 that's sort of would be my notice of motion. I 1121 01:16:05,652 --> 01:16:11,596 can, um, make it to written to submit. And alternate 1122 01:16:11,636 --> 01:16:16,046 tantina. Thank you through you, Warden Post to Councillor Little. 1123 01:16:16,046 --> 01:16:18,126 Thank you for that. Raj and the team are actively 1124 01:16:18,147 --> 01:16:21,566 working on a workback plan in terms of we committed 1125 01:16:21,606 --> 01:16:25,166 to providing council a date and a plan in terms 1126 01:16:25,166 --> 01:16:28,286 of how we would get to a potential future state 1127 01:16:28,286 --> 01:16:32,366 of economic development. That work back plan does include the 1128 01:16:32,467 --> 01:16:35,486 formulation of an advisory committee that would be formed of 1129 01:16:35,667 --> 01:16:39,486 council members. Experts in the space and also other county 1130 01:16:39,486 --> 01:16:42,506 members, uh, who have gone through a similar exercise, who 1131 01:16:42,506 --> 01:16:46,366 have local tiers who provide economic development services at different 1132 01:16:46,467 --> 01:16:48,846 ways and to different degrees. And so the goal was 1133 01:16:48,886 --> 01:16:52,366 to bring those voices together through a task force and 1134 01:16:52,406 --> 01:16:56,526 develop a plan forward. There's no specific budget implications with 1135 01:16:56,627 --> 01:16:59,726 that. So the task force piece is noted, uh, I'm 1136 01:16:59,766 --> 01:17:01,646 not sure that that needs to be included in the 1137 01:17:01,686 --> 01:17:04,126 budget, but rather it's the work that staff is deploying 1138 01:17:04,467 --> 01:17:07,246 as part of that larger work plan to get us 1139 01:17:07,347 --> 01:17:10,926 to a recommendation on what economic development could look like 1140 01:17:11,187 --> 01:17:14,239 here at the County level. Does that help provide some 1141 01:17:14,340 --> 01:17:22,656 clarity? Cancer little. I think my concern is that we 1142 01:17:22,757 --> 01:17:27,376 want to ensure that economic development funds are included in 1143 01:17:27,416 --> 01:17:33,066 the 2027 budget. And so I'm worried that if that 1144 01:17:33,967 --> 01:17:38,497 work does not get done. Soon that there will not 1145 01:17:38,497 --> 01:17:42,497 be opportunity to include funds for economic development in 2027. 1146 01:17:42,497 --> 01:17:45,217 And I think that there needs to be, and I, 1147 01:17:45,257 --> 01:17:50,577 I've heard concerns around this table about, um, that economic 1148 01:17:50,598 --> 01:17:52,897 development is important, but we just need to understand what 1149 01:17:52,937 --> 01:17:55,757 our focus is going to be as a county, um, 1150 01:17:56,838 --> 01:18:00,257 or a county department delivering that service. So I don't 1151 01:18:00,297 --> 01:18:03,617 want to, uh, this is just my pointing forward to 1152 01:18:03,657 --> 01:18:06,497 notice this motion. So I don't want to, uh, debate 1153 01:18:06,598 --> 01:18:10,577 the whole issue at this point. But, uh, that's, that's 1154 01:18:10,577 --> 01:18:12,843 what I'd still like to do. Thank you. And Shanna. 