Hello and welcome to this meeting of the council of the town of Oakville for August 10th, 2026. I invite everybody to rise if you're able to join council in O Canada. Oh Canada, [singing] our home and native land. True patriot [singing] love. In all [music] of us command with glowing [music] hearts we see [singing] the rise a true north strong and free from far and wide. Oh [singing and music] Canada, we stand on guard for thee. [music] Lord [singing] keep our land. Glorious [singing] set free. Oh Canada [singing] we stand on [music] God for thee. Oh Canada, we stand [music] on the Thank you everybody. Please be seated. The the town of Oakville is located on treaty lands and territory of the Missagas of the Credit First Nation. We thank the Missagas for being stewards of this traditional territory. By 1820, the Missagas began welcoming settlers from all over the British Empire. Soon, Oakville was welcoming black people fleeing the United States. Our indigenous white and black residents created a community of harmony that makes us proud. By 1857, Ontario recognized Oakville as a town. At town hall, we fly the flag of the Missosagas with the flags of Oakville, Ontario, and Canada to acknowledge our origins. The vibrant livability that we are creating for everyone attracts people from across Canada and from around the world. We feel sorrow for acts of racism and intolerance that uh are suffered across the world, including in Canada and here at home. We want our future to be equitable and inclusive for everyone. We believe the path of truth and reconciliation can unite us. Please keep well, stay safe, and let us on council know of any chance to be helpful to you and yours. And please let us know anytime you can help increase Oakville's harmony, prosperity, and livability. Mr. Clerk, do we have any regrets? >> There are no regrets. Mayor, >> thank you everyone for the full house attendance. Councelor, are there any declarations of of conflict of interest, pecuniary or otherwise? Mr. Clerk, there are none. Um, council and public, we celebrated the life of our colleague Mark Grant, Ward 5 town counselor, Saturday at a moving and fulfilling ceremony. At this meeting of council, flowers are representing him at his place around the table. He was a champion of transit, parks, and public gathering spaces. He was a voice on poverty and food security. And we all benefited from Mark's service to our town. I'd like to extend an opportunity for each of his colleagues to acknowledge him, followed by a minute of silence, after which we must exercise our municipal duty to formally declare his seat vacant. And I'll start in numerical order with uh ward one councelor Omira. Well, thank you your worship and um you know I know we all have our our um various um you know aspects and niches that that we focus on in in council times and and I'm just want to draw um one that was special to myself and and to Mark and and we both had a uh a special um place for Halton Women's Place and and it wasn't it wasn't just because of Purple it was because it was it was something that Mark um felt very passionate about and over my 12 years on council. Um there were times when he and I were the only counselors at that event and and Mark could be counted on and many times D sitting at that table uh to be there when uh when many weren't. um and he always stood up for for everything that Halton Women's Place stood for and it was always a great time and actually one of the few times that it was just Mark and I and my wife and D for for many hours talking about many different things and um it was something that that I know that he was extremely proud of and like all of you know didn't speak very much about but but you could tell by his actions uh and the passion he cared for Halton Women's Place and and uh that's something that I share with Mark and uh and will continue to do so and I um will make a donation in his in his name. >> Thank you, counselor. Counselor Mcnes. >> Yeah, thank you. Worship. Um I mean, Mark certainly I spent one one term with him, but he was certainly not uh not your usual politician. Just such a kind-hearted person. Um you know, very very soft and caring, not not we'd expect. And my my uh experience with him was on the appeals committee and he chaired it uh for the first time. and feels committee is not not typically a friendly place and um you know he he did it with his usual compassion um you know for in some some difficult situations but it took the temperature down in the room and made it easier for us uh new ones on the on the committee as well. So he certainly served the town with purpose and honor and compassion and like others have said he was he was always looking out for what we missed and the people that we missed. Um, you know, I really appreciate his his stand on on food security and transit and and affordable housing. Um, you know, and I think our community he certainly left a legacy and our our community is really really grateful for his his dedication uh to the town. Um, so his family and loved ones can certainly be proud of the meaningful impact that he made to the town of Oakville. Uh, he'll he'll certainly be missed at this table. Thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. Counselor Dunick. >> Thank you. Um, I just want to begin by saying that glitch that took place with the singing of Canada, invariably I would have seen Mark across the way going like, "Okay." And he would have had some quick comeback as usual. Loved his sense of humor. Loved his sense of humor. Quirky, really, really dark sometimes, but I loved it. [laughter] And uh I think one of the fondest memories I have of Mark in my capacity [clears throat] as um chair of the Oakville Santa Claus parade, we had a fantastic gal who ran our uh volunteer reception for years for us, which meant they greet the people coming in from the cold with a hot chocolate donut, get warmed up, have a few words, and uh send them on their way. Well, I sent out an SOS immediately. Mark responded as did Dedri. And they fulfilled that role for many years. And you couldn't ask for a better person to with a warm smile greet people as they came in, have a funny little quizm to uh, you know, make them feel that they're personal. And uh, thank you. Thank you, [clears throat] Dean. I appreciate that as well. Thank you, councelor. Councelor Chisel, >> thank you. Where do you start? Mark left us too early uh in life. Uh what I liked about Mark was at council, he was low profile, didn't ask a lot of questions, didn't jump up pounding his fists, but behind the scene, Mark was a real what I call a community engager. Um I guess I'll keep it short and saying, uh when it can't be done, he usually is interrupted by somebody doing it. And that was Mark. And that's what I liked about Mark. He had a great sense of humor. a dry sense of humor and yes dark sense of humor. Uh we didn't cross past that much on on subcommittees or committees but uh watching Mark at council he was taking that information and uh he was doing an excellent job for his ward. So Mark we miss you. Um take care. Thank you. >> Thank you councelor Councelor Janet Hasslith. >> Thank you Mayor Burton. Um I think when I was asked if I would say a few words, I wanted to think about those moments that we had. Um my very first time making a presentation, Mark was there and it was to thank and celebrate a uh woman firefighter. Um, and uh, I just so appreciated that he um, reminded me that a I could do it. Um, and b that together we were celebrating something very important. Um, I also sat on appeals with Mark and uh, he steadfastly ensured that the appellant always was heard, listened to, knew that there were resources available to them um, and got a fair hearing. and and it's not an easy task to do. Um, and I was grateful for that. But I think one of Mark's highlights was when he spoke about post residence. It was a project that had varying views, but we all, I think, were struck by his words that night when he talked about finding a place and integrating individuals into a neighborhood so they could have a stable environment and that we should trust the partners that we work with. Um, he did it brilliantly that night. I know McKenzie you inherited your father's gift uh for eloquence and um D thank you for sharing him with us. >> Thank you counselor counselor getting >> Thank you mayor Burton looking across at councelor Grant's chair brings back a lot brings back a lot of fond memories. It will be an incredibly difficult chair to fill. And uh Councelor Kathy, as you said, how do you interview somebody for dark and quirky? That that's I've never seen that on a on a uh job application before. Our community and our residents are far better off as a result of Mark's dedication and efforts, and we're all going to miss them. >> Thank you, counselor. Uh, councelor Longo. Oh, sorry. Uh, yes, Councelor Longo. Then we'll go to Councelor Elgar. >> So, Mark showed up for uh for his his constituents for 23 years. And I at one point I was actually one of his con constituents living in W 5. Um, he cared about a lot of things that I shared. So, green space, transit, affordable housing, food security. But I also playing trivia one night with him, I learned that he was really good at trivia, especially Star Trek trivia. So I was like I had it was great. He was on my team thankfully. So but I want to say that he was just a good man. He showed up and cared deeply around all of those uh that surrounded him. He wanted to make the world a better place and he definitely succeeded. So I want to thank you Mark and as we saw on Saturday until we meet again. >> Thank you councelor uh councelor Elgar. >> Yeah Mayor Burton and and council colleagues. I sat across this chamber from Mark Grant for 23 years. We didn't always vote the same way. And Mark never once treated that as a reason for disrespect. That's rare in this work than people think. I can tell you. And it's part of what made working with Mark fun and good. He championed transit, parks, public gathering spaces, poverty, and food security. the files that take plenty of patience and repetition year after year and move even very little in any particular year. Mark had that patience and that is persistence. I would say that Mark had 23 years a long time to share a council table and I give my condolences to especially daughter McKenzie who was with him at so many different events I was at and FCM and AMO she would go with him and uh to his f whole family and to the ward four or five residents who count on him he'll be missed and uh a great tribute to uh to Mark on Saturday, I must say, from everyone that was there or couldn't be there, but uh a good person and uh I thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. Councelor Null. >> Well, I'm going to reserve some comments because I will speak to the motion uh that's coming up a little bit later and get go into a bit more detail, but I do want to