Special Council Meeting - Budget

That Council amend the 2025 operating budget by transferring $750,000 of funding from the Tax Rate Operating Contingency reserve #180 to fund the 2025 installment to the Guelph General Hospital. Voting

That Council amend Guelph’s 2025 budget update by increasing the 2025 operating budget by $100,000 in 2025 for capital financing transfer to the growth reserve funded by the tax levy and moving capital project PK0198 Beaumont Park design from 2028 to 2025. That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor decreases the transfer to the growth reserve by $100,000 through the 2026 budget update, reducing the tax levy. Voting

That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor considers increasing the 2026 operating budget by $815,000 for capital financing transfers to the growth reserve funded by the tax levy through the 2026 budget update and advancing capital project PK0198 Beaumont Park from 2029 to 2026 in the amount of $665,000 and including an additional $150,000 investment for a rubber surfacing bringing the total construction budget to $815,000, with operating impacts of $14,700 moving from 2030 to 2027 funded by the tax levy. That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor decreases the transfer to the growth reserve by $815,000 through the 2027 budget update, reducing the tax levy. Voting

That Council amend Guelph’s 2025 budget update by increasing the 2025 operating budget by $56,700 to advance budget request number 000937 Board and Committee Coordinator from 2026. That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor considers subsequently moving the 50 per cent phase in of the position in the operating budget in the amount of $53,600 from 2027 to 2026, funded by the tax levy. Voting

That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor considers increasing the 2026 operating budget by $50,000 and reducing the 2027 operating budget by $50,000 through the 2026 budget update to advance budget request number 001361 Advisory Committees Reimbursement and Training from 2027 into 2026, funded by the tax levy. Voting

That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor considers increasing the 2026 operating budget by $400,000 for a transfer to the Affordable Housing Reserve funded by the tax levy through the 2026 budget update. Voting

That Council amends the 2025 operating budget by increasing the transfer to the 100RE reserve fund by $996,133 and restoring operating investment in climate change initiatives in the amount of $153,867, funded through the property tax levy (total of $1,150,000 increase in the operating budget in 2025); and increasing the 2025 capital budget by $996,133 for capital project GG0261 100RE Initiatives funded by the 100RE Reserve Fund; and Voting

2. That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor considers increasing the 2026 operating budget by $153,867 for a transfer to the 100RE reserve fund, funded through the property tax levy, and including a capital budget of $1,150,000 in capital project GG0261 100RE Initiatives in 2026 and 2027 funded by the 100RE Reserve Fund; and Voting

3. That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor considers increasing the 2028 operating budget by $500,000 for a transfer to the 100RE reserve fund, funded through the property tax levy, and including a capital budget of $1,650,000 for GG0261 100RE Initiatives in each year from 2028 to 2034 funded by the 100RE Reserve Fund. Voting

That Council respectfully requests the mayor to amend the 2026 budget update by increasing the operating budget by $167,400 to increase the base budget for Community Grants to a total of $500,000, funded by the tax levy. Voting

That Council amend the 2025 budget update by increasing the operating budget by $167,400 to increase the base budget for Community Grants to a total of $500,000, funded by the tax levy. Voting

That each subsequent budget, starting in 2026, be amended to reflect an of rate of inflation to keep pace with community grant funding needs. Voting

That Council amend the 2025 budget update by increasing the operating budget by $100,000 to transfer to the Public Art Reserve, funded by the tax levy. Voting

allocate up to $100,000 from the Tax Operating Contingency reserve to provide a resource to expand sponsorship and identify potential corporate partnerships, and that Council directs staff to provide an information report that outlines the progress from this investment by the end of 2025. Voting

That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor considers increasing the 2026 operating budget by $300,000 for Guelph’s bi-centennial, funded by the tax levy through the 2026 budget update. That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor considers increasing the 2027 operating budget by $200,000 for Guelph’s bi-centennial, funded by the tax levy through the 2027 budget update. That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor decreases the operating budget in 2028 by $500,000, reducing the tax levy. Voting

That the 30-day budget amendment period prescribed in Ontario Regulation 530/22 Section 7 (3) be shortened and the final day for amendments be November 27th, 2024. Voting

That staff be directed to report back on the progress of the Culture Plan and implementation funding through an Information Report in September 2025. Voting

That staff be directed to report back through an information report on what outcomes are expected to be achieved in the 10-year capital budget and forecast period for each of the Council approved master plans and strategies based on the 2025 budget update. Voting

