City Council Meeting Summary

The meeting focused on advancing an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) registry and awareness program, with discussions on public input and transparency, current AED inventory, and related community safety initiatives. Key decisions included adopting the agenda and related procedural motions, deferring final votes on AED-related items to allow for additional information, and outlining next steps for staff to build and promote the AED registry, while highlighting ongoing community engagement efforts.

Five Most Important Topics Discussed

1) AED Registration Initiative and 911 Integration - The council discussed creating a province-wide AED registry in partnership with the AED Foundation Ontario to integrate AED locations into the 911 system, aiming to improve real-time guidance to the nearest devices during emergencies. Direct quotes: “The AED Foundation is the official AED registrar for the province of Ontario. We're currently building the provincial registry and collecting the locations of all the public AEDs across Ontario.”; “When the dispatcher is speaking to the 911 caller, they will be able to say to them, ‘Your closest AED is,’ and a list of the three closest AEDs to the patient will appear on the screen.”
- File/bylaw reference: Bill 141 (The Defibrillator Registration and Public Access Act) was discussed as the framework behind registry development.
- Impact: Emphasizes life-saving potential and positions Richmond Hill as a leader in this provincial effort; staff actions include registering existing AEDs and promoting awareness.

2) Public Input, Transparency, and Process for AED Motions - Public consultation and transparency were highlighted when a motion differed from what appeared online, prompting calls for residents to have time to review updates before decisions. Direct quote: “The motion in front of us is different from the one on the website. So I think the public should have some time to actually look into this new motion.”
- Impact: Signals ongoing openness to public input and potential opportunity for residents to comment at future meetings or during the review of updated motions.

3) Current AED Inventory, Accessibility, and Cost Implications - Staff noted the city-wide AED inventory and locations, including 57 AEDs across city properties (53 properties and some on fire facilities and vehicles). Direct quote: “57 AEDs are installed across city properties, including community centers, arenas, swimming pools. Plus four in fire facilities.”
- The council also noted that the AED awareness/registration effort would not impose costs to taxpayers in the current framing: “We don’t anticipate any cost. There’s actually no cost associated with this.”
- Impact: Provides concrete visibility of AED coverage and clarifies budget expectations for residents.

4) Youth Engagement and Career Opportunities in Municipal Administration - The City Manager highlighted pathways into public service, sharing personal experiences and encouraging youth to explore public-sector careers. Direct quotes: “Do something that you love to do that you will enjoy doing because the benefit and the value of that is immeasurable.”; “It's okay sometimes that you don't know 100% of the way. I'm an example of that.”
- Additional emphasis on family involvement in public service: “I have two children that are in public service... there's so much opportunity for you.”
- Impact: Encourages residents, especially youth, to consider public service as a meaningful career path, shaping the city’s future workforce.

5) Community Awareness, Education, and Public Engagement Initiatives - The meeting underscored community-focused education and engagement efforts beyond AEDs, including Holocaust Education Week and community events such as Voices from the Hill, as well as Remembrance Day planning. Direct quotes: “It couldn’t be a more important time for everybody to be very familiar with what actually happened during the Second World War.”; “We’re going to need a bigger room next year because we filled it to capacity way too quickly.”; “It’s really an important day that we honor the sacrifices that veterans both past and present have made.”
- Impact: Highlights ongoing community education and commemorative activities that affect residents’ cultural experience and participation in public life.

File Numbers Discussed

• Bill 141: The Defibrillator Registration and Public Access Act (discussed in relation to the AED registry).
• No other specific file numbers were cited in the sections provided.

Opportunities for Public Input

• Some sections indicate opportunities to participate at upcoming meetings or public discussions, particularly around AED-related motions and the public’s ability to review updated language. In one section, residents were encouraged to attend Remembrance Day events, with no formal consultation opportunities noted in that segment. Direct reference: “Residents are encouraged to attend the Remembrance Day parade and ceremony on November 9th to honor veterans.”
• Contact options: No direct email addresses were listed. Residents can engage via upcoming council meetings, official channels for councillors, or through staff as part of future information gathering.

Motions Passed, Rejected, or Deferred (with titles and outcomes)

• Adoption of Agenda

  • Outcome: Passed.

• Adoption of Remainder of Agenda Items

  • Outcome: Passed.

• Identification of Items Requiring Separate Discussion

  • Outcome: Passed.

• AED Awareness and Accessibility (Main Motion)

  • Outcome: Passed unanimously in the section noting unanimous support for AED awareness and accessibility.

• Adjournment

  • Outcome: Passed.

• Motion to Refer AED Registration Proposal to Next Week

  • Outcome: Passed (referred to next week for further discussion and information gathering).

• Motion to Approve the AED Registration Proposal (as written)

  • Outcome: Deferred to next week for final vote after additional information.

• Motion to Refer the AED Motion (general reference in other sections)

  • Outcome: Rejected in the referenced section where the motion to refer without recommendation failed unanimously; the main motion continued.

Councillors Present

• Regional Councillor Depaula (Depaula)
• Councillor Thompson
• Councillor Leu
• Councillor Davidson
• Regional Councillor Chan
• Councillor Shu
• Councillor Silivitz
• Councillor Tree
• Councillor Dennison
• Mayor David West was absent in some sections (not present for portions cited)

Note: The content includes multiple sections with varying participants across different moments. The list above reflects the councillors named as present in the most comprehensive section provided.