The Guelph Record

City Council

June 23, 2026

Who was there

Present (13): Phil Allt, Christine Billings, Linda Busuttil, Leanne Caron, Erin Caton, Ken Yee Chew, Cathy Downer, Dan Gibson, Rodrigo Goller, C. Guthrie, Katherine Hauser, Carly Klassen, Michele Richardson

Taken from the roll call in the town’s own minutes. The minutes record who was not there and almost never why.

What was decided (21 motions)

21 carried, 0 recorded otherwise. Every motion below is printed as the minutes print it.

That the minutes of the open Council Meetings held May 12 and 26, 2026, and the minutes of the open Committee of the Whole held May 5, 2026 be confirmed as recorded and without being read. Voting
Moved by Councillor Klassen, seconded by Councillor Busuttil
Carried
That the Response Performance results for Guelph Wellington Paramedic Service in 2025 be received, and That the Recommended Response Time Performance Plan for 2027 be approved. Voting
Moved by Councillor Goller, seconded by Councillor Busuttil
Carried
That the City of Guelph 2025 Consolidated Financial Statements and External Audit Findings Report, dated June 23, 2026, be approved. Voting
Moved by Councillor Billings, seconded by Mayor Guthrie
Carried
That Guelph City Council respectfully requests that The County of Wellington, as the area Social Services Manager, share their review of service and entry processes for overnight shelter admittance for individuals where barriers and restrictions exist, ensuring alternative options are available, accessible and offered as a due course of process and a 24/7phone line is available for residents to call for immediate help in case of need for extreme weather events or for those unable to physically attend available shelters due to special circumstance barriers. And, while respecting privacy laws, consider data collection for annual review by the Joint Social Services and Land Ambulance Committee that includes general reasons for refusal, restrictions, or other barriers to help inform ongoing adjustments and opportunities to improve the overnight shelter system. And, that if any changes are considered, that these be implemented prior to the upcoming 2026-2027 Winter Response Program commencing. Voting
Moved by Councillor Caton, seconded by Councillor Busuttil
Carried
That Council requests that the DGBA works with City staff to determine operationally feasible transit and/or parking mitigation opportunities to support customers of downtown businesses during construction activities on Wyndham Street, above and beyond the existing parking mitigation already in place; and that the cost of up to $25,000 be paid from the DTIRP construction mitigation budget while council respectfully requests matching funds of $25,000 (for a total of $50,000 towards mitigation) from the DGBA. Voting
Moved by Councillor Busuttil, seconded by Councillor Caton
Carried
That Council requests that the DGBA works with City staff to determine operationally feasible transit and/or parking mitigation opportunities to support customers of downtown businesses during construction activities on Wyndham Street, above and beyond the existing parking mitigation already in place; and that the cost of up to $25,000 be paid from the DTIRP construction mitigation budget while council respectfully requests matching funds of $25,000 (for a total of $50,000 towards mitigation) from the DGBA. And that Council acknowledge that increasing parking mitigation funding means that other construction mitigation actions will not be delivered unless the construction mitigation budget is topped up through the 2027 confirmation budget process. And that Council requests that the DGBA provide an update to Council on their own mitigation efforts related to downtown construction, and outline a plan for how they are contributing funds to support these efforts. Voting
Moved by Councillor Klassen, seconded by Councillor Goller
Carried
That Council receive the Guelph Energy Equity Action Plan. That Council direct staff, through the multi-year budget process, to determine the resourcing requirements and financial impacts of implementing the Energy Equity Action Plan for initiatives that directly involve the City of Guelph. That, through the Request for Proposal to evaluate the City’s role in Affordable Housing, energy efficiency be included as a component for evaluation in future delivery models. Voting
Moved by Councillor Hauser, seconded by Councillor Goller
Carried
That recommendations outlined in the Community Investment Strategy Update report dated June 2, 2026 be approved. That implementation of future grant program streams and other inflationary adjustments are subject to being added through future budget updates. Voting
Moved by Councillor Klassen, seconded by Councillor Caron
Carried
That the McQuillan’s Bridge Environmental Assessment be approved, and that staff be directed to issue a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Notice of Completion to rehabilitate and strengthen the bridge. Voting
Moved by Councillor Klassen, seconded by Councillor Caron
Carried
In favour (8): Councillor Allt, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Downer, Councillor Goller, Councillor Hauser, Councillor Klassen · Opposed (5): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Billings, Councillor Chew, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Richardson