That the 2025-2027 rates fees and charges be readopted, in accordance with the adopted 2025 budget, and subject to any amendments in budget confirmation years 2026 and 2027. That the Development Applications Fee By-law be amended to reflect the changes in Attachment-1. That in accordance with the General Reserve and Reserve Fund Policy, total transfers to and from reserves and reserve funds for 2025 are approved. That a one-time transfer from the Library Capital reserve fund (#157) to the Infrastructure Renewal reserve fund (#150) to properly align funding and expenditures for Baker District debt servicing costs is approved. That Appendix A of the General Reserve and Reserve Fund Policy be amended to reflect the creation of a Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) reserve fund (#304) and a Building Faster Fund (BFF) reserve fund (#306) in accordance with the terms and authority identified in the 2024-457 2025 Draft Budget Update Companion Report – Council Budget Decisions report, dated October 30, 2024. That Council acknowledges the City’s reserve strategy deployed in the 2025 budget update results in operating contingency reserve balances that continue to be below approved targets, and that staff continue to be directed to replenish these reserves as a first priority through the allocation of year-end surplus until such point that they reach a minimum of 75 per cent of target over the multi-year budget period. That Council acknowledges that the 10-year capital budget and forecast in

That the budget impacts per Ontario Regulation 284-09 and budget - Public Sector Accounting Standards Reconciliation for the 2025 budget be approved. Voting

That the meeting be adjourned (11:21 a.m.). Voting

1. That Council amend the 2025 operating budget by transferring $750,000 of funding from the Tax Rate Operating Contingency reserve #180 to fund the 2025 installment to the Guelph General Hospital. Voting in Favour: (12): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Allt, Councillor Billings, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Chew, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Klassen, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Richardson Voting Against: (1): Councillor Downer

1. That Council amend Guelph’s 2025 budget update by increasing the 2025 operating budget by $100,000 in 2025 for capital financing transfer to the growth reserve funded by the tax levy and moving capital project PK0198 Beaumont Park design from 2028 to 2025. 2. That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor decreases the transfer to the growth reserve by $100,000 through the 2026 budget update, reducing the tax levy. Special Council Meeting Minutes - November 27, 2024 2 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 Klassen, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Richardson

1. That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor considers increasing the 2026 operating budget by $815,000 for capital financing transfers to the growth reserve funded by the tax levy through the 2026 budget update and advancing capital project PK0198 Beaumont Park from 2029 to 2026 in the amount of $665,000 and including an additional $150,000 investment for a rubber surfacing bringing the total construction budget to $815,000, with operating impacts of $14,700 moving from 2030 to 2027 funded by the tax levy. 2. That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor decreases the transfer to the growth reserve by $815,000 through the 2027 budget update, reducing the tax levy. 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 Klassen, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Richardson

1. That Council amend Guelph’s 2025 budget update by increasing the 2025 operating budget by $56,700 to advance budget request number 000937 Board and Committee Coordinator from 2026. 2. That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor considers subsequently moving the 50 per cent phase in of the position in the operating budget in the amount of $53,600 from 2027 to 2026, funded by the tax levy. Special Council Meeting Minutes - November 27, 2024 3 Voting in Favour: (12): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Allt, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Chew, Councillor Downer, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Klassen, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Richardson Voting Against: (1): Councillor Billings

1. That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor considers increasing the 2026 operating budget by $50,000 and reducing the 2027 operating budget by $50,000 through the 2026 budget update to advance budget request number 001361 Advisory Committees Reimbursement and Training from 2027 into 2026, funded by the tax levy. 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 Klassen, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Richardson

1. That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor considers increasing the 2026 operating budget by $400,000 for a transfer to the Affordable Housing Reserve funded by the tax levy through the 2026 budget update. 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 Klassen, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Richardson

1. That Council amends the 2025 operating budget by increasing the transfer to the 100RE reserve fund by $996,133 and restoring operating investment in climate change initiatives in the amount of $153,867, funded through the property tax levy (total of $1,150,000 increase in the operating budget in 2025); and increasing the 2025 capital budget by $996,133 for capital project GG0261 100RE Initiatives funded by the 100RE Reserve Fund; and Voting in Favour: (9): Councillor Allt, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Downer, Councillor Goller, Councillor Klassen, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Richardson Voting Against: (4): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Billings, Councillor Chew, and Councillor Gibson

Special Council Meeting Minutes - November 27, 2024 5 2. That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor considers increasing the 2026 operating budget by $153,867 for a transfer to the 100RE reserve fund, funded through the property tax levy, and including a capital budget of $1,150,000 in capital project GG0261 100RE Initiatives in 2026 and 2027 funded by the 100RE Reserve Fund; and 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 Klassen, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Richardson

1. That Council respectfully requests the mayor to amend the 2026 budget update by increasing the operating budget by $167,400 to increase the base budget for Community Grants to a total of $500,000, funded by the tax levy. Special Council Meeting Minutes - November 27, 2024 6 Voting in Favour: (6): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Billings, Councillor Chew, Councillor Downer, Councillor Gibson, and Councillor O'Rourke Voting Against: (7): Councillor Allt, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Goller, Councillor Klassen, and Councillor Richardson