first of all acknowledge uh that uh that quite a few of Mark's family are with us today. So, uh, Tracy's here. Her parents, D, of course, McKenzie. Mackenzie's new husband is here as well. And oh my gosh, Carling's here. Wow, I thought you were gone back. That's Carling, uh, uh, Mark's stepdaughter. I don't know if many of you have met her, but she's lovely and and she brought him two little grandchildren um, into the world, and he was so you probably all remember seeing those photos over and over and over again. So, it's so wonderful to see you here, and thank you for being here with us today. And thank you to all members of council who could be there on Saturday. It was a it was a wonderful service and a great and fitting honor to our our great friend. I don't know what more to say at this point. I'm finding it very surreal that this seat is empty beside me. Um Mark and I have been friends, close friends for 23 years beyond the council chamber and uh we did everything together both here and in creative pursuits and just fun. And yeah, he is a he's a wicked trivia player, but I'm better. Um, so as I said, I'll have more to say a little bit later, but um, I I I dearly miss my friend. Thank you for those who brought flowers. Thank you, Mayor Burton, for your flowers today. And, uh, um, yeah, it's going to be a hard meeting to get through. >> Thank you, counselor. Um, Councelor Adams, >> thank you. I wanted to give my condolences to the entire family, all of Mark's friends. It was a giant shock when I heard the news. I'm sure it was a giant shock for everybody else as well. Um, but I want to remember Mark, not just as a colleague, but as a a friend. He's been my also my seatmate for 23 years. And and for all of that time, I had the privilege of getting to know the the guy behind the public service. and uh and and we worked on many many things over the years from from housing affordability issues to um and we shared a a great interest in improving public transit. Uh and so we we spent lots of time on that together uh making it easier for for people to get around in our community. Um but Mark was an incredibly kind person and it was he was always generous with his time. He was considerate of of everybody else in the room. uh no matter how irritating somebody else might be, he never showed it. He was the he was the kind person in the room uh always. Uh but he also had this wonderful sense of humor that everybody has now talked about and I was the beneficiary of it u more often than not being the seatmate and uh I always enjoyed his wit darker otherwise uh because it it made it made time pass uh really easily and really fast and so the the moments that we all shared uh in laughter with him uh I think we all appreciated and and I'm really sorry Jeff you're now going to have to deal with my engineering and banker jokes instead of But uh in any case, Mark is going to be uh deeply missed, fondly remembered. Uh and I I thank uh I thank everybody and I thank the world for the opportunity to have worked with him. >> Thank you, counselor. Councelor Chenn, >> thank you, your worship. Uh first, I want to offer my sincere condolences to the family who are here. Um councelor Null loved all of you. Sorry, Councelor Grant loved all of you and I know Councelor Null does too. He's he loves you just as much. Um over the last uh 10 years, Mark and I served on council and I've also had lots of wonderful memories. We attended a a lot of community events together and I can always count on Mark to uh bring a smile to everybody at the table. Um he was a gentle giant who uh genuinely cared about people. Every year he and I joined councelor Null for Canada Day pancake breakfast, including just a few weeks back. Uh we were the the three amigos serving up pancakes and uh maple syrup. And um Mark's pancakes were the pretty ones. They were they were always the beautiful ones. And we know Mark really uh enjoyed uh uh making food. He was a chef and and he really took pride in making sure those pancakes were beautiful. So, I will always remember his pancakes. I love to walk trails and when I first got elected to council, uh Mark joined me on the trails. I was I was always saying this is the way to get to know the community, but it was also a way for me to um get a real sense and understanding of what council was was about and and the meetings and the issues of the day and and he was so generous with his time and and really uh helped me uh understand a lot of what's going on here. So, I really appreciated that. And for those who know, Mark was um was shy to give hugs to anyone outside of his family. Um I'm not. And uh despite his shyness, anytime we uh would be meeting up at some event, um he had this huge grin because he knew I was running up to give him a hug. And McKenzie, you were there a lot of times and he would just give you this big look, but a a big grin. And um I I will miss Mark. He's with the Angels now. And uh rest in peace, my friend. >> Thank you, counselor. Councelor Nanda. Thank you, Mayor Burton. Uh, first and foremost, I want to give my sincere condolences to the family, McKenzie, Dedra, and everyone else that is here today. It was a great shock um to hear. It's obviously difficult to put into words uh losing someone suddenly that you respected so much. Um I feel fortunate that I had the opportunity to um serve alongside Mark. I was also on uh the appeals committee. So, we had a little committee together and it was wonderful to be able to serve on that. And although it was my first term um with Mark and not as long as most of the other members, I do remember the quality of time we spent and I feel everything happens for a reason. So by some fortune, Mark um I feel wanted some of us to be there um in the end for his last time that he was at an event. And I feel fortunate that I got to be there with my family and with Dedra and meeting her some of her extended family, but Mark also talking to my daughters and being the kind person that he was and telling them what movies to watch and they were talking about Star Trek. And so when I had to tell them about his passing, they were like, "Well, we were just talking to him and we just met him and we were talking about movies." So he he always had that jolly side to him um to make everyone happy, but like many others said, he didn't always have to be vocal around the council table, but when he said something, it was something important that he was always saying. So he always made a difference and and that's what everyone will be able to share out of the 23 years that he spent on this council is what he gave back to the community. And he gave so much. So, please accept my deepest and heartfelt condolences and Mark, rest in peace. Uh, you will be missed. Um, but we'll see you again. Thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. Counselor Shia. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, beyond Mark's his years of public service, it was Mark the person that I will be remembered most. So his smile could light up a room and his sense of humor always made even most challenging moment a little lighter. His kindness, humility and geogracy was qualified that touch so many people around him. So Mark and I we attend um the the Sunrise Chinese Schools Luna New Year celebration every year. So Mark always did the first to give all the beautiful English word best wishes to the families kids group. Now I did in Chinese as well. So all the kids love marks. They called Mark is Chinese Santa. For me Mark was more than a council colleague. He was a good friend, a trusted advisor and my counselors as well and someone I was um lucky to have beside me through my first term to serve our community. I will always appreciate his encouragement, his friendship and many cons conver uh conservations, loves and uh memories we shared. Thank you, Mark, for your service, your friendship, your laughter, and for the positive difference you made in all our lives. You will be deeply missed, but your legacy will live on in the community you love and served. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor Shua. Um the uh the next um duty that we have is um to uh declare the vacancy. This is a duty that falls on us from the Nissal Act. And uh uh the resolution is that the office of town counselor ward 5 formerly held by councelor Mark Grant be declared vacant in accordance with section 262.1 of the municipal act 2001. and two that council consider the appointment options outlined in this report and provide direction on its preferred option to fill the ward 5 town counselor vacancy. Uh and three that staff be directed to report back to council within 60 days to implement council's direction in accordance with section 263 of the munipal act. Uh I would invite uh a mover and seconder. Councelor Null as a mover and uh councelor Dudk as a seconder. And I would I would suggest that you need to put u details on uh uh item two which is uh what the appointment options uh you recommend. The staff recommendation I thought made a great deal of sense. Councelor null uh it's up. So, councelor Dick. All right. Then we have the motion in order. Is there any objection? Mr. Clerk, there's no objection and that carries. The next thing I'd like to do is to consider uh item 14.1 about dedicating a park uh in Mark's memory. And u in order to do that, we need to take two votes. The first is to wave the uh notice provisions of the uh council procedural bylaw and for that we need a mover and a seconder. Councelor Chisum and councelor Lchenna. Thank you. Any objection? Mr. Clerk, there's no objection. So that carries and now we need u a mover and seconder for the actual motion to do the naming. Councelor Null is the mover and the seconder councelor Nanda. Thank you. Uh any objection? >> Councelor Null, you have the floor. >> Thank you. Uh first of all, thank you um for uh the motion to wave the procedure so we can deal with this today. I'm pleased to be able to uh to do this in honor of our our deep friend and our our friend and our colleague in front of his family. Uh I think it makes it more meaningful. So, I just have a few words and I'm I'm going to ask the the mayor some latitude in terms of potentially straying away from the issue just a little teeny bit and as I honor our friend. So, um it's really difficult to find the right words to speak about someone who should still be sitting in this chair. Um I acknowledge before the our friends and family who are his friends and family who are here with us today and we want to thank you again for being here today. Uh, McKenzie, D, Carling, Tracy, thank you for being here. And I know how much Mark loved all of you. And I hope you know how much he was loved by this council and by the community that he served. And I think it'd be fair to say, and I think you've heard it around this council chamber that you have the deepest condolences of not only every member of this council, but our entire staff