Council Recap: Renew Kids on the Block

Downtown stuff and Indigenous framework at CoW.

In this Thursday edition of the Guelph Politico Tip Sheet, we go in-depth with the debates and decisions about this week’s city council meeting or meetings. Your regularly scheduled Tip Sheet will be in your inbox first thing Friday morning!

Committee of the Whole Meeting – September 4, 2024.

September’s committee meeting could be separated into two separate areas: The introduction of the Indigenous Relations Framework, and a slate of reports about Downtown Redevelopment.

First, committee heard about the framework, which is a guide to Truth and Reconciliation work across city hall, how to strengthen relations with Indigenous people, and how to address calls to action and justice as they arise. There are five areas specifically mentioned in the framework including Indigenous representation, protecting the environment, and the development of safe spaces and supports. It’s pretty straightforward boiler plate stuff, right? Not so fast.

There were several people from the Guelph Indigenous Community Council who delegated about the framework, and they were not fans. There were some accusations that City of Guelph staff stopped the group from being able to access the sacred fire at Royal City Park for a ceremony on July 7, and there were other accusations that people who did not represent “real Indigenous experiences” were allowed to take part in the process of developing the framework and that they had an outsized influence.

Committee didn’t ask staff about any of those specific allegations, but they did ask for assurances about the framework’s flexibility and adaptability as well as oversight from City staff when it comes to making sure that the framework is followed. The point, according to Manager of Policy and Intergovernmental Relations Kimberly Krawczyk, is that the City wouldn’t take the lead on projects like the creation a dedicated Indigenous gathering space, but they would focus on how best to support a community group as they organized one. The framework was approved unanimously.

After a break it was time to discuss a slate of Downtown Renewal Update reports: The Solid Waste Resources Recycling Transition, the Downtown Collection Area Update, the Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program, Improving Access to Public Washrooms, and the first part of the Downtown Heritage District Study. Although there are budget implications, staff said that they wanted to keep council on task and make decisions about policy; budget talk will come later this fall.

On the Solid Waste Resources Recycling Transition committee had questions about what happens after the 2025 transition period, does waste collection downtown then fall under the producer responsible model? That’s one of the possibilities that will be examined during the transition year, which also gives staff time to review the potential for implementing user fees.

In terms of the future of waste collection downtown, staff are looking at new receptacles that have underground storage, which will replace the current bins that are both easy to move and way too easy to fill. The installation of these bins will be part of the construction being undertaken downtown over the next few years. Also, the system itself is designed to be “agnostic”, meaning that whether its City-operated collection downtown or the new producer-operated model, the new bins are adaptable.

On the Downtown Renewal file, staff recommended the expedited construction model that should get the job done in two years instead of four, but the main concern of committee was communications, and making sure that people downtown are well informed about construction challenges before they encounter them first hand. Committee also expressed their appreciation that staff aimed for the “Best” model of streetscaping even if the final plan means skipping on expensive trim like paving stones.

The most active file was the one about public washrooms. The report has short-term recommendations like a staffed washroom with 24/7 access or funding for a drop-in centre to provide a 24/7 public washroom, and long-term actions like incorporating underground infrastructure to allow for the installation of self-cleaning public washroom structures as part of the Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program.

The amendments and extra clauses started coming in pretty fast with Councillor Erin Caton asking that recommendation #6 read that “the inclusion of accessible and gender-neutral options *be prioritized* for new, modified or upgraded washroom facilities,” instead of “continue to be considered”. The only member of committee that didn’t go along with that was Mayor Cam Guthrie, but that was the only amendment to the seven main recommendations, which were all approved unanimously.

Next, Councillor Carly Klassen moved a recommendation to install a self-cleaning public washroom in St. George’s Square subject to the 2025 budget confirmation. Although it’s unlikely to be installed until 2027, it must still be incorporated into the 10-year capital plan, and Klassen added that it’s best to put these things on paper or risk them not happening at all. Caton asked to amend the motion in order to have staff explore accessibility and environmental concerns with these facilities, especially around the chemicals used in cleaning. The amendment failed and the main motion passed unanimously.

Klassen again brought forward a motion, one to explore the incorporation of a water fountain and/or a water bottle refill station in the Square. After Councillor Dan Gibson dabbled in some light germaphobia, questioning the hygiene of a fountain compared to a bottle refill station, the motion passed unanimously.

The last motion came from Caton, a request to have staff talk to the University of Guelph about potential alternatives to cleaning products with a strong perfume smell that could be used in portable toilets. Deputy CAO Colleen Clack-Bush noted staff can ask the question, but the third parties that clean and operate those port-a-potties are under no obligation to use them, and if the City insists then it might force Guelph to get into the toilet business. Ultimately, it was decided that there’s no harm asking the question, so long as staff didn’t have to develop a whole information report and they can get the answer in one email.

The final recommendation about the Heritage Conservation District got mostly rave reviews even as Gibson triggered history nerds with his concerns about designations being an impediment to future development. Council’s chief history nerd Councillor Leanne Caron said that an HCD has never been an impediment to development and the majority of downtown is either listed or designated by the City anyway. Mostly though, there was agreement that when it comes to Downtown Guelph, heritage sells. The HCD boundaries were approved and now it’s on to phase two!  

Click here to see the complete recap of the meeting.

The next meet of city council is the planning meeting on Tuesday September 10 at 6 pm. You can see the Politico preview here, and you have until tomorrow at 10 am to register with the clerks office as a delegate or to send a correspondence.

For more information on Guelph City Council meetings, from agendas to live-tweets to recaps, you can visit that page on Guelph Politico here.

Finally, feel free to reach out to me by email at adamadonaldson [at] gmail [dot] com, or find me on Facebook, Twitter, and, of course, GuelphPolitico.ca!