Infrastructure and Corporate Services Committee Meeting

The Infrastructure and Corporate Services Committee approved several consent and contract items, debated how the city reports on reserves and development charges, reviewed procurement and capital project reporting, and amended the proposed 2027 meeting calendar. Members also raised specific resident concerns about road-closure notices, litter on Hybrid Avenue, and how spending on the Canada Life Place expansion is reported.

Topics Discussed

• RESERVES AND DEVELOPMENT CHARGES (Items 2.1 and 2.2): Councillors pressed staff on how reserve funds are presented to council and the public. Councillor Sam Trosow said, "I think we need to be really transparent and just explain why do we have all this money? What are we holding it for? So that there so that it's clear to taxpayers. $1.5 billion is a lot of money." He also questioned why the annual monitoring report does not show fuller reserve balances and transactions. Staff said the report is intended to track forecasted uncommitted balances against targets, while audited balances are reported separately. On development charges, staff warned that "the pressure to reduce DCs further will have a significant detrimental impact on the ability to continue with the growth that we currently have," and Mr. Barbone added, "we had more exemptions in 2025 than we had revenue of development charges that came in the door."

• PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACT REPORTING (Items 2.8, 2.9, 2.12 and procurement annual report): Committee members questioned how contract values and bid information are disclosed in reports. Hadleigh McAlister asked why a membrane replacement report listed only the lowest submitted tender and not the other bids, saying, "I just wondered maybe why that wasn't here and to better understand how this limited tendering process was applied to this one." On emergency procurement, Councillor Steven Hillier asked, "when we talk about emergency procurement, are we saying that in in us approving that micro shelter, we created an emergency that allowed the procurement to be done that way?" Members also discussed whether there are adequate avenues to challenge procurement decisions and whether more consistent reporting would improve public confidence.

• CANADA LIFE PLACE EXPANSION (Item 2.5): The committee received the annual update on the expansion project. Councillor Peter Cuddy said, "Canada Life Place is a bright star for our downtown and for our city," citing both direct revenue and broader economic impact. Other members focused on accountability for spending. Councillor Elizabeth Peloza said, "I believe that this council should be getting some level of reporting about the funds that have been expended," while McAlister said, "I do have concerns about our ability to understand since it was taxpayer money how these facilities are being used when the knights are not using them." Staff said Phase 1 funding has been fully spent, Phase 2 is about 75 per cent spent, and final accounting will come after completion later this year.

• CONSTRUCTION COMMUNICATIONS AND ROAD PROJECTS (Items 2.10 and 2.12): Councillors described difficulty determining whether road closures were tied to city projects or private development. McAlister said, "I also don't understand why when a private contractor is doing work, whether it's in a new subdivision or not, why they don't have a notification requirement, for instance, if they're closing a road." Councillor Corrine Rahman asked for "a bit more dialogue at this committee or elsewhere around how we can improve that communication." Staff said they would look at clearer public messaging, including adding private works to city construction information where possible and improving notice to councillors. Staff also said the Sunningdale Road West project remains on budget.

• MEETING CALENDAR AND HYBRID AVENUE MAINTENANCE (Items 2.7 and 2.13): The committee approved an amendment to the procedure by-law changing the 2027 meeting schedule and removing designated meeting-free periods. During that discussion, Councillor Skylar Franke said, "I think it's much better from a public perception. It it I've had some people say to me, it looks like you're trying to rush stuff through." On non-routine maintenance, Councillor Shawn Lewis raised concerns about litter on Hybrid Avenue, describing it as a gateway corridor and supporting additional cleanup.

Motions

Passed: - Change of Order of Agenda — 5-0 - Consent Items 2.3, 2.5, 2.6, 2.8, 2.10, 2.11, 2.13 — approved by consent - Item 2.1: 2026 Reserve and Reserve Fund Monitoring and Housekeeping Report — carried, 4-1 - Item 2.2: Development Charges / related reporting changes and discontinuation of interim borrowing charge on DC reserve funds — carried, 4-1 - Item 2.7: Amendment to Procedure By-law A-16 / 2027 meeting schedule changes — carried, 4-1 - Item 2.9: Bowler Road water main and cycling project consulting engineer award — passed, 4-1 - Item 2.12: Sunningdale Road West improvements consulting engineer appointment — passed, 5-0 - Procurement annual report / related motion — carried, 5-0

Failed: - Amendment to restrict meetings to Mondays and Tuesdays under Item 2.7 — 1-4

Attendees

• Mayor Josh Morgan
• Councillor Susan Stevenson
• Councillor Corrine Rahman
• Councillor Hadleigh McAlister
• Councillor Shawn Lewis