team, many of whom worked very hard to put together the uh service on Saturday. And and I want to say a big thank you to Jane and her team, um our our facilities folks, everybody that came together to make that day wonderful. There was nothing that they wouldn't do for us uh to make that day go smoothly and I'm so grateful for that and I know I share the family's appreciation for that as well. Mark Grant was our colleague on this council. He was my W five partner, my friend, and in so many ways my brother. Mark had served the people of Oakville since December 2003, almost 23 years of public service. And just a quick little story, some of you heard this at uh uh at the service the other day. Mark came to this job [clears throat] because he spoke out and he was really uh trying to lead the community in change. He really did not want street lights at the corner of of uh Six Line and McCrainy. And he mobilized his community. He spoke on their behalf. He was passionate. He impressed the heck out of me. Now, I'd already known him from scouts. And so, when it was all over, unfortunately, he lost the day and and he did not get his way. It was a split vote on council. But when we I was speaking to him afterwards, he said, "Well, what more can I do? What more can I do?" And I said, "Run for council. That's how you make change. You get involved. You actually you put your feet on the street and you get the job done." And so, he did. And in December of 2003, he took his seat. And 23 years later, he left his mark on this community. Mark has served the people of Oakville since 2003, almost 23 years of public service. That is an extraordinary commitment to a community. And over all those years, Mark became such a familiar and trusted presence in W 5. For the residents of W 5, Mark was exactly what a local counselor should be. He cared deeply about the people he represented. He listened. He answered the phones. He returned the calls. He returned the emails. He took on the small issues that you can seem that seem really insignificant until they're happening to you. and he worked just as hard on the larger files affecting our community. Mark understood something fundamental about municipal government. This level government is personal. It's important. It's meaningful. It's about neighborhoods, roads, traffic trees, community centers, parks, and everyday things that shape people's lives. And Mark loved that work. Now, to the point, one of Mark's particular passions was our parks in W five. He understood the parks are much more than grass, playgrounds, and pathways. They're where neighborhoods come together. They are where children grow up, families gather, neighborhoods meet, and another a sense of community is built. Mark cared enormously about those spaces. He paid attention to them. He advocated for them. He wanted them to be places that residents could be proud of and enjoy. That makes the motion that I'm bringing forward today particularly meaningful. Mark loved Oakville, but Ward 5 was his home. He knew its neighborhoods and its parks as well as its people, and more importantly, they knew him. Those of us around the table knew Mark as a thoughtful, intelligent, and kind colleague, and you've heard that from my colleagues today. He had a wonderful sense of humor, a tremendous capacity for friendship, and a deep commitment to public service. He brought his own perspective to this council and made our deliberations better because he was part of them. And one more quick story. Um, I can't remember which counselor. I think it was councelor Gidding uh councelor Caslefield that mentioned it the um the development the affordable housing development at six line and and upper middle road. We had lots of conversations about that because I'm I want to be very clear that this was not this was not an easy decision from a constituency perspective. There was a lot of opposition in the immediate neighborhood and we saw many of them at the at the meeting that night. Um and I asked him I said what what do you want to do? Like how how do you want to proceed with this? you know, you're you're running for reelection in this ward and and how do you want to face that issue because it's it's you know, there's certainly going to be some division. He said, I I it doesn't matter to me if I lose my seat, I lose my seat. It's the right thing to do. And that's what Mark did from the day he started in 2003 when he stood up for his community as a citizen and then pledged his service to this community for 23 years. 23 years later, he stood up for the people that really needed a voice at our council table. And uh I respect the heck out of him for that because I know he was he was torn and harassed and called and um and he and he deeply felt every single delegation that was there that night. >> Counselor, your your latitude is way over five minutes now. >> Okay, I'm almost done. For me, his absence is especially difficult. For years, the residents of W 5 had two counselors working together in the half. I could turn to Mark beside me and he was always there. We'd compare notes, divide up issues, laugh frequently, and somehow get the work done. That chair is now empty. But after 23 years of service, Mark's contribution to his community should not disappear with them. That's why I'm bringing forward a motion today to rename Ridge View Park as Mark Grant Park. I cannot think of a more appropriate tribute. To put Mark's name on a park in the community he represented, particularly given how much he cared about our parks and the role they played in building strong neighborhoods, feels especially fitting. It will not simply be a sign bearing his name. It'll be a living part of the community Mark served. Children will play at Mark Grant Park. Families will gather there. Neighbors will meet there. Life in Ward 5 will continue there. And I hope in time that the kids in the neighborhood will simply call it Mark Park. I think Mark would have liked that. And years from now, someone will undoubtedly ask, who was this Mark Grant guy? I hope the answer will be simple. He was a good man who loved his community, served faithfully for almost 23 years, and left it better than he found it. I miss my colleague. I miss my word partner. And most of all, I miss my friend. Is with profound sadness, but also tremendous pride in the contribution Mark made to Oakville and particularly to W 5 that I'm pleased to move this motion to rename Ridge View Park in his honor. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. And in the same spirit, I was proud to second it. Um, councilors, uh, are there other speakers? Your worship recorded vote. >> Uh, Mr. Clerk, would you please call the vote? >> Councelor Omira, >> yes. >> Councelor Mcnes, >> yes. >> Councelor Dick, >> absolutely. >> Councelor Chisum, absolutely. >> Councelor Theal, >> yes. >> Councelor Giddings, >> yes. >> Councelor Elgar, >> yes. Yes. >> Longo. >> Yes. >> Mayor Burton. >> Yes. >> Councelor Null. >> Yes. >> Councelor Adams. >> Yes. >> Councelor Lenna. >> Yes. >> Councelor Nanda. >> Yes. >> Councelor Shei. >> Yes. Car. >> Thank you, Mr. Clerk. At this time, I would invite everybody to join in a moment of silence to remember Mark Grant. Thank you everybody. Um [clears throat] council at this time we need a mover and seconder or else corrections for the minutes of the previous council meeting as listed in item 5.1. Councelor Longo and councelor Shia. Thank you. There being no corrections, uh is there any objection? There being no objection, Mr. Clerk, that is carried. And uh that brings us to the uh first item of the public presentations, the Oakville Transportation Initiatives presentation. And uh Commissioner Fu will be introducing our presenters. And uh Commissioner Fu, uh you have the floor. >> Great. Thank you very much. Good afternoon, chair and member of council. We are pleased to be here this afternoon together with Halton Region to speak about Oakville transportation initiatives with a particular focus on managing traffic congestion. Leanne Jones, Commissioner of Public Works, will be presenting this afternoon alongside with our director of transportation engineering, Lynn Rogers. Over the past couple of years, through our work supporting Halton Region in the maintenance of traffic signals, we have worked collaborate collaboratively to advance this initiative as one part of a broader strategy to create a more efficient transportation system that continues to support growth, mobility, and complete community across Oakville. We certainly appreciate the region's investment in this project and selection of Oakville for the implementation of the adaptive signal control technology. I will now turn it over to Leanne and Lynn. >> Welcome, Miss Jones. This is very exciting. We're looking forward to and we hope the public appreciates what you've achieved >> for the opportunity to share the work we have underway to improve traffic flow. uh through Halton region. So starting off in Halton region, major arterial corridors form the regional road network which consists of more than 1,200 lane kilometers of roadways and 336 traffic signals. With growth in Halton forecasted to effectively double uh by 201, we've been working together to develop a master plan to an expand and upgrade the corridor to meet the growth needs to 201. The master plan is focused on local improvements combined with delivering the infrastructure that supports transit priority corridor, excuse me, corridors and active transportation. For Oakville specifically, this includes widening of Naagawa Boulevard between William Halton Parkway and Dundas Street and localized improvements through the length of William Holton Parkway and Upper Middle Road and improvements on Ford Drive between Upper Middle Road and Highway 403. Access to transit is supported with the implementation of the transit priority corridor network on Trfalar Road. and this includes a new corridor south through Midtown Oakville as well as along Dundas Street. The master plan received regional council approval and we're accelerating implementation of a number of the initiatives including working with the town to implement HOV on Trafalogar Road. This close coordination on the delivery of capital improvements ensures that the recommended infrastructure strategies support vibrant growing communities across the region. Many of these initiatives are multi-year projects given their complexity. So, we're looking at operational adjustments we can make now to improve the travel experience. Several of you have heard of the improvements we've implemented on the Trafalgar Road Corridor at the Oakville GO Station. And as I'm sure you've experienced, the Oakville GO station is the second busiest station in the entire network, trailing only Union Station. Between 3 and 700 p.m., 26 trains arrive here. And in many cases, each of the riders disembarking represent a single vehicle. That means that every 9 minutes a wave of up to 