1155 01:18:13,692 --> 01:18:16,699 Anything. I can just add the manager of economic development 1156 01:18:16,800 --> 01:18:20,619 position was preserved through the MPR. So the funds for 1157 01:18:20,619 --> 01:18:23,419 that are currently preserved. And we have someone on MAT 1158 01:18:23,419 --> 01:18:26,939 leave who's coming back. So there's still two positions affiliated 1159 01:18:26,979 --> 01:18:30,859 right now with economic development. So from a position perspective, 1160 01:18:30,859 --> 01:18:33,139 I'm not sure that anything's needed in the budget. If 1161 01:18:33,139 --> 01:18:36,699 you had some sort of sense of funds for particular 1162 01:18:37,040 --> 01:18:39,659 goal, again, without establishing what those goals or what that 1163 01:18:39,760 --> 01:18:43,179 economic activity would be hard to place a dollar amount 1164 01:18:43,920 --> 01:18:46,919 in there, but I'm happy to have the discussion. And 1165 01:18:46,919 --> 01:18:49,499 if it could be in time for the budget and 1166 01:18:49,499 --> 01:18:51,419 those outcomes can come out. That's fine. I just want 1167 01:18:51,459 --> 01:18:53,979 to remind us that there still are two full - 1168 01:18:53,979 --> 01:18:56,939 time positions as well as a part of the Director 1169 01:18:56,939 --> 01:18:59,979 of Planning and Economic Development's role that is related to 1170 01:19:00,019 --> 01:19:04,219 the function of economic development currently. Those have been preserved. 1171 01:19:04,219 --> 01:19:10,865 Right. Very good. Just Councillor Garrett's. Yep. Point of order. 1172 01:19:10,865 --> 01:19:13,905 I think Councillor Little touched on it. I this is 1173 01:19:13,905 --> 01:19:17,105 a notice of motion. I don't know that it's, it's 1174 01:19:17,366 --> 01:19:20,785 appropriate to be debating at this point, uh, Councillor Little 1175 01:19:20,806 --> 01:19:23,745 could have discussions with the CAO offline on the final 1176 01:19:23,926 --> 01:19:27,665 structure if she wishes, but I believe that she's free 1177 01:19:27,705 --> 01:19:30,522 to put forward a notice of motion. Yep. Just making 1178 01:19:30,543 --> 01:19:35,133 sure. Yeah. No, absolutely. Councillor Kraman. I don't know if 1179 01:19:35,154 --> 01:19:37,613 this is the appropriate moment, but I have an inquiry 1180 01:19:37,653 --> 01:19:42,189 to make. Uh, we can do if the notices of 1181 01:19:42,189 --> 01:19:44,669 motion, we can do that as part of other business, 1182 01:19:44,669 --> 01:19:47,369 which we will be in now. So go ahead. I'm 1183 01:19:47,369 --> 01:19:50,829 just wondering whether or not the highway 10 MTO safety 1184 01:19:51,010 --> 01:19:55,347 study has emerged. Why'd you take my thunder away, Councillor 1185 01:19:55,368 --> 01:19:58,227 Krillman? That was my exciting, um, addition to other business 1186 01:19:58,568 --> 01:20:01,107 was actually, I am very pleased to announce that the 1187 01:20:01,128 --> 01:20:04,907 province has provided the Highway 10 operational performance report. It 1188 01:20:04,907 --> 01:20:08,147 is now available on Council SharePoint. I do want to 1189 01:20:08,187 --> 01:20:10,867 thank Minister Sarkaria, who I have been communicating with back 1190 01:20:11,048 --> 01:20:13,027 and forth over the last couple of weeks for making 1191 01:20:13,048 --> 01:20:16,067 sure that that comes to council as soon as possible. 1192 01:20:16,067 --> 01:20:18,547 Um, so I'm very pleased that it is up now. 1193 01:20:18,547 --> 01:20:20,547 So every member of Council can access that from the 1194 01:20:20,568 --> 01:20:23,687 SharePoint. Thank you for your efforts on that. And I 1195 01:20:23,687 --> 01:20:29,508 presume it is a public document. Madam Clerk. So through 1196 01:20:29,548 --> 01:20:32,868 you, Warden, I have not got confirmation from the ministry 1197 01:20:33,049 --> 01:20:36,926 that it is public. I'm waiting. We did reach out 1198 01:20:37,107 --> 01:20:40,870 and ask. Could that information be sought? Because I will 1199 01:20:40,910 --> 01:20:46,318 be very tempted to leak it. Thank you, Councillor Kralman. 