That by-laws (2026) - 21216, (2026) - 21249, (2026) - 21253, (2026) - 21265, (2026) - 21266, (2026) - 21269, (2026) - 21273, and (2026) - 21274, be approved subject to Section 284.11 (4) of the Municipal Act. Voting
Moved by Councillor Gibson, seconded by Councillor Busuttil
Carried
That the meeting be adjourned (10:55 p.m.).
Moved by Councillor Allt, seconded by Councillor Hauser
Carried
1. That the minutes of the open Council Meetings held May 12 and 26, 2026, and the minutes of the open Committee of the Whole held May 5, 2026 be confirmed as recorded and without being read. Voting in Favour: (13): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Allt, Councillor Billings, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Chew, Councillor Downer, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Hauser, Councillor Klassen, and Councillor Richardson
Moved by Councillor Klassen, seconded by Councillor Busuttil
Carried
In favour (13): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Allt, Councillor Billings, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Chew, Councillor Downer, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Hauser, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson
1. That the June 23, 2026 Committee of the Whole Consent Report, identified below, be adopted: 3.1 Appointment of Closed Meeting Investigator - 2026-250 1. That Aird & Berlis LLP be appointed as the City of Guelph’s Closed Meeting Investigator. 2. That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to execute an agreement to contract the services of Aird & Berlis LLP as the City of Guelph’s Closed Meeting Investigator. 3. That By-law Number (2026) – 21249, included as Attachment-1 to report 2026-250, dated June 2, 2026, be brought forward for approval. 4. That the City Clerk be directed to review the Closed Meeting Protocol, the Procedure By-law, any related policies/procedures, and best practices in the management of municipal closed meetings to identify opportunities to increase transparency and reporting, as part of the 2027 Governance Review. 3.2 Ontario Health – Multi-Sector Service Accountability Agreement, Declaration of Compliance - 2026-276 1. That the Mayor be authorized to sign the Declaration of Compliance for the Ontario Health Multi-Sector Service Accountability Agreement for the period of April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026. 3.3 Procurement By-law Update - 2026-295 1. That Council approve the updated Procurement By-law included as Attachment-1 to report (2026) – 21255 – Procurement By- law Update and that the updated Procurement By-law come into effect on September 1, 2026. 3.4 With Glowing Hearts Program – Employer Recognition of the City of Guelph 1. That staff be direct
Moved by Councillor Goller, seconded by Councillor Richardson
Carried
1. That the Response Performance results for Guelph Wellington Paramedic Service in 2025 be received, and 2. That the Recommended Response Time Performance Plan for 2027 be approved. Voting in Favour: (13): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Allt, Councillor Billings, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Chew, Councillor Downer, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Hauser, Councillor Klassen, and Councillor Richardson
Moved by Councillor Goller, seconded by Councillor Busuttil
Carried
1. That the City of Guelph 2025 Consolidated Financial Statements and External Audit Findings Report, dated June 23, 2026, be approved. Voting in Favour: (13): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Allt, Councillor Billings, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Chew, Councillor Downer, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Hauser, Councillor Klassen, and Councillor Richardson
Moved by Councillor Billings, seconded by Mayor Guthrie
Carried
In favour (13): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Allt, Councillor Billings, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Chew, Councillor Downer, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Hauser, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson
1. That Guelph City Council respectfully requests that The County of Wellington, as the area Social Services Manager, share their review of service and entry processes for overnight shelter admittance for individuals where barriers and restrictions exist, ensuring alternative options are available, accessible and offered as a due course of process and a 24/7phone line is available for residents to call for immediate help in case of need for extreme weather events or for those unable to physically attend available shelters due to special circumstance barriers. 2. And, while respecting privacy laws, consider data collection for annual review by the Joint Social Services and Land Ambulance Committee that includes general reasons for refusal, restrictions, or other barriers to help inform ongoing adjustments and opportunities to improve the overnight shelter system. 3. And, that if any changes are considered, that these be implemented prior to the upcoming 2026-2027 Winter Response Program commencing. Voting in Favour: (13): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Allt, Councillor Billings, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Chew, Councillor Downer, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Hauser, Councillor Klassen, and Councillor Richardson
Moved by Councillor Caton, seconded by Councillor Busuttil
Carried
1. That Council requests that the DGBA works with City staff to determine operationally feasible transit and/or parking mitigation opportunities to support customers of downtown businesses during construction activities on Wyndham Street, above and beyond the existing parking mitigation already in place; and that the cost of up to $25,000 be paid from the DTIRP construction mitigation budget while council respectfully requests matching funds of $25,000 (for a total of $50,000 towards mitigation) from the DGBA. Voting in Favour: (13): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Allt, Councillor Billings, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Chew, Councillor Downer, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Hauser, Councillor Klassen, and Councillor Richardson
Moved by Councillor Busuttil, seconded by Councillor Caton
Carried
1. That Council requests that the DGBA works with City staff to determine operationally feasible transit and/or parking mitigation opportunities to support customers of downtown businesses during construction activities on Wyndham Street, above and beyond the existing parking mitigation already in place; and that the cost of up to $25,000 be paid from the DTIRP construction mitigation budget while council respectfully requests matching funds of $25,000 (for a total of $50,000 towards mitigation) from the DGBA. 2. And that Council acknowledge that increasing parking mitigation funding means that other construction mitigation actions will not be delivered unless the construction mitigation budget is topped up through the 2027 confirmation budget process. 3. And that Council requests that the DGBA provide an update to Council on their own mitigation efforts related to downtown construction, and outline a plan for how they are contributing funds to support these efforts. Voting in Favour: (13): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Allt, Councillor Billings, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Chew, Councillor Downer, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Hauser, Councillor Klassen, and Councillor Richardson
Moved by Councillor Klassen, seconded by Councillor Goller
Carried
In favour (12): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Allt, Councillor Billings, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Caron, Councillor Chew, Councillor Downer, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Hauser, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson · Opposed (1): Councillor Caton
1. That Council receive the Guelph Energy Equity Action Plan. 2. That Council direct staff, through the multi-year budget process, to determine the resourcing requirements and financial impacts of implementing the Energy Equity Action Plan for initiatives that directly involve the City of Guelph. 3. That, through the Request for Proposal to evaluate the City’s role in Affordable Housing, energy efficiency be included as a component for evaluation in future delivery models. Voting in Favour: (13): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Allt, Councillor Billings, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Chew, Councillor Downer, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Hauser, Councillor Klassen, and Councillor Richardson
Moved by Councillor Hauser, seconded by Councillor Goller
Carried
1. That recommendations outlined in the Community Investment Strategy Update report dated June 2, 2026 be approved. 2. That implementation of future grant program streams and other inflationary adjustments are subject to being added through future budget updates. Voting in Favour: (13): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Allt, Councillor Billings, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Chew, Councillor Downer, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Hauser, Councillor Klassen, and Councillor Richardson
Moved by Councillor Klassen, seconded by Councillor Caron
Carried
1. That by-laws (2026) - 21216, (2026) - 21249, (2026) - 21253, (2026) - 21265, (2026) - 21266, (2026) - 21269, (2026) - 21273, and (2026) - 21274, be approved subject to Section 284.11 (4) of the Municipal Act. Voting in Favour: (13): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Allt, Councillor Billings, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Chew, Councillor Downer, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Hauser, Councillor Klassen, and Councillor Richardson
Moved by Councillor Gibson, seconded by Councillor Busuttil
Carried
In favour (13): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Allt, Councillor Billings, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Chew, Councillor Downer, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Hauser, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson

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