200 cars pour out of the station. Now, unlike many corridors that have a predictable s single rush hour peak, this corridor exhibits frequent oscillating peaks of traffic that continue for several hours. This unpredictability makes traditional fixedtime signal patterns highly ineffective. So, as the mayor has said, we've been investigating some innovative operational strategies, and I want to share some of the early outcomes of this exciting pilot project that is supporting improved traffic flow. Traditional traffic management systems use pre-programmed plans that assume traffic stays the same. But by using live traffic data and predictive modeling, the program along Trfaloger adjusts the signal timing in real time between Leland Avenue and Cornwall Road to balance vehicle flow on Trfalar while optimizing side street delays. So the goal is a multi- ben mutually beneficial timing that maximizes volume for both trfoger road as the main artery and the connecting roads. The system continues to evolve and adapt practices as it learns traffic patterns and allows it to manage increasing volumes while still improving travel time. The adaptive system monitors the main flow on Trfaloger Road and as the number of cars is moving up the curve of road capacity to the saturation point, it will adjust signals to hold the side street traffic for just a few seconds longer. These extra seconds allow the cars to clear, preventing the tip over into overcapacity, which creates the backups into the intersections of Cornwall and Trafalogar. and the resulting gridlock scenario where no one moves. It's a similar concept as the ramp meters you see on the QEW. We're essentially metering the on-ramps to Trafalogar to minimize the occurrence of gridlock. I have a brief video here to show what our system sees in real time. Thank you. What you're looking at here are the five key intersections from Leland down to Cornwall. You'll notice green and blue shapes appearing over the lanes. It looks a little like a video game, but it's actually high-level data processing. Every time a car rolls onto a blue shape, it turns green. The system isn't just watching the cars. It's counting them and it's measuring the gaps between the cars and adjusting signal timing to clear the rush from the train station before the next train arrives. In the bottom right, you'll see our pan tilt zoom camera. That's our eye in the sky at Leland. This allows the staff in the command center to zoom in and see exactly why a backup may be occurring. Whether it's a particularly heavy surge from the GO station or is there a stalled vehicle or other event requiring emergency response? Now that you've seen the system making decisions, I'd like to share the details that are so promising for our communities. This chart shows medium travel time for a vehicle moving from Leland down to Cornwall. And if you look at the center group of bars, the northbound PM peak when that go station tidal wave we discussed is at its height, we can see the improvement. When we started the pilot, signage and other operational improvements had established a 5.3 second travel time baseline shown in blue. Now, we saw a brief uptick in December and this was caused by some hardware issues, but once those were resolved, we saw a steady consistent decline. And over the last few months, these travel times have stabilized down around 4.9 seconds. Now, while parts of second travel time improvement may not seem significant, we're seeing an increase of road capacity without adding a single lane of asphalt. So, if you look at the Cross Avenue intersection in the northbound direction during PM Peak before the pilot, which is the blue line, we were moving about 230 vehicles per hour. Now, after the adaptive system took over, that jumped to 670 vehicles per hour. We're moving almost three times more cars through that intersection during these peak surges. Now, we do acknowledge that during those periods, throughput on the side streets is impacted, but those few extra seconds of wait time on a side street keep the main artery moving and avoid the entire network from collapsing into gridlock. Now, we've been able to validate this performance through a marked drop in customer complaints about traffic in the corridor. At its peak, we were receiving daily complaints about trfalar road congestion, and since implementation, it has dropped back to the more typical weekly occurrences. Now, this corridor continues to face significant pressures due to uh MTO work at Dorell Drive and the ongoing Metroinks construction at the GO station. So, our team continues to use all available operational tools to manage the flow and maximize throughput. In addition to adaptive signal control, we're also coordinating closely with Halton Region Police on enforcement and we're implementing signal adjustments with Oakville traffic staff to keep the side streets moving. We're also implementing measures to direct motorists to other corridors, including turn restrictions and expansion of real time driver messaging at other intersections to give drivers earlier and advanced notice to take alternative routes. As we move into the fall, we'll be looking at a broader implementation phase of the adaptive signal controls and this includes additional signals in the Trafalar Cornwall area and implementation along other regional corridors throughout Halton. And with that, I'll turn it over to Lynn Rogers to share plans for improvements in the local corridors. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner. Miss Rogers, >> Oakville's transportation master plan outlines the town shift from an autocentric system to a multimodal, sustainable, and future ready network. This plan includes over 324 actions and policies to guide this transition. These actions cover all po parts of the transportation system, streets, active transportation, transit, goods movement, emerging technologies, and transportation demand management. Together, they ensure Oakville can keep people and goods moving effectively and as the community grows. The plan also introduces new policies including complete street guidelines and curbside management as well as design guidelines, all intended to support safer and more flexible use of the road space. Finally, the TMP supports major infrastructure improvements in urban growth areas, especially Midtown Oakville, aligning transportation investments with long-term growth to 201. The Midtown Transportation Plan outlines how Oakville will support a significant growth in one of its most important urban growth areas, Midtown Oakville. Centered on the Oakville GO station, Midtown is planned to evolve into a vibrant transit oriented mixeduse urban center with substantial new population employment by 201. A key feature of this plan is its balanced transportation system and strategy. This integrates road improvements, transit supportive measures, and active transportation infrastructure to create a connective multimodal network. This balance approach is essential for managing congestion generated by natural transportation growth and accommodating new development within the 103 hectare Midtown area. To manage congestion, the plan identifies targeted improvements along key corridors such as Trfalga Road, Spears Cornwell Road, and the Royal Windsor uh Drive interchange. These upgrades help relieve existing pressure points and ensure the road network can accommodate future travel demand. This plan also expands walking and cycling infrastructure and strengthens transit access to the GO station, encouraging more shifts to shift away from driving. This multimmoal approach reduces vehicle volumes and helps keep traffic moving as the area intensifies. Finally, Midtown transportation plan al aligns with the transportation investment with Midtown official plan amendment OPA70 ensuring that infrastructure keeps pace with development and supports a higher density urban core. It replaces and builds upon the earlier 2014 EA providing modern future ready framework for growth. Oakville's neighborhood transport traffic safety program is the town's comprehensive approach to improving safety and managing traffic in our residential areas. First approved in 2021, the program brings together a set of coordinated initiatives that work collectively to reduce speeding, improve crossings, manage and calm traffic, and create safer streets for all road users. A key part of the traffic signal construction and optimization is one of these items. This helps improve traffic flow along major corridors within the town. And the town uses ongoing data collection and traffic studies to identify to identify where signal timings and adjustments of new signals are needed. Um this allows to reduce delays and improve reliability across the network. Some of these corridors include Rebecca Street, Third Line, Cornwall Road, and Eighth Line. Uh the neighborhood traffic safety program also expands community safety zones, areas where speeding fines are increased and encouraged safer driver behavior. In 2025, road uh sorry, staff assess road segments across the town and 27 streets met the criteria for designation with 29 new roads being planned for implementation. These zones are often near schools, parks, and other areas with vulnerable users. Traffic calming is also a major component of this program. meas sorry um measures uh such as speed cushions, lateral shifts, roundabouts, and radar speed display signs are used depending on the road type. In 2025 alone, the town installed speed cushions on nine streets, implemented calming at eight school locations, and continues to assess additional sites for future installation. These improvements are designed to reduce vehicle speeds and create safer neighborhood streets. Overall, the neighborhood traffic safety program strengthens traffic management and safety in every part of Oakville through traffic optimization, community safety zones, calming measures, and targeted road safety improvements. The town is taking steps to make neighborhoods safer, more walkable, and more comfortable for all residents and ages. [snorts] Tra Oakville also manages construction impacts uh through a coordinated well ststructured approach designed to help residents informed keep residents informed and traffic moving for town projects. Staff uh take the lead on planning and communication, ensuring construction schedules, impacts, progress updates are shared publicly so that residents know what to expect. This includes proactive measures to minimize disruptions and maintain safety throughout the construction period. To manage uh traffic during construction, Oakville uses a combination of detours, traffic signal adjustments, and traffic management tools such as signage and public notices. These strategies help maintain mobility while critical infrastructure is being built or repaired. The town requires contractors, whether municipal or third party, to actively manage construction impacts, including