Transcript - Water Crisis Threatens Housing Growth - 2026-03-22

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to the council meeting for March the 2nd, 2026. Individuals interested in participating in today's meeting were eligible to register online using the delegation registration form at www.kitchener.ca/delegation or via email at delegation@kitchener.ca. Any written comments received prior to the commencement of this uh afternoon's meeting have been circulated to members of council and will form part of the public record. The meeting live stream and archive videos are available at www.kitchener.ca/watch.now. Before we begin uh today's meeting, I'd like to acknowledge that today we're gathering on the traditional territory of the Anesnab Hnesian neutral peoples. We recognize our responsibility to serve as stewards for the land and honor the original caretakers who came before us. Our community is enriched by the enduring knowledge and deeprooted traditions of the diverse first nations matey and Inuit in Kitchener. Today before we begin today's uh council meeting, I'd like to take a moment uh to recognize uh two uh days or or or months of significance. First, I'd like to take a moment to recognize that uh the holy month of Ramadan has begun. On behalf of all of us on council and uh those at the city of Kitchener, we extend our warmest wishes to all Muslim members of our community who are observing Ramadan. This month is a time of reflection, compassion, and generosity. It is a period when families and communities come together to focus on gratitude, spiritual growth, and supporting those in need. We're grateful for the many ways our Muslim neighbors contribute to the cultural, social, and economic life of our city. Their traditions, values, and community leadership enrich Kitchener, and help shape the inclusive city we strive to be. To everyone observing Ramadan, we wish you a peaceful and blessed month, Ramadan Karim. And now, I'd like to take a moment to read our uh to to also reflect on the fact that later this week on March the 8th, we'll be observing International Women's Day. On March the 8th, Kitner will join communities around the world in recognizing International Women's Day and celebrating the transformative contributions, achievements, and resilience of women, girls, gender diverse people in Kitchener and across the globe. This day is both a moment of celebration and a reminder of the ongoing work required to advance gender equity in meaningful and lasting ways. This year's theme, give to gain, is a reminder that progress demands action. When we give, whether it be through opportunity, recognition, resources, or simply creating space, we gain stronger, more inclusive communities where everyone feels they belong. However, we know that women continue to face systemic discrimination, gender-based violence, and incred inequitable access to opportunities. To truly give to gain, we must confront these realities with intention, courage, and sustained commitment. Progress does not happen on its own. It requires action from each one of us. Organizations, groups, and individuals worldwide can all play a part in the community, at work, at home, and beyond. We also recognize that the experiences of women are not universal. race, culture, religion, sexual orientation, ability, and socioeconomic status intersect to create different barriers and different forms of oppression. Understanding these intersections strengthens our resolve to build a city where equity is not assumed but actively pursued. Increasingly around the world, we are seeing that significant barriers to gender equality persist. Yet with dedicated resources and support, positive progress has been made, can be made, and will continue to be made. We know that serving in the public office comes with great responsibility, and collectively we are committed to using that responsibility to advance real lasting progress. We will continue championing efforts that expand opportunity, strengthen inclusion, and ensure that women, girls, and gender diverse people are heard, supported, and uplifted. And I'm just realizing that because this isn't a special council meeting, I also should have invited all those who are able to stand for the singing of our national anthem. And so we will do that now because I did miss that earlier. True patri love in all of us coming with glory receive the true north strong and free from far and wide. Oh Canada, we stand on God for thee. Glorious and free. Oh, we stand on God for thee. Thank you everybody. on motion by councelor Davyy. The minutes of the regular meeting held February 2nd, 2026 and the special meetings held February 2nd, 6th and 9th as mailed to the mayor and counselors be accepted. All those in favor opposed that's carried. Are there any disclosures of interest? There being none, uh I'll note the communications referred to file. uh two flag requests uh both for the Dominican Republic Independence Day and the Irish Real Life Festival and four illumination requests uh for Dominican Republic Independence Day, World Press Freedom Day, Environmental Sensitivities and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Month and the Global Pore Furia Day. We'll now move into presentations and we will begin uh with the Canadian Association of Certified Planning Technicians, City of Kitchener Employer of the Year, Ms. Bamante. Good afternoon, Mayor Verbanovic and members of council. In November 2025, Kitchener hosted the Canadian Association of Certified Planning Technicians annual conference. During the conference, the CACPT announced that City of Kitchener was the employer of the year and gave us an award that staff were thrilled to receive. Planning technicians play a critical role at the city. Within the planning and housing policy division, the zoning team is made up of seven planning technicians with many of the team here today, including a Mohawk College co-op student, planning technicians, senior planning technicians, and a coordinator. This team was repositioned in recent years to support career growth, address changes to provincial legislation, and help facilitate faster approvals. Every single day, this team is responsible for high volume, fast turnaround inquiries and applications. And today, I wanted to share a few highlights to give you a sense of their impact on Kitchener's housing and business growth. This team is the first contact for thousands of inquiries every year. um of sorry thousands of customer inquiries every year from people who are exploring properties zoned for their new business to homeowners looking to build backyard homes. Our team often gets kudos from customers who appreciate their responsiveness and their avail and their ability to explain bylaws and zoning in plain language. They are the implementation team behind enabling four units supporting Kitchener's leadership in building additional dwelling units as recognized by CHC for community outreach on zoning and city approvals. They assisted in the creation of the ADU guide. They participate in our home show booth in the spring and they give educational presentations to community groups to support businesses. This team processes approximately 1,400 permits for permanent and portable signs every year. They truly care about the customer experience and they're always looking to improve service delivery including digital transformation with our permanent signs now integrated into the public portal and more recently zoning certificates which will be launching later this month in our portal. We are extremely proud of their professionalism and expertise and we are pleased to highlight their work today. It's with a tremendous honor uh it it was a tremendous honor for our team to receive employer of the year award and we are now happy to share it with council. We have a message from the CACPT before we present the award. Good afternoon, counselors, delegates, staff, uh, citizens. It is an honor to be with you briefly today. Uh, my name is Esther Cubid. I'm executive director of CACPT, which is a Canadian Association of Certified Planning Technicians. Uh, and I I thank you for the invitation to join you uh, briefly today. For those of you who may be not familiar with us, we are the governing body of dedicated to maintaining high standards for planning technicians and related planning professionals throughout the nation. Our organization is committed to the promotion and welfare of planning technician and planning technology professionals throughout Canada. And our members specialize largely in uh skills and design, GIS, drafting, land use planning and are in high demand in great variety of fields uh throughout the country including industries, public sectors, uh agencies and government and municipal levels. And on that note, that's what brings us to to my reason for being with you today is that each year there are nominations submitted that are reviewed for various categories of merit awards and this past year was just the same. Nominations can be sent in recognizing planners and planning departments in a municipal sector from anywhere in the country. And I am pleased to confirm that the city of Kitner was chosen as the 