1. That Council amend the 2025 budget update by increasing the operating budget by $167,400 to increase the base budget for Community Grants to a total of $500,000, funded by the tax levy. Voting in Favour: (10): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Allt, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Downer, Councillor Goller, Councillor Klassen, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Richardson Voting Against: (3): Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Chew, and Councillor Gibson

1. That each subsequent budget, starting in 2026, be amended to reflect an of rate of inflation to keep pace with community grant funding needs. Voting in Favour: (10): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Allt, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Chew, Councillor Downer, Councillor Goller, Councillor Klassen, and Councillor Richardson Voting Against: (3): Councillor Billings, Councillor Gibson, and Councillor O'Rourke

Special Council Meeting Minutes - November 27, 2024 7 1. That Council amend the 2025 budget update by increasing the operating budget by $100,000 to transfer to the Public Art Reserve, funded by the tax levy. Voting in Favour: (5): Councillor Allt, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Downer, and Councillor Klassen Voting Against: (8): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Billings, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Chew, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Richardson

1. To allocate up to $100,000 from the Tax Operating Contingency reserve to provide a resource to expand sponsorship and identify potential corporate partnerships, and that Council directs staff to provide an information report that outlines the progress from this investment by the end of 2025. Voting in Favour: (7): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Caron, Councillor Chew, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Klassen, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Richardson Voting Against: (6): Councillor Allt, Councillor Billings, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Caton, Councillor Downer, and Councillor Goller

Special Council Meeting Minutes - November 27, 2024 8 1. To allocate up to $100,000 from the Tax Operating Contingency reserve to provide a resource to expand sponsorship and identify potential corporate partnerships, and that Council directs staff to provide an information report that outlines the progress from this investment by the end of 2025. Voting in Favour: (11): Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Chew, Councillor Downer, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Klassen, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Richardson Voting Against: (2): Councillor Allt, and Councillor Busuttil

1. That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor considers increasing the 2026 operating budget by $300,000 for Guelph’s bi-centennial, funded by the tax levy through the 2026 budget update. 2. That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor considers increasing the 2027 operating budget by $200,000 for Guelph’s bi-centennial, funded by the tax levy through the 2027 budget update. 3. That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor decreases the operating budget in 2028 by $500,000, reducing the tax levy. Special Council Meeting Minutes - November 27, 2024 9 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 Klassen, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Richardson

1. That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor considers increasing the 2026 operating budget by $300,000 for Guelph’s bi-centennial, funded by the tax levy through the 2026 budget update. 2. That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor considers increasing the 2027 operating budget by $200,000 for Guelph’s bi-centennial, funded by the tax levy through the 2027 budget update. 3. That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor decreases the operating budget in 2028 by $500,000, reducing the tax levy. 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 Klassen, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Richardson

1. That the 30-day budget amendment period prescribed in Ontario Regulation 530/22 Section 7 (3) be shortened and the final day for amendments be November 27th, 2024. 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 Klassen, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Richardson Special Council Meeting Minutes - November 27, 2024 10

1. That staff be directed to report back on the progress of the Culture Plan and implementation funding through an Information Report in September 2025. 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 Klassen, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Richardson

1. That staff be directed to report back through an information report on what outcomes are expected to be achieved in the 10-year capital budget and forecast period for each of the Council approved master plans and strategies based on the 2025 budget update. 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 Klassen, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Richardson

1. That the 2025-2027 rates fees and charges be readopted, in accordance with the adopted 2025 budget, and subject to any amendments in budget confirmation years 2026 and 2027. 2. That the Development Applications Fee By-law be amended to reflect the changes in Attachment-1. Special Council Meeting Minutes - November 27, 2024 11 3. That in accordance with the General Reserve and Reserve Fund Policy, total transfers to and from reserves and reserve funds for 2025 are approved. 4. That a one-time transfer from the Library Capital reserve fund (#157) to the Infrastructure Renewal reserve fund (#150) to properly align funding and expenditures for Baker District debt servicing costs is approved. 5. That Appendix A of the General Reserve and Reserve Fund Policy be amended to reflect the creation of a Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) reserve fund (#304) and a Building Faster Fund (BFF) reserve fund (#306) in accordance with the terms and authority identified in the 2024-457 2025 Draft Budget Update Companion Report – Council Budget Decisions report, dated October 30, 2024. 6. That Council acknowledges the City’s reserve strategy deployed in the 2025 budget update results in operating contingency reserve balances that continue to be below approved targets, and that staff continue to be directed to replenish these reserves as a first priority through the allocation of year-end surplus until such point that they reach a minimum of 75 per cent of target over the multi-year budget period.

1. That the budget impacts per Ontario Regulation 284-09 and budget - Public Sector Accounting Standards Reconciliation for the 2025 budget 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 Klassen, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Richardson

1. That the meeting be adjourned (11:21 a.m.). 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 Klassen, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Richardson