traffic control, communication, and safe site operations. The same approach not only applies to town projects but also inter agency projects like provincial transit improvements such as the burough low grade separation and regional utility work such as the upcoming trfalar uh wastewater and water project where coordinated planning clear detail detour routes consistent communication and careful contractor uh oversight help reduce congestion and maintain safe travel throughout Oakville's neighborhoods. And with that concludes our presentation and happy to answer any questions. >> Thank you both. Uh Councelor Romero was first out of the box. >> Thank you. And it might be a question for a regional commissioner and I I thank you for um um this is the second time we've seen this presentation once at region but here at the town which is great. I'm wondering if you can maybe just peel the onion back a little bit more on what exactly the adaptive signal controls are or or who's running that. Thank you for the question, Councelor Omira. Uh through you, Mayor Burton. Um the uh signals are run by a uh computer program that is housed uh in the uh the region uh traffic management center. Um it uses uh real-time feedback um from the traffic signals and uh as you saw from the video um traffic counts, traffic timing um and uh adjusts the signals uh to to move traffic through the corridor. So if we wanted to do that on I don't know third line or Dorval or or some places where we have other bottlenecks is that something that we we could easily roll out um moving forward >> that is part of the the next phase of the project. So, we're just finishing the pilot on the Trafalogar corridor. Um, and now we're reviewing those results and seeing where else uh throughout uh the region we have the technology in the place and and the situation um to to fully utilize uh the the functionality of of adaptive signals uh in place of the more traditional put in a program and and and it runs. Um so uh we have uh Oakville is is fully equipped uh with the um the traffic signal feedback. Uh and then we would need to move into the next phase of camera installation and and setting up the programs to to learn. Um so we'll be uh looking for the next candidate locations. Uh and we'll bring that back to regional council in the spring with our annual uh traffic report on on those locations. >> Um so bringing that back to the region in the spring, does that mean town roads would not be included in that? Would that be a separate program if the town wanted to roll that out? Would you work with the town on town roads or would you only be focusing on regional roads? >> So our focus is on the regional road corridor. Um but what we've learned from implementation on the Trafalar corridor is that we do need to look uh beyond onto the side streets for that that full control. Uh so it doesn't mean in every application that uh we would um include local road signals in the programming. There may be certain circumstances and and we're looking at that for trfalar. We're getting some adaptive control over the signals on the side street is really what's required to keep uh traffic moving on the corridor. >> Amazing. Thank you. I I know that probably my top one, you know, number one issue is I can't get around the town anymore. It's too busy. So, anything we can do to alleviate that, I'm sure everybody appreciates. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Councelor has it. >> Thank you very much. Uh, and Commissioner, thanks very much for taking all my nagging emails about Trfalger and Cornwall and Trafalar and Cross. Um, uh, I have two follow-ups that I just want to make sure I'm clear on. So, you did a great job of explaining about metering and that that's how what we have to sort of embrace that uh, we're almost in a metering system of who we're going to how we're going to let cars in and uh, and move forward. But there's no question that trfalar and Cornwall is uh getting very close to gridlock even with all the progress that you've made. Um it's not seeing the advancements that you ha are having on cross. Cross is like a home run. You've really like it's working well. Trafalogar and Cornwall continues to have cars pull in. So when you mentioned um potential additional implementation in the Trfalar Cornwall, were you talking specifically about adaptive signal optimization perhaps at Reynolds and at the parking garage which Metroink should never have put there but they did. So can you help me out a bit? Thank you for the question, councelor Hasllet Theiel. Um, so that next phase that that we're looking into uh into the fall is identifying uh where we can bring additional signals into the control and and make improvements um in the corridor. Uh I think our focus is is also on um trying to reduce as much as practical cars using trfalar road uh during those peak periods and and that's where those automated signs uh we're looking to to um uh direct uh people exiting uh the GO train station to alternate routes um not always turning left to head to trfalar um and and I do recognize that that's a little bit hampered with the work that's ongoing at Doral. Um so uh it's it is a very complex and and everchanging situation and and so our team is continuing to look at at what measures we can do um to to bring um some sort of reduction uh during those uh waves of traffic um coming out of this station. >> Okay. So thank you for that. So as councelor Omir mentioned the one of the biggest it's always busy is what we hear it's always busy and I appreciate we have technology advancing our uh our operational effectiveness. Um can you let us know the transit priority corridor for trfalar the hov. Do you have an approximate time frame which may reduce the number of cars coming down Trafalar? >> That is so um that is an initiative that uh we would work on in coordination uh with Town of Oakville staff. Um and I can get you uh some updated timing on that. >> So I'm going to look it over at Lynn. Any chance Lynn? You have a date in mind? Uh no I don't have uh through the mayor. I don't have a we are working with the region to work on the schedule and the plan and program for that. Okay. So I don't have an update at this time. Sorry. because on Midtown we have a 2035 north south timeline but we don't have the HOV and I think that uh one should surely be able to be able to get get ahead to to help us with this growth that we're we have been told we must take um and uh and and enable better safe driving habits on that road and I I will ask one other and that is if um through my discussions I've asked about traffic importance and about Halton Police and about the limited capacity they have to assist us at the intersections. Um, can you uh come back to us with uh the results of your discussions with the Toronto Police on any option that's viable with adaptive signal optimization? >> Yes, councelor has the uh we are uh reaching out to the city of Toronto. Um the as we understand the traffic warden program that they implemented uh during the World Cup um was uh a special program um done in in coordination with Toronto police uh and we'll follow up with them and and uh understand if there's any applicability uh in these circumstances. um different scenario of course uh uh during that um event. Uh the focus was on managing pedestrian traffic. Uh a different scenario here and we would need to understand how the traffic wardens worked with their um automated if they had automated traffic control at those intersections. Uh the having manual intervention into an automated system uh could have um ramifications in throughout the corridor um that would take several cycles to for the adaptive system to overcome um and during that period you've got gridlock happening. So we'd want to understand uh the full application of the system, where it was used, when it was used, what what challenges they encountered, and from those lessons learned, uh we can see if there's uh anything that we can implement in the TFRF corridor to deal with uh the GO train u peak offloading. >> Thank you very much for your commitment to finding solutions. >> Thank you, counselor. council, I I have to say that questions about the future uh can be left to the future and uh questions about what's in place and presented here would be more germanine. I say that only out of kindness because we're we're not going to get through your agenda if we uh don't have a bit of discipline here. Councelor Chisum. >> Fine, I'll drop it. >> Councelor Chisum, you're a good sport. Thank you, Councelor Null. Um, okay. I will cut down to one question then. Um, you're welcome. Uh, have you been in touch with Halton Regional Police Service with respect to the recently approved uh um real-time operations center that we are about to embark on pending a budget approval because it seems like there might be some synergies in terms of uh operating that together. >> Thank you for the question councelor Nol and through you mayor Burton. Yes, we have uh a meeting scheduled uh with Halton Region Police Services later on in the month um to discuss their uh their initiative. Uh we also met with them last week on on specifically operation in the Trafalar corridor. So we have a very close working relationship um with the traffic staff at at Halton Region Police Services and uh we look forward to collaborating with them on that initiative. It's a terrific initiative on both fronts. So, uh, working together might save some money and also increase some efficiency. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Councelor Elgar, >> thank you. You member. Yeah, I'm going to move you north just for a quick question. William Halton Parkway bridge. Do we have any date when that is going to be completed so a car could actually get from east to west? >> Thank you for the question, Councelor Elgar, and uh through you, Mayor Burton. Uh we have uh just recently completed final inspection on the bridge uh and uh are looking very carefully at uh the date that uh we can open the bridge to through traffic. Um of course we need to make sure that the contractor has fulfilled all their obligations uh before we can uh bring traffic into the corridor. Uh, and we expect that notification to come out very shortly. >> Is shortly a month, a year or two years? Like I people are like I get so many emails and people are really getting upset. I'm I'm sorry, but it is a bit of a a drag two years late and it it's really ticked off a lot of people that can we give it narrow it down a little bit. >> We expect the notification to come out within the next several weeks. >> I'd like to hear that. several weeks, not several months. I thank you very much, Commissioner. Thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. Thank you, Miss Jones. And thank you, Miss Rogers. Uh I hope that everybody uh appreciates the progress that's being made. And uh I would welcome a U mover and secondary to receive the presentation. Councelor Chisum and Councelor Longo. Thank you. Any objection? There being none, that carries. There are no committee minutes. There are no advisory committee minutes. And there are nine public consent items and I would solicit a vote to adopt them as presented. Councelor Adams and Councelor Dudk. Thank you. Any objection? There being none, they are adopted. Thank you, councel. Uh that brings us to hope. I should have a 10 here. >> Ah, the confident. Thank you. There it is. So then I council on the confidential consent consent items. I'm looking for the same uh council China. Thank you. And uh councelor Longo. [snorts] Uh any objection? There being none, the confidential items are also adopted. Now that brings us to our first discussion item which is the 11.1 the provincial support for municipal safety powers. And uh this is a notice of motion that was brought uh that was lodged with council on July 6th and um it's now under our process uh due for discussion. The uh counselors bringing the motion are councelor Omira and councelor Mcnes. Councelor Omira. The chair recognizes you as the mover and and then I'll turn to councelor mcnes. Councelor Omira. Uh well, thank you very much for that uh warship and I believe the um chair sent around um just an updated uh copy. I did not hear back from the chief of police um prior to the initial tableabling and and he had recommended actually that we asked the province to look at um face concealing masks during unlawful or disorderly public contact um sorry uh public gatherings. So I'll just read it very quickly if that's okay. Um whereas Oakville has experienced repeated public safety concerns during Canada Day celebrations including large unsanctioned youth gatherings, dangerous fireworks use and disorder and risk to residents um visitors, businesses and emergency responders. And whereas municipalities need clear tools to respond when large gatherings create an immediate risk to public safety. It therefore be resolved that town of Oakville request the Ontario solicitor general to work with municipalities to review and amend provincial legislation to provide cheer chart clear charter compliant authority for police and municipalities to direct the dispersal of groups when an in imminent public safety risk has been determined. And that the province review the use of face concealing masks during unlawful or public or disorderly public gatherings where worn for the purpose of concealing identity rather than for medical, religious or other lawful reasons. and consider whether additional charter compliant enforcement tools are required and that any new authority include clear limits including defined locations, limited time periods, objective safety criterias and accountability measures and that this resolution be forwarded to the solicitor general uh municipal municipal affairs and housing local MPPPs AMO and the police governance of Ontario uh board. Thank you very much for that um councelor Null. Um and and I think um the real reason here is is this isn't uh just constrained to Oakville. Uh we saw in July what happened in London, Ontario where offer officers were actually targeted and hit with incendiary devices. We've seen it in Bmpton at Chancuzi. We've seen it at Woodbine Park. We've seen it in Waterlue. We've seen it at a number of places. And and uh there's a point in time where our officers know that this is not going to be safe and and we need the tools to do that. So, uh, we're asking the province to work with municipalities either through AMO, through individual or or big city mayors to come up with some some rules and legislations that allows our officers to determine when, uh, when something is unsafe um to to go ahead and declare it as such and make sure that safety um and and our community safety is paramount. So, uh, thank you very much. >> Thank you, counselor. Counselor McNiss. >> Uh, thank you, worship. Uh, not much further to add. I mean, I think we're making progress um on this file collaboratively, taking sort of a whole of town and whole of region approach to it. Um but the problem is certainly beyond us. It it's, you know, a bit of a societal issue we're dealing with and it's spreading to more and more municipalities every year. Um so, um you know, we're looking for more collaboration proincially. Um it's it's a it's a tricky issue and we we still want people to feel safe going out and celebrating in large crowds and we're looking for ways to take away some of those concerns. Thank you. >> Thank you councelor counselor null. >> Thank you worship and uh thank you to the mover and secretary for bringing this important issue forward. I do want to make another friendly request and that you also forwarded to the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police. Um I will tell you that the uh police governance on police governance Ontario which used to be called OAPSB we actually had an informal robust conversation with some of the municipalities that are facing these problems around the table and they are certainly interested in in uh following this along as well. So uh sending that along to them would be very useful to advance that policy work. Thank you >> councelor. Let's uh consider that uh automatically read in. Uh is there any objection to the motion? Mr. Mr. Clerk, there being none, that's carried. Um now, um uh there are no confidential discussion items. You have your staff memoranda. And um now that brings us to item 14, new business. And uh I'm going to uh ask if there are any uh notices of motion uh at this time. Councelor Adams. Um, thank you very much. Councelor Lashen and I would like to introduce a uh a motion. Um, I do want to make sure that we've dealt with the uh the other item that's on the agenda here. Um, >> councelor, leave the chair to me just to introduce your motion. >> Okay. Um, I wish to introduce a motion uh regarding data centers and um I'd like to also ask that we uh wave the procedure bylaw in order to deal with that item tonight. >> Okay. [snorts] Uh so we have three notices of motion that u we have a mot I need a seconder for the uh movement for the motion to wave the procedure by councelor >> null that's fine >> councelor China uh but this is for all three uh notices of motion that we have on the agenda. Is there any objection to waving the procedure bylaw? Uh there being none, Mr. Clerk, that carries. Um now uh the first uh one that's in order is the uh notice of motion from uh councelor Romera and councelor Hlett deal which is automated noise enforcement technology for excessive vehicle noise. Councelor Romera you have the floor. It's we're really just riding on the heels of Milton and and Toronto and a couple of municipalities who have asked for the province to bring to allow us to use this technology which has been used in municipalities uh across the world and and it works and we've had for years um um uh areas and communities who've said can we please do something about this? So um and it's appropo as we're going to AMO next week and sitting down with the Minister of Transportation to say hey we're in line too. So if you're thinking about doing it we're willing we're willing participants in a pilot project. So, thank you. >> Thank you. May I call the vote? Is there any objection? Oh, councelor has it deal. Did you want to speak to this? >> Me and I just wanted to add two things. I'm happy to second it. You know, these are the safeguards that are essential and we're looking for the province to give us that authority to do what we need to do and um and we just need better tools and we can get on with solving some of this problem. So, I'm hoping everybody agrees because the noise levels are one of the top five concerns I think that we're hearing from people. Thank you, councelor. Um I know I'll get better sleep at night if uh if they're not uh going crazy. Uh any objection, Mr. Clerk? There being none, that is carried. Um that brings us to the notice of motion on data centers. Uh councelor Adams, you have the floor. >> Thank you very much. Uh earlier today I provided to a uh to the clerk a notice of motion that uh I wanted to bring forward with councelor China regarding data centers. Uh it's been circulated. I wonder if our clerk could put it up on the screen so the public could see it as well. Uh I'd like to have that up and then I'd like to read it and I've got two questions to ask one of staff and one one of you Mr. Mayor. They're working on it. There we go. >> There you go. >> Okay. Um, so the motion that's uh been brought forward is one that staff undertake a review of the official plan policies and zoning bylaw regulations for data centers, enterprise computing facilities, and similar high density digital processing facilities. The municipal study shall review the official plan policies and zoning bylaw regulations and analyze such regulations appropriate to mitigate potential adverse effects of development relating to noise, vibration, emissions and land use compatibility. The municipal study shall also define municipal responsibilities relating to environmental sustainability, energy supply and afford sorry affordability, water supply, and other utility infrastructure. Two, that staff prepare an interim control bylaw for council to consider imposing a one-year moratorium on new data centers, enterprise computing facilities, and similar high density highintensity digital processing facilities within the business employment, industrial, and business commercial designations and the employment district designation, including lands designated parkway belt west lands while the municipal study is completed. three that staff provide the interim control bylaw for council at a special meeting. And this is where I'm going to ask staff. I wonder if our planning director could let us know just how fast could an interim control bylaw be brought to council for our consideration >> through Mr. Mayor. We'd be able to do that relatively quickly as early as tomorrow. >> Then I'll read into this. Um uh could we choose a time? U Mr. Mayor, would 1:30 work? >> 1:30 would work >> then. Very well. That staff provide the interim control by for council at a special meeting at 1:30 p.m. on the 11th of August, 2026. Such meeting called by council's adoption of this motion. And four, that the clerk give public notice immediately of the special meeting with a shortened public notice. The mayor having duly determined that the interim control bylaw is an urgent and important matter as per section 8.6 of the Oakville procedure bylaw. Mr. Mayor, could you confirm uh that in fact you believe this is an urgent and important matter? >> I do confirm. >> Very well. Then uh that's the notice that we'd like to uh bring forward and have voted on today. Uh could I say a few words? >> It's your motion and you're the first speaker. >> Very well. Uh first I want to thank uh Mayor Burton uh for the mayoral direction that produced the council memo that we had uh before us just a few minutes ago uh regarding data centers that we've we've all received that we've all read it and we appreciate that. I'd like to also appreciate the work that councilors Chisum and Howard Theal uh put into uh working with the mayor towards that uh that memo uh and requesting that information. And finally, I'd like to also thank our staff for the speed with which they responded to the mayoral direction which has brought us to today. S uh finally, I'd like to thank council uh for supporting waving the procedure bylaw to allow us to consider this uh urgent and important motion today. So, over the last several months, we've heard growing concerns about largecale data centers uh development across the GTA. It's not just an Oakville issue. In fact, it's not just a GTA issue. It's a uh it's a Canadawide and perhaps North Americawide issue. Uh these projects are complex, they're energyintensive, and they're capable of reshaping land use patterns in ways that municipalities must fully understand before making long-term decisions. And that's precisely why further study is not only appropriate, it's responsible. Oakville deserves a clear evidence-based understanding of how data centers interact with our electricity, our water, our wastewater, and our telecommunications infrastructure, our environmental goals, our employment lands, the character of our neighborhoods, and most importantly, the health of our residents, uh, including impacts from things like noise and vibration, uh, and other air emissions. uh we can't afford to do our planning just based on assumptions. We need to have facts. We need modeling. We need expert analysis all to be part of our planning. This motion reflects the the memo that we've just received which notes a number of important areas for further study uh and and quite detailed study. An interim control bylaw gives us the breathing room to do this work properly. It ensures that development does not get out of policy. It's a safeguard measure that protects residents, protects our planning framework, and ensures that when Oakville does make decisions that their decisions that are informed, deliberate, and aligned with our long-term vision by supporting further study and an ICBL, we're choosing clarity over uncertainty and planning over reaction. That's good governance and it's what our community expects from us. So, thank you in advance for your support. Uh, I'd like to ask for a recorded vote at the appropriate time, please. >> Thank you, councelor. Councelor this Jenna. >> Uh, thank you, your worship. I'm uh pleased to second this motion because our first responsibility is to the people of Oakville and protecting the quality of life that makes our community such a special place. At the same time, I believe strongly that decisions we make at council should be based on evidence, careful analysis, and clear understanding of both the opportunities and the con consequences of new development of such scale. Data centers are evolving rapidly and while they can bring economic benefits and support an increasing digital economy, they can also create significant demands on energy, water, infrastructure, as well as potential concerns related to noise, emissions, and compatibility with surrounding communities. Taking the time to study these issues is not about prejudging the outcome or saying no to innovation. It is about making sure that we have the facts before us and the appropriate policies in place before making decisions that could have long-term consequences. A one-year pause gives us the ability or opportunity to listen, learn, and make informed decisions that balance economic opportunity with environmental responsibility and above all the interests and well-being of the people we serve. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councelor Chenn. Councelor Omera. >> Thank you, Rosh. I just have a question of staff um on this if that's okay. Um so I think on on July 28th, Minister Lechi said in two weeks they're going to have the regulations. I think they they passed bill 40 which had regulations on energy with um with uh data centers. And if my math is correct, that would lead us to this Thursday that regulations would would be coming out. So what happens to our intram control bylaw if the province in a matter of a couple of days brings in regulations through your mayor Burton. Uh we haven't seen any regulations as of yet counselor. Not sure yet what those are going to look like from the province. What we have seen is that there's still a um a responsibility to really look at what are the implications to these types of uses. uh not just with respect to our land use planning but also the regulations that go with those what are the implications to our employment lands etc. So the electricity piece is just one part of it and that is governed primarily by by ISO uh Oakville Hydro does have a role to play in that but we would be taking the lead from the province just in terms of how they are are measuring and uh adding new users to to the grid. >> Yeah. Yeah. I'm I guess I'm not asking you to speculate on what is coming, but theoretically if the province brings in whatever those regulations may or may not be, what happens to our intram control bylaw or our seeking of our own regulations or OP planning policies, these sorts of things >> through your Mayor Burton, the the study that we would look to undertake that would be uh derived from an IC CBL should council choose to pass one. That would be done regardless of of what the province is doing because that would be looking at our land use policies. That would be looking at our zoning regulations. That would be looking at our overall development process to see are there things that we could do through that process to augment how it works. And are there other things that we may require uh should these types of applications come forward. >> Okay. Yeah. And I I appreciate that. I think in bill 40 there is some latitude for other things besides energy in there. they can also regulate on other land use issues um with that. So I I I appreciate that. Um do we have those expertise in house for these studies or will we be going outside of house and hiring consultants and things to bring these studies back? >> Uh through your mayor Burton too early to tell. I expect that we will need some assistance uh external consulting work, but uh we need need to get it started uh sooner than later and start to scope out what that work is going to look like and then from there evaluate how we're going to need some further assistance. >> Okay, perfect. Um um I appreciate that and I'll just just speak for a couple of words here and I I completely support the uh um getting the studies and understanding what the rules of the game are because I think they're important. Um, I do want to also note that this is not the US. This is not what we're seeing in the States. This is not an Aaron Brochovich moment. This is uh uh about Canadian sovereignty. It's about where your personal information ends up uh right now. a lot of the information that Princess Margaret Hospital is using to analyze images that the Peter Monk cardiac center is using that Oakville Hospital is using right now um that Geotab we had an incredible uh performance on moving traffic with AI data from Geotab and Oakville based company. Seammens Canada's $150 million manufacturing tech all of that goes probably through Virginia right now and all that data gets scraped and whole and held in the US. There are four countries that have LLMs. The US, China, France, and Canada. And either we figure out how we control our own information and our own privacy and our children's privacy or other countries are going to control it. So, we have to be very careful about what we're trying to do. We have to protect our residents and our citizens. Absolutely. Um but again in Oakville, Ford, Colin Space Arrow, uh Collins Aerospace, Aviva, Pelmerex, a weather network, finding out weather mapping. All of these things are happening right now and they're all looking to us um to see where we can do this and how we can have a Canadian-based um um solution and our own Canadian information that we protect here. So I'm I'm on board. I'll support it. Um, but I do want to send a message out there to our Oakville businesses and our Oakville uh um Oakville based hospitals and our Ontario hospitals and researchers across this country. Even the Terry Fox uh Cancer Foundation, we hear you. We want you continue doing the research you're doing. It's important. Um it's going to save lives. Um but uh but we want to do it right. So I I support it and uh and thank you for bringing the motion forward. >> Thank you, Councelor Romera. Councelor Elgre >> Burton. I just want to thank yourself, the counselors, and the general public uh uh and everyone for bringing this motion forward. I appreciate it. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Councelor null. >> Thank you. I too want to uh join the thanks to my ward six colleagues and um I believe councelor Chisum and councelor Hlethil who really raised the alarm bells on this issue. uh is certainly something that um that we need to take very seriously and I do think that an interim control bylaw is the exact proper response at this time to give us the time that we need to study this um and come up with the proper uh regulatory um framework uh to manage it. I have no doubt that the province is going to influence this in some fashion. We'll probably be seeing more announcements as we come on. know that the uh that the ministers and the premier have made a big deal about the fact that data is a prime uh industry for Ontario. So we I'm certain that we're going to hear more from them. I do have one question though your worship and I'd like to ask staff and that is with respect to the studies that would come as a result of the interim control bylaw. Is there an opportunity to actually maybe crowdsource um some of the work that's done with other municipalities who are facing the same thing instead of us all recreating the wheel? maybe some sort of symposium or some sort of uh opportunity to get everybody together because we're all going to be studying the exact same issue. It would help us save cost, bring in more expertise into the issue and really understand uh both the the the points that councelor are bringing up but also the concerns of the residents um uh on a more wholesome basis. >> Counselor, I would just say first that the uh the interim control bylaw does not enable the study. The study enables the interim control bylaw. >> The interim control bylaw exists to u give us the ability to enact new regulations if any are needed. >> Right? But that that enacting new regulations of any or need are going to come as a result of study and work that happens following the interim control bylaw. And that's what I'm referring to. So what I'm really asking is that can we take a bigger bigger larger view of this thing with other municipalities other stakeholders that have concerns about this? I the timing is up to staff and up to whoever is putting this together. >> Councelor, we'll turn to the CEO for your answer. Thank you. >> Um madam CEO, >> uh through you, Mr. Mayor, absolutely. We can coordinate with the other municipalities to see what we can do collectively. This item is in front of many councils, so everyone is currently looking at it. I know through the OBCM CAOs, this has been an issue that's been raised as well. Um, so there is a lot of collaboration that we can have happen among Ontario municipalities. >> Just as a quick followup, I mean, this may be a real leadership moment for Oakville, too, that we could potentially lead the charge on on putting together that sort of uh collective effort. Just something for thought amongst the team there. I know it's extra work, but certainly it's something that we're going to have to face. It's the largest project so far that we're hearing about. So maybe Oakville could take a leading charge on on on working through this proposal. you mayor Burton. We'll certainly take that under advice. >> Thank you, Councelor Councelor Chisum. >> Thank you, Worship. Um, I want to thank everybody who's involved with this. I think it's very important. It came up so quickly in the last couple of months across Canada and across the world. Um, I'm glad that staff have taken on u the responsibility of doing the research. I think it's evidence-based information in order to make uh appropriate uh decisions and judgment. However, through the process, and I know through the planning process, we need to have community engagement. It's important that we're transparent on this and our community is well aware uh what is happening and uh have input as much as possible. Uh this is new territory, folks, and we need your your input. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, councelor Councelor Nandanda. >> Thank you, Mayor Burton, and thank you to yourself and my council colleagues, um councelor Adams and Lis Chenna, for bringing this up. Uh there were several questions um up in the north whether this was in W six or W seven. Um so although this is in W six and um directly um beside W 7 um and throughout Oakville, all the residents that came out and spoke and advocated um we're here to let you know that we are here to listen to your concerns um because they are our concerns as well. and knowing the largecale AI facility that they're proposing is very concerning at this point. And so once we can have all the information given to us to know what is acceptable and what is not acceptable, um this is the right thing to do at this time. So thank you. Thank you, Mayor Burton. >> Thank you, councelor. Councelor Hazat deal. >> Thank you, Mayor Burton. Um I echo my council colleagues comments. My question to staff is you have a lot of research and studying to do and I I agree with uh councelor um null's uh comments about you know let's go broad and let's get some expertise um and resources pulled together. There is a high expectation of the public being able to participate, but my understanding is you need to do a lot of this research before you're going to come back to the public. So, at at what point will you give us a consultation plan because I believe that expectations need to be clear. We need to hear from the public. We value the public's input, but we also want to make fact-based decisions. And so is will you be reporting back to us just to walk us through what you think the consultation plan will be? >> Counselor, my advice is that we allow staff and the professionals to produce a report and we then have public consultation on the report. We want regulations that will stand up to challenge and they should be based therefore on uh the the professional approach. The consultation for the public can follow and uh council can then consider the input of the public but I wouldn't mix the two for the fear of of um dragging down the credibility of the actual uh professional report. >> So Mayor Borton that was the level of clarity I was seeking for the public. Um, and if if the CEO agrees, um, then I I I would concur. I wasn't encouraging mixing it. I just wanted clarity for the public on how it would flow. And is that mean? >> I hear you, Mr. Mayor. As the mayor had said, once the study itself is concluded, certainly there'll be public consultation elements with that. and the website that you quickly were able to put pull together, will will we see updates on it over the next while or will it wait until you've completed the study? >> Uh, at this moment, I'd suggest it will probably wait until we conclude the study. There's a fair amount of information and expertise we need to get in order to pull the information together. So, at this point, I'd suggest that it's once the study itself is available. >> Thank you very much, >> council. I'll just add that uh it is a fact that an interim control bylaw can be appealed and so it may very well happen that we will be tested and that's why I urge us to be very careful about uh dotting our eyes and crossing our tees and being very official. Um I'm about to call the vote. I I want to say that uh it's important to understand that a a data center could happen anywhere in town. It's not just one. Uh it's important, I think, to remind everybody that in my time as your mayor, uh we have been guided as much as we could be by the precautionary principle. And the precautionary principle means acting now and not waiting to see what the province may or may not do. And uh in the meantime, I would urge everybody to who hasn't to read the staff memo. It's it's easy to read. I have read it carefully. It is very well done and very well written. It's only 11 pages. Um and it really covers the matter to a tea. It is a good base from which to move forward in our research and for members of the public that are concerned or have um anxieties about this. This would be a good place to start to reduce your anxiety and to become confident that that we are going to continue to do what we have always done which is protect our town and make sure that our livability is uh celebrated around the country. So, um, uh, council, a recorded vote was asked for. Madam, Mr. Clerk, would you call the vote? >> Councelor Omira, >> yes. >> Councelor Mcnes, >> yes. >> Councelor Dick, >> yes. >> Councelor Chisum, >> yes. >> Councelor Hazel Theal, >> yes. >> Councelor Giddings, >> yes. >> Councelor Algar, >> yes. >> Councelor Longo, >> yes. >> Mayor Burton, >> yes. >> Councelor Null, >> yes. >> Councelor Adams, >> yes. >> Councelor Luca, >> yes. >> Councelor Nanda, >> yes. >> Councelor Shei, >> yes. Thank you everybody. That seems to carry. Um we have a request for report from uh councelor null and councelor Lcha. They want uh to uh have a report where staff will report back to council on options to address illegal use of electric scooters by children under the age of 16 in Oakville. Separate and apart from the broader electric scooter pilot consultation. That the report include a review of the current legal and enforcement framework. potential education and awareness measures, possible enforcement or bylaw options, opportunities for collaboration with relevant community and public safety partners, a best practices scan of other municipalities, uh addressing of illegal and unsafe escooter use by children, and any other measures staff consider appropriate to reduce illegal underage use and improve public safety. and that staff report back with recommendations as soon as practical recognizing that this is a current and growing uh public safety concern involving children. Is there any objection to this report request? Councelor Chisum and councelor Nanda. >> Uh >> no. >> Yes. I just a comment on it or a question is >> go ahead. >> Thank you. Uh just for staff, I just from recollection, have we not pursued this this uh escooter uh report through inter um ministerial uh memos uh on uh regulations down the line if I recall. I just want to make sure we're not duplicating staff workloads >> uh through Mayor Burton. So there is a memo through the intergovernmental um memos but as well as part of the transportation master plan that I spoke about earlier is one of the action items includes a uh escooter implementation review which we are bringing uh forward later in 2026. >> Oh thank you. Um oh do you got to remember this but it's more than the e- scooters. The whole I think we also made a friendly amendment on uh ebikes bikes pedaling and so forth was another issue. So, I don't want to uh confuse the uh the the reports or the request reports. So, if we're separating that out, that so be it. But I just want to make sure we don't lose that because we have challenges with these ebikes too uh when they're passing cars at 40 km an hour and they don't have a helmet. >> Uh through the uh Mayor Burton, yes, it would encompass both items actually because it is a a fullsome report that we would be bringing that address all aspects of electronic mobility if you want to call it. >> Thank you, Councelor Chism. Councelor Nanda. >> Thank you through you, Mayor Burton. So, I just noticed this morning today that Toronto Police is doing a safety enforcement campaign for the next two weeks on micro mobility and e scooters and ebikes. Um, is that something we've had a chance to discuss with Halton Police yet? >> Uh, through Mayor Burton, uh, we, uh, like all of the traffic matters with Halton Region, we have a close relationship with the traffic management team at Halton Region Police. uh we'll be uh communicating with them throughout the process of this study and seeing what type of educa education and awareness can be included as part of the implementation review. >> Yeah, I think this would be really good to do closer to the time that they do their safety blitz when school starts. I think they could probably work this into that as well. So, thank you. >> All right. Thank you, councelor Ninda. Councelor Null, I would uh you have the floor next, but I'd like to ask you if you want to change the words electric scooters to micromobility devices. I think that the the issue that we are trying to get at Council Chin and I are actually kids on e- scooters. So, it's it's I and I was that was what I was going to actually speak about is I want to be careful not to conflate the issues of the pilot project and micromobility. I'm because this is specifically for children, >> right? And uh I see children in the neighborhood all the time on micromobility devices that are not exactly e scooters. So >> my compromise >> it's it's it's up to you. >> I have a compromise. If this is okay with councelor Lchenna if we put a comma after e- scooters and say and other microobility devices then I'd be fine with that because I think that e- scooters is where the majority of our constituents are expressing their their concerns. >> The clerks have written it in. >> