City Council Meeting Summary – January 27, 2026

• The council adopted the agenda and prior minutes, and reviewed both the 2025 Investment Attraction Program and the forward-looking 2026 plan, emphasizing job creation, economic resilience, and density-driven land-use planning. No delegations or presentations occurred, and explicit public input channels were not identified in the meeting materials. A series of information-receiving motions and plan updates were approved unanimously, signaling ongoing momentum in economic development and land-use policy.

Five Most Important Topics Discussed

1) 2025 Investment Attraction Program Update and 2026 Program - The committee evaluated the 2025 outcomes and discussed the 2026 plan to attract targeted sub-sectors and leverage local talent. - Quotes: Mayor West said, “This report essentially outlines... what we're going to be doing over the next little while to attract the kinds of businesses that we need in our business parks and in our local economy.” He later added that 2026 can “buffer us against some of the turbulence that we have in the world economy right now” and help “leverage the kind of educated workforce that we have in Richmond Hill.” - File mention: Noted in relation to the 2025/2026 Investment Attraction Program; no specific file number provided.

2) Acknowledgment of Staff Efforts and Execution - The meeting acknowledged Economic Development staff for preparing the reports and strategies, underscoring a move from planning to implementation. - Quotes: Mayor West stated, “Now that we've got this type of thing on paper, the tough task of executing this strategy starts.” - Public impact: Signals that concrete steps and initiatives will follow, affecting future employment and investment activity.

3) Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Pipeline and Leadership Team - Discussion focused on narrowing a broad pipeline to a small set of high-priority prospects and the role of an annual ad hoc FDI leadership team. - Quotes: “I like the term 'established elite generation pipeline'... the outcome at the end is less than 1% of where you start off,” and “The ad hoc foreign direct investment business leadership team is intended to be specific to the activities of that year.” - Public impact: Reflects a selective, long-range approach to international investment with future reporting on outcomes.

4) Employment Lands, Density, and Land-Use Strategy - Emphasis on constrained land supply and the push for higher-density, multi-story, and co-located uses to maximize employment potential. - Quotes: “This supply is extremely constrained,” and “We can't really create land, but we can create more density on the lands that we have.” - Public impact: Direct implications for housing, jobs, and future development patterns, including zoning and infrastructure needs.

5) Richmond Hill Center Development, Infrastructure, and Official Plan Alignment - Discussion about subway-related infrastructure, the development potential of Richmond Hill Center, and alignment with provincial planning priorities. - Quotes: “The subway should be here in a few years... we are eagerly awaiting the tunnel work to begin next year,” and “The plan that was put upon us by the province didn't adequately look at the needs that we feel are in our community.” - Public impact: Infrastructure timing and Official Plan alignment affect mobility, employment opportunities, and long-term land-use priorities.

Public Input Opportunities - No explicit public consultation channels were identified in these sections. Potential future opportunities may arise during Official Plan updates or ongoing discussions with provincial authorities and landowners, but no direct contact details were provided.

File Numbers Discussed - Reference to the Staff Report on Employment Lands is noted, but no specific file number was provided in the material.

Motions and Outcomes - Adoption of Agenda - Mover: Councillor Michael Shield - Outcome: Passed unanimously - Adoption of Previous Minutes (October 24, 2025) - Mover: Mayor West - Outcome: Passed unanimously - 2025 Investment Attraction Program Report (receive for information) - Mover: Mayor West - Outcome: Passed unanimously - Receipt of FDI Strategy Information - Mover: Mayor West - Outcome: Adopted unanimously - Receive 2025 Richmond Hill Center Report - Mover: Councillor Shield - Outcome: Passed unanimously - Official Plan Update – Recommended Measures - Mover: Mayor West - Outcome: Passed unanimously - 2025 Economic Development Year in Review - Mover: Mayor West - Outcome: Passed unanimously - Employment Lands – Related Recommendations - Motion to Support Employment Land Use Recommendations - Outcome: Passed - Call the Vote on Employment Land Use Policies - Outcome: Passed - Receive Employment Lands Report (Staff Report on Employment Lands) - Outcome: Passed - Adjournment - Outcome: Passed

Follow-Up Actions - Implement the 2026 Investment Attraction Program as outlined. - Continue refining and reporting on the FDI pipeline and related activities. - Advance policies to maximize higher-density development on employment lands and monitor provincial policy shifts. - Maintain ongoing liaison with provincial authorities and landowners to advocate for local employment priorities, particularly around Richmond Hill Center and related corridors.

Councillors Present - Mayor West - Councillor Shield - Councillor Davidson - Councillor Civil - Councillor Kashu - Councillor Shu - Councillor Silivitz - Councillor Sher - Anthony (Council Member) - Deputy Mayor Chan

If you’d like, I can tailor this into a single-section briefing for residents or extract only actionable items (deadlines, next steps) once you specify the target format.