1200 01:20:46,318 --> 01:20:48,638 I think Michelle is actively working on that to just 1201 01:20:48,678 --> 01:20:51,278 make a confirmation that that is public. I will also 1202 01:20:51,379 --> 01:20:53,678 send a note to minister Sarkaria and see if I 1203 01:20:53,678 --> 01:20:56,298 can get an answer back, um, as well. So, um, 1204 01:20:56,298 --> 01:20:57,998 I will let Council know if I hear anything back 1205 01:20:58,038 --> 01:21:00,613 from the minister. Was there any other, uh, new business 1206 01:21:00,954 --> 01:21:04,418 for many members of council? Councillor Taylor. Just a quick 1207 01:21:04,439 --> 01:21:09,138 clarification to our CIO. Is what is the meeting schedule 1208 01:21:09,159 --> 01:21:12,418 moving forward? And if we do have, and I apologise 1209 01:21:12,418 --> 01:21:14,338 that I maybe have lost, but if we do have 1210 01:21:14,378 --> 01:21:17,138 other meanings, would we just abandon them and wait until 1211 01:21:17,239 --> 01:21:21,095 the new term. Where are we at? It's not. Thank 1212 01:21:21,095 --> 01:21:22,935 you through your word in post. There was one additional 1213 01:21:23,116 --> 01:21:25,815 meeting that was planned for this year, but the clerk 1214 01:21:25,855 --> 01:21:28,455 and I have discussed the cancellation of that wonderful. Yeah. 1215 01:21:28,455 --> 01:21:32,278 That's great. Thank you. There's no other reports coming. I 1216 01:21:32,379 --> 01:21:35,158 see Councillor Little's face. There's no reports coming from staff. 1217 01:21:35,158 --> 01:21:37,718 So the need to have another meeting on October 8th. 1218 01:21:37,718 --> 01:21:39,558 So the next meeting of, of Council will be December 1219 01:21:39,659 --> 01:21:42,918 10th. What's that councillor white? So we don't have a 1220 01:21:42,958 --> 01:21:45,638 meeting. Can we take a notice of motion? If council 1221 01:21:45,678 --> 01:21:47,878 is not going to be existing, I checked that with 1222 01:21:47,979 --> 01:21:51,718 Michelle and it'll come to the December 10th meeting. Yeah. 1223 01:21:51,899 --> 01:21:58,671 Just check. Okay. Any other items of other business. Members 1224 01:21:58,671 --> 01:22:01,151 of Council? No. Okay. Can I have a motion then 1225 01:22:01,151 --> 01:22:03,231 for the confirming bylaw to be read a first second 1226 01:22:03,271 --> 01:22:07,420 and third time. Councillor Nix and Councillor White all in 1227 01:22:07,420 --> 01:22:13,387 favor. And that's carried. The next meeting, um, as I 1228 01:22:13,387 --> 01:22:16,427 said, will be December 10th with the new term of 1229 01:22:16,528 --> 01:22:19,227 Council. At this time, I would like to extend my 1230 01:22:19,267 --> 01:22:22,667 sincere thanks to both Councillors Hall and Councillors Hawkins for 1231 01:22:22,707 --> 01:22:24,987 their time on council. And they are not seeking re 1232 01:22:24,987 --> 01:22:27,787 - elections. This will be their final meeting. Um, I'd 1233 01:22:27,787 --> 01:22:31,227 also like to extend congratulations to councillors guard house. Garrett's 1234 01:22:31,328 --> 01:22:34,747 Horner, Little and McClain on their acclimations. And for the 1235 01:22:34,747 --> 01:22:36,347 rest of Council, I wish you all the best in 1236 01:22:36,368 --> 01:22:40,027 your upcoming election campaigns. With that, can I have a 1237 01:22:40,027 --> 01:22:43,909 motion to adjourn, please? Councillor Garthouse. And we'll let maybe 1238 01:22:44,010 --> 01:22:46,899 councillor Garrett's. There we go. All in favor. And that 1239 01:22:46,899 --> 01:22:50,485 is carried. Thank you everybody. Have a great day. Adios. 1240 01:22:51,127 --> 01:22:51,506 You too.