2025 employer of the year award for the public and municipal sector. So a massive congratulations to the city of Kitner on being named uh employer of the year for for that category. And I will just note that this award recognizes municipalities who are supporting the work and impact of planning technicians uh on the city and on the city staff uh but also throughout the city of Kitchener and the impact that is taking place. It's also acknowledgement of the demonstration of growth planning that's taking place, the commitment to betterment of life for employees as well as for the larger community as a whole. And we recognize that that ripple impact is for sure taking place with the work taking uh its its roots in the city of Kitchener. and it's having not just an impact within the city but the surrounding area as well which is very evident. Um so we are we are super pleased this past year to have um given that award to be named for 2025 employer of the year for municipal uh sector and and massive thanks to the ongoing work that's taking place. Thank you to the team as part of the city of Kitchener as well as many of our members who are on that team. Uh bravo and and good job to you and really um just challenge you to continue continue your work there. So there's a lot lot of great things happening. So I do wish that I could be with you in person. Unfortunately, a simultaneous commitment elsewhere in the province made it impossible to be two places at once. But I do thank you so much for the invitation uh to have the CACPT drop in this afternoon just to again um celebrate with you the great news of being named uh 2025 employer of the year. Great job. Uh continue the great work and thank you so much to the city for your time. So you have a good afternoon. Thank you. Okay. And with that, we have the award. So, I think we're going to do a photo with the group now. Just want to uh to take a moment uh Rosa to congratulate you and Janine and the entire team um for uh for winning this award. I think it speaks a lot to the the amazing professionals we have uh in all of our departments uh at the city, but in this particular case in terms of the certified planning technicians we have working for the city and and doing a great job in um supporting many of the successes that we've been able to achieve over the last uh few years, particularly in the uh in the planning area and uh the successes that we've had um in terms of um both our our half and our BFF objectives and and uh supporting the industry in uh getting more homes built for for people. Um and I know uh this is uh just indicative while it's it's wonderful to receive recognition, we congratulate you on it, it's indicative of the work you do each and every day uh on behalf of the the residents of of Kitchener. So, thank you for all that you do. Okay, we'll now move on to um the water region community energy report on energy security. And I'd like to invite Matthew Day from Water Region Community Energy to give us an update. Welcome, Matthew. Thank you, uh, Mayor Barry and Council. Thank you very much for having me back again to present our on our um 2025 annual report slides. Okay, perfect. Um, WR Community Energy is a collaboration between the city of Kitner, the cities of uh, Waterl, Cambridge, the region of Waterlue, and our uh, three um, community-owned uh, local energy utilities. Together, we support the energy transition and implement the community energy investment strategy. Our local energy shift system is shaped by global uh economic forces and political forces. And when we see pressures on um national sovereignty and trade and affordability, we feel it locally um here in our housing, in our infrastructure, uh our evolving economy and the balance between our growth and our natural environment systems. And at the same time our energy system is changing in tectonic ways uh deep slow and consequentially. So moments of transitions like these invite us um to decide whether we want to look backward and adjust the status quo or move forward with intention. Encouragingly um this moment is prompting thoughtful leadership across the community because we understand what happens when we don't. Uh next slide please. Last November, WR Community Energy released shaping an energy secure future. Our report highlighted the forwardthinking system level work across our community and the opportunity to integrate um energy planning, community planning, and economic development. Energy security means having reliable access to affordable, sustainable energy insulated from global shocks. But it also means the ability to to plan and shape our future according to our own values and strengths. Next slide, please. Uh over the past 50 years, the vulnerability of our energy systems have become apparent. A dependence on external supply chains, environmental impacts, and land use patterns that lock us into costly infrastructure. Taken together, this reveals a simple truth. Local sorry, cheap energy often comes at a high cost. including our ability to act in our own interest. Today, Waterlue region uh imports 99% of our energy. We spend $2.1 billion a year and 1.7 billion leaves our community for and we're purchasing uh energy that we don't produce and using infrastructure that we don't control. Even keeping a portion of that money would have significant impacts on our job creation and our economy. Uh next slide, please. WR community energy monitors international trends such as this and helps convert them into local action. Heating our buildings for example uh accounts for roughly 40% of our energy use and most of that energy comes from imported fossil fuels. One of the largest opportunities locally and globally is using clean heat. And with electricity as a catalyst we can unlock geothermal uh industrial waste heat and wastewater heat recovery. And this in turn can be supported and the benefits can be augmented with district energy when and where it makes sense. These are proven technologies that are already in use in in water in in Ontario and in water region creating creating jobs. A final slide please. The energy transition cannot be delivered by any one organization or by any one singular sector. It requires aligning policy and infrastructure and market investments around a clean goal. sort around a shared goal, a clean, equitable, and secure energy future. Because energy security isn't just about staying warm, it's about building the future that reflects who we are, strengthens our community, and develops our local value. We are well positioned to act. Uh the energy res uh energy transition rewards communities who can align economic, social, and environmental benefits. and collaboration is one of the things we do very well here in in Waterl region. We have the relationships and expertise and the momentum. What we need now is focus. Um my prediction is that your council will see a variety of energy choices um coming forward in the next little while. And my ask is simple. Knowing how energy impacts all aspects of our community, please consider the invest how the these investments will impact our long-term value and consider keeping energy dollars local, building resilience, and improving our quality of life for this and future generations. Thank you very much. Great. Thank you. Uh thank you very much, Matthew, for coming in. We do have some questions for you. Uh we'll start with Councelor Sting. Yeah, Matthew, it's always good to get an update seeing how we're fairing, uh, the direction that we're moving towards and achieving our targets. This is kind of exciting for me especially because I was looking to reach out to staff in consultation perhaps with your group as well. uh and looking at initiatives that we could perhaps do similar what other cities are doing that are low hanging fruit that can help mitigate some of the u the environmental I guess and well more so just overall environmental benefit I would say not mitigate but achieve a better environmental benefit um and some of the low hanging fruit uh is having more reflective roofs uh so white color lighter color as opposed to kind of the black and brown and dark shingles that we have across. And we are still a city that's growing and hopefully will continue to grow um and you know in a newbuilt areas and that's a lot of low-rise housing in suburban neighborhoods that will have acreages of just darkened rooftops. Uh and having better reflective surfaces will have have a more of a cooling effect in that area and for the city as a whole. Um, there are some cities that do a incentive program to offset some of the some of the costs, but the costs aren't that too different. It's more of just aesthetics as to a color. Do you know enough about it? I would love to hear from your perspective. Do you think this could be a small measure that could provide a long-term benefit? Um, roofing materials, absolutely. We see this um all over the community, all over the province. There are some municipalities that do have um roofing standards. They're often embedded in their green standards or in their high performance development standards. Um uh we would consider and in fact we have considered something very similar in in our community. Uh and you're right, the payback doesn't need to be um doesn't need to be very high at all. Okay. So perhaps offline I'll reach out to you saying some of the advocacy that you've been looking to do towards that as well and perhaps we can be a leader within our region uh that can try to encourage or uh move um I guess the development community and existing homeowners that may be redoing the roof uh to use some of uh this more energy or I guess environmental uh beneficial materials as opposed to just using darken colors. Uh so we'd love to have that conversation and one of the reasons why the preamble is some a motion that I've been thinking of bringing forward and I think it was helpful for me to kind of update council as direction as well. Thank you m thank you councelor sing councelor chap. Yeah thank you and thank you for the report. Um I just want to go back to the high performance development standards. Are there other things that um you're hoping we'll see more of um in that category as we move forward? like I believe um it's going to be a voluntary thing because we can't impose it. But um what sorts of standards are you um hoping to to see? Um the the slide I had with those this one. Yeah, this lists five of the projects that we're looking at right now. High performance development standards are are one of those. Um we don't have um uh publicly available details on the high performance development standards yet. Um, we hope to have that coming soon. I'm not sure if uh Justin or Janine wants to speak more about the timing on that, but um this is something that we're um interested um interested in and we feel like to councelor Singh's point, there's a lot of opportunities there with low and and no cost. Right. Thank you. Um regarding the energy dogs, um I'm not sure what slide it is, number four maybe. Um, so if you add it up, it's like $1.371 billion all um related to fossil fuels and the the remaining 76 million are electricity. Um I presume that's um hydro and also nuclear. That's that's right. Yeah, these are from our our local utilities. And how do you see that transitioning and what time frame so that we have you know more in the the electricity end and less in the fossil fuel end. This is a very this is a loaded question. It's a political question. The province has a lot to say about this um what it means for Waterl region. I don't have a lot of data um on that. Um your ANOVA folks might have um um more specifics on that. I I I do think it could be imp uh impacted by decisions that you make around this table, but I nothing's written in stone yet and I don't have the specific data. Okay. My my last question then has to do with the um the geothermal and I know we've talked about this before. Um do you see any movement on on allowing geothermal in in builds in in the region? Um we brought in some geothermal experts at uh for an event um last week. Um and you you continue to see these projects pop up more and more especially the open of geothermal which is what we talk a lot about. Uh I think there's four or five projects in water region now. 10 years ago there was there was none. Okay. Thank you. Thanks uh councelor Chapman councelor Schneider. Thank you mayor. Thanks uh for coming in. And I always love hearing these updates. Um, has there been any movement on uh things like uh district energy and burning, burning waste to create energy? District energy, lots of movement, a waste to energy. Absolutely. You can look in um there's a go station that's going to be built around um a waste energy uh plant. I can't it's in Durham Region. and I can't remember the exact municipality right now but um yeah in the Metro Vancouver has a big one based on this. So in water region no but across Ontario and across Canada um yes significant projects. Thank you. Okay those appear to be all the questions. Thanks uh thanks million Matthew for uh for coming in today and for all the great work that uh you've been doing for many years in this space. Okay. Uh and there being no delegations, I won't uh read the the section on delegations and we'll move right to reports of the committees and I'll go to you councelor Misho to bring forward the uh the report please. Thank you. It's been moved by myself and seconded by councelor Deb Chapman that the report of Heritage Kitchener be approved. Okay. Thank you. Any discussion? All those in favor? Any opposed? That's carried. Thank you. Um, sorry, councelor. Oh, okay. No, councelor Davey. Yep. Go ahead. Yeah, sorry. For finance and corporate services, uh, it's a move by I didn't touch it. Sorry. Go ahead. Teach you teach you last time. Uh, it's been moved by myself and seconded by councelor who is online. Correct. Yes, he is. Yes. That the two items from violence and corporate services committee be adopted. Okay. Thank you. Any discussion? All those in favor? Opposed? That's carried. Uh, councelor Singh. Go ahead. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is uh rising for the planning and strategic initiatives committee from February the 9th uh annual zoning bylaw update for 2026. Um, I'm going to key back into speak if you don't mind. Uh, yep. Uh, and sorry, you're moving it. Seconded by councelor Chapman. Okay. Thank you. And you can go ahead right away and speak. Thank you. I think the comments Rosa. No, Rosa left. Okay. So, I'll direct it to uh Mr. Reedman. Um, I think there some comments were already made by myself and perhaps others as well. This is a really good positive change and something that I think were some struggle points by the development community and small fixes that helps us move along with faster approvals as opposed to requiring um unnecessary or prolonged um minor variances. Um there were a couple other requests or look look at that we uh we uh we encourage and looking at the the lot width and some of the variances on the lot width on the frontage uh that is inconsistent. Well, Natalie's here perhaps now. So I guess the planning conversation can carry forward um in ensuring that we are trying to make the flexibility that we want to derive and the necessary infill uh that is in keeping with what the province's endeavor was to through bill 17 I think in in in allowing that 10% variance so that we have less committee of adjustment meetings. So I, you know, I'm really supportive of this and I don't think it's necessary for us to tinker around with it, but I think it is important for us to uh relay that message and saying I think there are additional uh flexibilities that we can allow that in keeping with soft and sensitive infill development uh that can help that process a little bit faster as well. And some with the past comments just wanted to make that encouragement once more. Thank you. Okay. Thank you councelor Singh. Any discussion? All those in favor? Any opposed? That is carried. Uh any unfinished business? Any new business? Nope. That's afterwards. Okay. No new business. Uh under mayoral business and updates. Um, council, I thought, um, I would take a moment to provide a bit of an update on something that I know we've all been following um, and have been briefed on, and that's the the issue that the region is dealing with respect to water capacity constraints in the Manheim service area. And so wanted to take uh a moment in in this section to update council on the region's ongoing work to address the water capacity constraint in the Mannheim service area which as we know serves Kitchener, Waterlue and parts of Cambridge, Woolitch and Wilmont. This remains one of the most significant infrastructure challenges affecting our ability to support new housing, economic growth, and long-term system stability. At regional council on February 25th, staff provided an update confirming that average day water demands in the manhigh system remain above sustainable levels once required operational resiliency is factored in. Several wells and facilities are still offline and the system has been operating peaking mode for three years. A mode intended only for short periods as prolonged use increases risks to aquifer levels, system pressure and fire protection. Regional council also reviewed the key actions underway to address this. First, regional staff are advancing repairs that will help restore roughly 200 L per second of offline capacity and are moving ahead with new supply projects that could add up to 600 L per second by 2032, putting us in a surplus position by that date. This included the approved containerized filtration solutions and ongoing wellfield rehabilitation work at the Mannheim water treatment facility. And I would be remiss if I didn't note here that um while I know all of our staff have been doing a lot of work um our building staff has worked hard to get the region the approvals that they need for this in a timely manner. Second, further to uh the motion that I introduced at the region, uh the region is working with area municipalities to now consider a riskbased interim development framework which could allow up to 50% of confirmed unbuilt capacity expected to come online in the next 5 years to support development approvals. This would help maintain housing progress while protecting the systems long-term integrity. City of Kitchener staff are closely reviewing applications, assessing each project's potential opportunities and risks relative to the water capacity constraint. Pending regional council's approval of the riskbased framework, a detailed report on impacts to our inrogress applications will come to this council at a future date. Third, coordination with industry continues through a new white paper and regular development stakeholder group meetings. The region will also establish regular special council meetings dedicated to this issue on the Wednesday morning following our regular Tuesday committee day at the region. Fourth, the region has appointed Kenneth Brothers as interim water commissioner uh bringing experienced leadership to guide this important work and support operational and engineering teams. Mr. Brothers comes to us formerly from the uh regional municipality of Niagara here in Kitchener. Um, our staff have activated a formal incident management response to this issue, deploying all the necessary internal resources needed to support solutions. Our staff are contributing technical expertise through the technical and planning working group and strategic support through the communications working group. Development in continues with staff reviewing applications on a case-byase basis. We're thoughtfully assessing the current status, future needs, and potential risks of each application in light of the water constraints. And finally, I think it's important that we highlight that water conversa conservation on all of our parts will play an increasingly important role over the coming months and years, especially during the summer months. Even as new supply projects move forward, reducing peak season demand, particularly outdoor water use, will be essential to restoring system resiliency. Regional staff are reviewing enhanced conservation strategies and the city of Kitchener is prepared to do our part to support responsible water use. In the meantime, residents and businesses are encouraged to participate in programs such as the water efficiency technology incentives, observe outdoor water use guidelines, and engage in water saving education initiatives available through the region of waterlue. And more information on that is available at www.regionofwaterlue.ca. ca water. Um, all of us uh on on council, I know, and and particularly myself as as mayor are committed to continuing to support all efforts that move us closer to restoring system stability with our regional partners and area municipal partners, sustaining housing delivery and ensuring safe, reliable drinking water for our residents now and in the future. And uh as always, myself and or staff are happy to take any questions if there are any. Councelor Chapman. Yeah, thank you and thank you for the update. Um I just wondered if you could speak a bit to the case by case approval process. I'll maybe turn to staff to to speak to that. Mr. read uh through the mayor. And so um through dialogue with the region, we understand there's different points where the region may provide comments on whether a new application is approved or not. Uh there's also um engineering connections into our water system which are decision points on whether a project moves forward. And so um in the agile report um that was shared um in late December or early January um there's a number of developments that were already included in the modeling that the region had conveyed and so if if developments are past certain checkpoints and have already been approved essentially um that they're plan to proceed. So people will see select developments move forward in the community um if they've passed those certain checkpoints and so new applications we are providing holding provisions on and then we are assessing the ones that are sort of in progress through that sort of case by case basis and does everything that is approved here in the city of Kitchener does it go through the region or is it decided with our staff here through the chair and so um planning applications are typically um um circulated to the region and so official plan amendments, zoning by amendments, uh site plans, plan of subdivisions, consents. Uh other projects like um building permits are solely with um the municipality for decision. Okay. Thank you, Councelor Schneider. Thank you, Mayor. I'm I'm wondering if it's possible um to request uh an all councsil meeting on this for some updates. I know the the region will bring uh have all council meetings to update us on certain projects they do like the waste uh uh project and and the the anti-hate program. Uh I think this is something that's really important that uh I as a city councelor here would love to be kept uh informed on and and be able to learn more about what's going on in this. Um so certainly that's something you know I can take away and raise with uh the uh the regional chair and those meetings have been previously scheduled and the next one I believe is scheduled for June but that doesn't mean that um a special one couldn't be couldn't be called. Um the other opportunity may be to um get a a regional official to uh to come and speak to uh to to council um in in caucus or camera depending on the items that are being discussed um and uh and look at that as well. So I'll take that away and discuss it with our team. I appreciate that. Thank you. Thanks, Councelor Schneider. Councelor Sing. Yeah, thank you Mr. Mayor. And I think you touched on what one of my questions too of just having that um sense of accountability to to Kitchener residents of having a regional staff person being able to come. I think what councelor Schneider is uh suggesting is a great idea of all of us to come together and have I guess that as a community at large discussion as well as be informed. But I think there's a lot of individual questions that uh may arise from this. I think having an opportunity before our council where we can go a little more in depth especially when we're talking about something that's going to impede our growth as well as uh um could potentially uh jeopardize the higher order of government funding that's related to uh uh the number of housing starts we have. So I think it's important discussion that we start having very early on. Um a lot has already been discussed in the community. I think a little more in-depth discussion would be helpful from this council with regional staff you have been doing not to kiss but I I think it's important to say you're a little more selective you you know me I call it the way it is with you sometimes but I also am always enthused to uh compliment you for the tremendous hard work you do for this community and I think you have been a very um uh I I think you have been that logical and very astute voice on regional council the leadership that we uh deserve across the board but we definitely have through you. So thank you for that championing of the good work that you're doing at the region on this very crucial and important issue and uh please you know just compliments to you and uh thank you for all that you're doing at the region. Uh question of mine more towards staff. um something that the city of G I think more um uh I guess it's a it's proactive uh endeavor on their part in seeing some of the issues that we're having uh with uh conservation as well as where communities rely on s underground source water use it or lose it um on the planning approvals I think they've uh outlined a seven-year timeline I know that staff are already building that model of of assessing what development will proceed in the next 5 years, but having something similar where we putting that emphasis on the development community to start communicating to us across the board. Would that help Mr. Reedman? Through the mayor. And so one of the next steps we are looking at working with the region on is a water allocation bylaw. And so there could be language within that bylaw that assists with, you know, that sort of framework as well. Um so we we do try to work um with the development community on a test of reasonableness and and making sure applications do proceed in an orderly manner and um you know so there are tools in our toolbox that we may look at uh through that. So we are looking at that then uh through the water allocation bylaw there can be options for you know certain time frames for that to be permitted. We already know that the region does allow sort of when when the region's um engaged on water provisions that they um that there is a timeline for when those expire if if act if action hasn't um taken forward through service agreements. I I think the city of G was a little different approach on more of the planning site plan approval or plan a subdivision or a development application that may have the approval and kind of sits on the shelf uh that's outside of uh the permit that's required from the region of water. uh are we looking at something internally ourselves through the mayor? Uh so um there is new legislation, I can't remember which bill it was passed through that allows the use it or lose it uh framework. Uh we haven't necessarily enacted that yet because we you know try to work with the development industry on reasonable timelines and you know expectations to move things forward. Um but we would look at any tools available at the appropriate time. Okay. And I think uh we are seeing some other communities do it. you're saying acknowledging yes my I think we have to look at a balanced approach I think we do need to look at those tools but also build in flexibilities that we are in in working in conjunction with the needs of the development community as well so that's great last question uh 48 seconds remaining uh we have throughout our community a lot of pools that require to be refilled every year that's a lot of uh I guess uh drinking water that's going uh you towards the pools. Is that something that we could potentially Miss McQuer? Uh so through the mayor, part of our strategy in terms of looking at how uh we can uh support and contribute to the current water supply issue is to look at conservation strategies in terms of our own municipal activities. And so, yes, uh, swimming pools, splash pads, things like vehicle watering, um, and and other and other water uses. Uh, for example, our flushing program, those are all under review right now to look at how to most, um, effectively and efficiently, um, deliver service while minimizing water impacts. Uh so I I can say that the team is actively working on those strategies right now and we'll be bringing information back to council as we as the city also looks at their conservation strategy update um prior to the summer period. So those are active conversations going on right now. counc follow up on this. You're coming back. Okay. Um and I'll just say thanks uh thank you for your comments, but I I'd be remiss if I didn't appropriately acknowledge my regional council colleagues who have um I think taken this issue seriously and um have really been um ensuring that this um this achieves an an appropriate level of of governance oversight. I think it's fair to say that my regional council colleagues were as surprised as we were um just a week or two earlier um in terms of the information and information that quite frankly was inconsistent with previous uh water reports uh public statements uh from the region and and so on and that's obviously something that we're all grappling with. Councelor Deno. Thank you, uh, Mayor Verbanovich. And just make a note that when our CEO is not here, councelor Singh has no problem using some dirty words in the in the chambers. So, uh, just make a note of that. Um, uh, my my smart counselor to my right mentioned um the rain barrel program and so I'm just curious uh, Mr. Mayor, if there's any um, plans on bringing the rain barrel program back. I know the last year we had it in the region was 2023. Um so if not I I think it's it's a I'm encouraging council to regional council to look at that program again as it if we're looking for other ways to conserve water. Um I know that was a a quite successful program. Uh probably most of us in here have taken part of that and so I would encourage uh one of those uh conservation avenues to be looking at uh uh rain panels. So, so thanks for raising that and I'll I'll take that away. But I will note that um when I had introduced my motion, councelor McCabe did bring an amendment forward asking the region to update um the the conservation strategies. The region's uh strategy hadn't been updated in some time and so that's needed to come back in the coming months as well. But in the meantime, this certainly is something that could be uh could be looked at. So we'll take it away. Thank you, Councelor Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and thank you to the smart counselor to my left for the kind words. Um, yeah, my question is around uh business support for companies that use a lot of water. Um, whether they're they're car washes, whether they're green houses. Um there's a lot of a lot of businesses that uh over the next while are um may um you know may even feel guilty about the uh the type of business that that they have when when we're experiencing water shortages. So I'm wondering if there's any kind of a plan. you know, we've got our love local, our support local ourselves, and I'm wondering if there's something that we can uh look at perhaps for those companies. Okay. Um perhaps staff can take Oh, Miss McGold, I was going to say perhaps staff can That's a hard one. You might not have anything right now, but I think it's take it away, but Mr. Gold. Yeah. So, through the mayor, uh, thank you for the suggestion, Council Johnson. Um, we can certainly take that suggestion away and as part of the work we're doing internally, it is to look at um from an economic development lens that is part of um the assessment work. U in addition, uh the region also has business supports around uh the water efficiency technology program. And so I can also if you have specific uh businesses or inquiries that are coming in, I can certainly share contact information and there's information available on the region's website in terms of supporting businesses to become more water efficient. So those programs exist today. Okay. Thank you. And don't don't turn your I was just going to say don't turn your mic off yet. I actually have a have another question for you. This one's completely different. It's not around the water anymore if that's okay. It's um it's another question. around water. No. Is that okay? We'll come back then under questions and answers. Thank you. Uh councelor Davey. Yes. Yes. Sorry. Just more by way of comment actually just um in terms of feedback. I know there's some talk about uh secrecy NDAs and that sort of thing surrounding some of the planning of this going forward. Um I do just wanted to state that I think it's really really important given what's happened that uh this is dealt with in every way whether it's terms of planning or in terms of future monitoring that um this is uh dealt with as you know as transparently as possible. Uh we do live in a day and age where you know technology is quite amazing and I in this in situations like this where I would say that water security is the region's number one issue even before we knew there was an issue. it's number one job they have. Um, and I would I would move more towards actual transparency in this where you know they publish data sets of water levels and that sort of thing in a public way in real time if possible. So I just thought it's important uh to mention that you know we should be dealing with this as clearly and transparently as the water that we drink. Thank you. Yeah, thanks uh thanks for raising that councelor Davey. I I certainly agree that I think on on an issue this significant um transparency throughout the process is going to be clear. Um I I do understand that you know as staff work um you know part of the part of the request from the community was to include community in in in the process. Um, I I do think there needs to be an ability for staff to work through ideas and solutions to to to deal with things. Um, in um in in in a way that is both transparent, but recognizes that sometimes you need some thinking time and some processing time before you can, you know, in a meaningful way engage uh on some topics that can be complicated. And I do think that that's that's the balance that needs to be struck. And I I think clearly right now the feeling is that um by many people yourself and others included that that that right balance hasn't been struck yet. Okay. Thank you councelor Singh. Yeah my apologies. So sometimes when you're verbose uh the underlying message gets lost. So Moric I appreciate you outlining that of course uh conservation efforts will be made. I want to be clear. I don't think we should be limiting our splash pads in the summer or our public pools. those are equitable and universal to all residents. My concern was related to private pools. Um it's challenging perhaps for those that already have the pools to limit them and refilling. Um I did a quick search, I couldn't find it for last year, but 2021 apparently we issued 170 building permits for private pools. Um I don't know how many we would be doing this year but perhaps we take a look at limiting uh issuances of private pools for this year until we have better guidance as to what's happening on the uh the water issue. The second point I wanted to make is uh a few years back um different government but uh the province changed their policy on uh splash pads where we could have recycled water and it was changed to use fresh water. I think communities that rely on um underground source water don't have that same luxury as those that have a pipeline into the Great Lakes. Perhaps that's something that we need to revisit as our advocacy with the province of having that relief for our splash pads. Not just for now, but I think this is an issue that could resolve over time as well. So, I don't know if staff can comment quickly and then I can have a further conversation offline too. Miss McGolder. Uh so through the mayor um thank you for clarifying uh the intent of your question. That's very helpful. We'll take the question away around building permit issuance and um whether there's any applicable law or consideration in terms of how we how we consider that and get back to council. Um the question around uh recirculating splash pads, we do have one recirculating splash pad and that is right here at city hall. um in Carl's Air Square. Um so they are permitted uh but they do require uh treatment systems and um and so they become essentially similar to a swimming pool in terms of the the chemistry, the regular testing um uh etc. That being said, um we are looking at more water efficient splash pad uh technologies and so um that is very much a discussion of a couple of splash pads that are currently underway and uh will be constructed uh beginning this year. Um and that relates to activation buttons um creating more zones to prevent water from um being used throughout the splash pad and only where where they're needed. um additional sensors um and a water efficient uh fixtures similar to a shower fixture which uses less water and so those are certainly active um technologies that we're exploring. Okay, thank you councelor Dave. Yeah, thank I just want to leave it at that because I just didn't want just worried about the media coverage of this and I wouldn't want the media to think that we're suddenly going to start not issuing pool um uh issue for people that want to have a pool in their backyard because I would also point out that um it's my understanding is it makes a lot more financial sense even to have a water truck when you're getting a pool filled come than fusing like actual water to paying your sewer rates as well. So rather than precluding pools, I'm hoping part of this would be analyzed is, you know, we could um if there was any sorts of rules, regulations we could put in place where, you know, the water truck comes in from out of town or not from the well, not from this particular service area. So we're not affecting that. Yeah. And that that is an issue that I've raised with staff as part of our uh as part of the weekly meetings I have with our our incident group and um looking at how we might be able to encourage that. Um I I will say on the certainly it's something that I think we need to look at and pursue. On the negative side, I I'll just as the finance chair point out when that happens um we we we the water obviously would typically come from the river. Um but in the absence of of billing um you do lose out on the on the on the sewage treatment and of uh revenues. So, just something to to keep in mind in that in that process. Okay. Um, thank you everyone and we'll uh we're going to make these uh a regular update item um going forward and so just wanted uh council to uh to to be aware of that. Um next, uh we moved into questions and answers and councelor Johnson is was ready. Go ahead. Oh, sorry. No, not yet actually. Uh we have those a motion first. So we'll do that then we'll come to you for questions and answers. Councelor Stretch. Thank you. Um so you'll be you'll see in front of you um a motion and it comes out of our um February 9th EIC meeting. I first learned about this body of work in the climate change and environment committee. So, I've worked with uh respective staff from sustainability arenas and our senior staff manager of community services, Michael May, to present you with the following motion. Um, so included in the business case that we saw at the the Pik meeting was a short video. So, I thought I would show it so that you have some context about the motion. Hi, I am Ehart. I am a facility operator and ice technician at Sports Road Arena. What we used to do to make sure we didn't have so much air in our water was to have really hot water. Really hot. The more air on the ice, the weaker your ice. What we are doing with this unit then it'll go from the smaller pipe to a larger space back into a smaller pipe. Again, you are essentially shaking your water so that the air will come out. We used to uh use somewhere in the range of 70° C. We are currently using about 16 to 18° C. Have significant savings. I work with goalies, so it's nice to have good ice for that. don't have a lot of extra ruts or or gashes in it. You don't have a lot of bumps. You don't have a lot of cutouts even when you've skated hard in the session before. The cold water ice is so nice. It feels buttery soft. I can't tell the difference that it's cold water. This ice, if it was in all the other arenas, would elevate the ice experience that skaters have. So um that helps fill in the context. So the motion is around using cold water instead of hot water to make ice. And so a pilot project was done and I can speak from personal experience um you know taking my kids to the arena talking to the coaches, the the the hockey players, the speed skaters um sorry the speed skating instructor instructors. Um just talking about the ice and kind of doing my own informal survey. People like the ice. They had no idea there was a difference. Um and I can also note that the smell of aras isn't as pungent. I think it has something must have something to do with the um humidity levels putting hot water in and not so it it smells cleaner as well. Um I also speak to this as someone who knows firsthand the pride that facilities and arenas take in ice making. I had an uncle who was an ice master at the Gulf Curling Club and to say that was a source of pride would be an understatement. I think this project combines the reduction of CO2 emissions, energy savings, cost savings, and improve user experience, keeping our community active and healthy. So, I'd really like to see this this project scale um to more arenas. But before we see that scaling, I want to make sure that the scaling really works. So I've requested through this motion it directs staff to bring back an issue paper as part of the 2027 budget that evaluates the potential to expand to Grand River, Don McLaren, Kinsman and Kowanas. I have I can answer any questions and work with staff too if you have any questions. Okay, so you moved this. Sorry, I didn't catch you with seconding it. Councelor Davyy. Thank you, Councelor. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Okay, thank you. You can just adjust camera a little bit, please. Can I what? Adjust your camera a little bit. It's just the way I'm sitting because I'm um Anyways, uh I really really like this motion. Um, I think it's uh a great way to a great way to to uh, you know, exeet and and be good to the environment. I'm just curious as to staff. I saw in the video that it said something like we save about5 $6,000 a year or whatever. Um what what does it cost to to install and what's the payback Mr. Reed? Uh through the mayor and so uh through the pilot project um I think the capital cost is about $40ish,000. I don't want the specific number. So the payback period was about 10 to 12 years um for replacement. We we are working on a greenhouse gas um reduction strategy for a number of arenas as well. And so we will have that anticipated in time before the group is due. And so it would help inform the overall program moving forward. And I can add go to counceloritis. Um so in the pilot pro program they were saying that it would take about 3.5 years to cost make cost recovery but in scaling they were projecting a much larger amount of time around 11 years like u Mr. Reedman said. So this request for information back gives us a really much clearer idea less approximate amounts um knowing how much uh the investment will pay off. Okay. I don't understand why it would cost more if we got more on there. That doesn't make sense to me. But again, I don't know the full details, but uh yeah, I'm willing to Sorry. I think some of the equipment costs have gone up significantly. So, when the pilot started to where it is now, I think there's been an increase in that in the cost of the piece of equipment because municipalities are learning about about what it can do. Okay. Well, anyways, I'm very happy to support this great motion. Great work. Thank you, councelor. And that's councelor S. Yeah. Quick question. Um, so when you had discussion with staff, is there efficiency when they're multipads as opposed to if it's like a single pad or does it make any difference? Yeah, there is some technical um limitations on on what pads. So, I think the twin pads was an important piece to to working. Yeah, I wasn't sure if it was a single pad. Lions arena is another one. So, that's why I wanted to ask. Thank you. Okay. Uh so it has been moved and seconded. Uh there's no other people in the queue. All those in favor? Any opposed? That is carry. Thank you. Uh now we're at questions and answers. And councelor Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And my question is Oh, thank you for turning on your mic. That's great. Thank you so much. Um yeah, my uh question is around uh potholes. We've all been hearing a lot about potholes over the last while. Um I listen when I when I hear from residents about the potholes, I wholly agree. Uh that that was not uh that was um a joke whenever I said that. Yeah. Um yeah, they they have been uh have been quite bad this year. I'm wondering if you can give an update on our approach to the potholes. Um, and hopefully the weather will not we won't be having a lot more freeze thaw uh going on and what and a communication plan. I'm thinking a communication plan that we sent out to uh the newspaper and the radio stations would be really helpful just to know what we're doing. Thanks. Uh so through the mayor uh thank you councelor Johnson for the question and I think it's also on another counselor's mind as well. So appreciate the question. Um so the city does have um maybe I'll start with with just the conditions that we're in um now and how it exas exacerbates potholes. And so with the warmer conditions during the during the day and you see melting and water seeping into the pavement and then the freezing at night, um those all create shifting in the pavement, any surface discontinuities, the water gets in and and starts to erode the pavement and you've got you've got potholes. And at this part of the time of the year, it's particularly challenging because we can't do permanent repairs on the road. The um hot ashvault plants are not open yet. It's still too cold for that. And so uh the team uses cold patch um and often in less than ideal conditions because the surface is wet whether it be rainy or surface runoff. And so the cold patch goes in but then over um you know sometimes within days it pops back out and uh the process needs to be repeated. So it is an ongoing exacerbating issue. Uh the city does have a regular program of road patrol in which um the priority roads P1 and P2s primarily are patrolled and any surface discontinuities are picked up by the road patrol and then crews are are dispatched to respond um to those issues. We also have a um a reporting process. So either through the corporate contact center or through um there's a reporting tool on the city's website where residents can report a pothole. Um and so now with uh winter activities subsiding a bit and and that are um you know you would think that would be a time for relief but no we're re we've redirect redirected all resources um to essentially blitz potholes. And so we have crews working through the night. We've redirected our snow loading crews um through the night to to do the repairs as well as several crews through the day. So there are more um resources um deployed at this point in time to address potholes, but we know that there are significant number of potholes and so um crews are responding as best as possible. Um often it's areas that have been addressed and then they and then um with the cold patch become an issue again. And so it's it's a constant monitoring and response process. In terms of communications, um we do have communications um that have been deployed and in fact um we just met on Friday to talk about amplifying communication efforts. Um we met from an operations perspective and with our communications team uh to discuss the strategy around that. So you will be seeing um additional communications messaging. We have video explainers um and also to just to share the the effort that is underway to address the amount of potholes out there. Thank you. Um it's a common topic on phone in radio shows. Um so I'm thinking that you know if we can get something out uh to the radio stations would be really helpful the newspapers as well. Maybe even having somebody from either yourself, Denise, or somebody from your team, even even doing an interview or something. I think it really go a long way. Um, as well, thank you for working on that on that communications, too. And thank you for that wholesome explanation. We know it's a lot of work and um very thankful for the outdoor team for doing what they're doing. Thank you, Councelor Johnson. council you're saying. Yeah, I had the same question as uh councelor Johnston. I think we're all receiving tremendous amount of uh calls and probably experiencing those potholes ourselves and it's probably exasperating our own uh issues and anger. Uh my question is more to again we're doing the best that we can. normal uh procedural things that are built into our winter uh maintenance and winter operations. Knowing the the type of winter we've had this year that's been extra cold and you've already miss Goldri outlined why it's worse with potholes, can we um can we enhance that service delivery of the number of potholes that we are filling in as rapidly as we are with the coal patch? Do we have a mechanism to scale it up? Uh so through the mayor we we are actively scaling up um in terms of all available internal resources um as part of and and this council is aware that we are doing a review of of this year's winter as we do every year but we'll be bringing a report back to council with um consideration of you know what our service level is and um some of the challenges experienced and some opportunities perhaps to address that. So we'll we'll make sure to include potholes as part of that analysis. Uh I know as I'm asking this question I'm probably councelor Davy will grind his teeth. Are we able to consider even looking at contracted services so that we can act a little bit more responsibly? I know it would be an extra cost. We already dealing with variances but again we are dealing with again tremendous amount of disruption in our roadways and again safety issues as well. I'm asking more so as a question uh more of to be explorative. Not necessarily saying that I'm trying to offer a direction uh through the mayor. So uh thank you for this suggestion. We can uh take that away to consider um where we've you know we have used used contracted services this winter uh where warranted. So, for example, um some of the snow loading activity, um the road uh scraping activity to remove the snow. Um and so, you know, as as we need to, we we have utilized contracted services this year. Okay. I think potentially even knowing as a as a potential use that word again potential cost and and then having a conversation seeing if it's a worthwhile measure or not may be helpful. Last question. We have sort of bylaw not operations. We have vehicles that use automation and cameras that detect for where vehicle is parked. Can we source those same cameras to look for the road surface conditions as well? Because we have those cars driving throughout every day on all our city streets. Yeah. So through the chair, we do use similar technology. In fact, our road patrol is quite sophisticated. One of the considerations we had in in discussing um the communications approach is is demonstrating some of the activities that that staff do and the tools available to support uh service delivery. And so um part of that is is in the the tools available to the roads patrol. So yes, we do use um more sophisticated technology. That wasn't my question. We've had that conversation before. I know we do because I was looking at seeing if there's automation necessary. My question is that we have everyday bylaw vehicles that are driving all across all neighborhood streets that get all focused. Are we able to utilize sensors on those vehicles so we have a bit of a more efficiency and more eyes on a more regular basis? Uh so through the chair that's that's a great suggestion that we can take away and see if that's available. Councelor Schneider, thank you mayor. Um thank you councelor Johnson for bringing this up. Uh just out of curiosity, um do we have any data on uh the number of potholes this winter as compared uh to past averages? Are we like way up? Uh too early to say. Yeah. So through the chair, I don't have that data on me. Uh today we do track service requests and and our response and so we're still it's still early days in the pothole season quite frankly. But we can get a sense of uh this time on a typical winter compared to where we're currently at. Similar to uh the snowfall and snow event uh and snow loading numbers we provided earlier. That would be I think great to communicate that. Um, how do we prioritize the temporary patching? Uh, I mean, because every almost every street has one and you if we had to explain to a constituent, well, you know, I know there's a big one on your street, but do we do it in in areas? Do we pick a certain area or more like priority one, two, three streets and snow plowing sort of thing? Yeah. So through the chair um the prioritization and the triage is certainly by road class and that's a requirement through the minimum maintenance standards and so um more heavily trafficked areas, higher speeds um those are the higher risk potholes that we look to address first. So the ones in residential neighborhoods um wouldn't be addressed as quickly as on on those higher volume areas. Okay. And um may not be able to answer this, but in in the spring, given the amount of potholes we have, do uh we expect uh to uh you know, maybe reassign certain staff to do more potholes to uh you know, get a handle on it. And you know, just to match expectations, how how long do we expect u this patching the permanent patching to take? I mean, it's probably all summer, but so through the mayor, the best approach to addressing the problem is to look at um repaving the roadway. So, often we're seeing um cracks in the pavement and uh roads that are in poor condition. That only exacerbates the pothole repairs. on a um from an operational perspective. Um there are if if we see a a portion of the roadway that has several potholes within um a small geography, often our um our roads crews will do a larger paving when we get the the hot mix ashvault and are able to do more of a permanent repair. Um but there are so many permanent repairs you can in terms of those larger uh lane widths of of resurfacing. Um we also have our capital program and so we have um road resurfacing programs and road reconstruction programs. Um of course those will start during the construction season uh come spring. Um and those are all outlined in terms of priority in our in our capital budget. That's great. Thanks. That's good planning and uh be great maybe to uh somehow communicate that information so our our residents know how we're addressing things and the challenges that we have. But thanks for all that. Appreciate it. Thanks Councelor Schneider. Councelor Davey. Thank you Miss McCull. I'm find this kind of funny because about at about 3:00 today I had drafted you an email saying I'm going to ask you some questions about potholes during council and I thought I'd spare you and you certainly were not spared so I was follow uh anyway just just just want to follow two questions only two questions I really wanted to know and councelor Schneider touched on the one I was going to ask about your anecdotal it does seem like it's worse this year but we don't have the data yet to confirm that but um but that's that's something we're like okay um and the only other question I had I think importance because in case there is some any sort of media coverage on this is the clear answer to the question have we at all in recent history or memory um cut or otherwise reduced our road maintenance program or anything that would um affect our uh addressing plesman uh through the mayor so our road reservicing program was reduced slightly about seven or eight years ago. Um but we are seeing the impacts of a colder winter than normal and the temperatures sort of going above and below zero like and significantly below zero. So we don't um I think it's too early to say if there's a direct correlation for that um between the two issues. Okay. Yeah. Thank you. And I'll just follow up from councelor Zing's comment that uh yeah, you know, like to save money wherever I can, but this is a core service and if we do have to put more dollars into this, that's something that we have to do. Thanks uh councelor Jeno. Thank you Mr. Mayor and Miss McGoldri. You're you're still on the clock. Um um beyond, you know, our vehicles driving around and staff driving around, what is the best way to let the city know where the potholes are? So through the chair, I would say there are uh two methods that are effective. Um the first one is there is a form on our website report a problem. Um I can provide I don't have the link up right now but I can certainly provide uh that link. Um and it's just filling out those details on an online form. They get submitted and a service request is generated. Um, the other really easy way is to just contact the corporate contact center at 519-741-2345 and one of our fabulous uh customer contact center uh customer service representative will take down the information and generate a service request on the spot and it goes into the system and goes to the correct place to be addressed. Awesome. I I knew that. I think all of us knew that. I think just getting that information out there a little bit more um I think is is definitely helpful because we don't know where all the holes are. All the potholes are. Uh I'm going to go away from potholes for a second and um this week we're going to see the roll out of our new garbage recycling slash green bin um program. Thank you. Um and so I know I've already been getting calls and emails. Um, so do we have any while it's not our jurisdiction, but do we have any any uh any information that we can provide when we are reached out to? Um, as opposed to us just sending it off to a regional counselor. Um, we're often the first ones who get the uh the calls or emails. So, I'm just curious if we're working on a plan to uh to get that information out um to let them know it's it's the region and or the province now that's facilitating those programs. Miss Miller. So, through the mayor, um I believe we do have a a communications plan and I know that for the contact center uh in general, we have a pretty robust messaging that we're prepared for. We actually just got updates to it about an hour ago and so they were rescending it out to staff. So, uh I believe that from a communication standpoint we're prepared. Oh, go ahead, counselor. Thank you. Uh that's that's great. Is that something that can be shared with with us um that we can either you know we can pre be preemptive and putting on our Facebook, Instagram and when emails do come in that we can just automatically send that off. So, let me reach out to uh communications and see what they've got available for you, but I I don't think that should be a problem. We've probably got messaging for that. Okay. Thank you. Thanks. And just on the issue of uh uh reporting the potholes, um the website, uh thank you, councelor Davies.ca holes. Uh and people can click on the form at that uh at that location. Uh councelor Chapman. Yeah, just on potholes again quickly. Um, so we have regional roads and we have city roads. Um, do what happens if there's a pothole on a regional road? Does the city repair those or does it go to the region? M. Golder. So through the mayor um through the region and area municipalities the area maintenance agreement the city does repair potholes on regional roads. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Councelor Jobs. Thank you Mr. Mayor. And I'm wondering Mr. Reman, if you can uh maybe give a brief synopsis of where uh we are with our Kitchener 201 official plan and um I know we had three popups this week, which was really great uh that the U planning staff was out in community centers um providing information to people, but I'm wondering if you could just give a a brief uh overview of that process. Yes, Mr. Reed through the mayor. And so you are correct. We were um um conducting community engagement over the last couple weeks um at a variety of different pop-up locations. We've also circulated the draft document to a number of agencies including provincial agencies um also First Nations communities. Um and so we are actively seeking feedback on the draft document right now. Once we receive that feedback, we plan to report back to council with um um you know a potentially revised document depending on the feedback that we receive um and then uh you know consideration through those channels. Thank you. So just to be clear, no decisions have been made on the official plan. Correct. Uh through the mayor that is correct. And so we have a draft document that's out for consultation right now and there have been no decisions that have been made on the official plan. Thank you. Thank you, Councelor Johnson, and thanks everyone uh for your questions. Um I just uh thanks uh Miss McGolder for all of your answers on the pothole issue. Certainly, it's it has uh it is become a a very topical issue. I think as we look at um and I would concur that I think we do need to see if there's any augmented resources including potential, you know, external support over time and so on that we might want to um consider. I think one of the things that we need to to also weigh in in consideration of this is um I have had an inordinate number of uh claims coming my way that are being forwarded to the uh the insurance pool and so on and obviously the pool will evaluate those as part of their normal process. Um, but I think we need to factor that in. Uh, you know, whether we pay one way or the other potentially. Um, I'd rather pay in terms of, you know, trying to to to to address them as as best as we can. Um, okay. So, that's uh it for questions and answers. Um, there is one item under staff reports uh with respect to pitch Kitchener. Someone care to move that. Councelor Davyy. Thank you. Second by councelor Deno. Any discussion? Councelor Dave, go ahead. Yes, sir. I just want to let this one slide by. This I'm so happy we approved this uh with our discretionary um funding at budget time and there's just actually an event earlier today that touched on some of this, but this is like government's often criticized of being slow and not adopting technologies as as quickly as they could or should productivity. This is such a great entryway uh that not only helps us the city adopt technologies that can help us but um helps uh small tech startups uh have proof of concepts through the pilots. And if you read through the report there's some very cool things that that that were done and two of them are actually uh contracted now. And you have no idea how important that is for these businesses to be able to go to other municipalities now and say look we've we have a proof proof of concept and we're just helping our local business while making ourselves more efficient. So really happy to see this and hope it gets supported full-time in the 2027 budget. Thanks uh councelor Davey. Uh so it has been moved and seconded. All those in favor opposed. That is carried. Uh we'll now

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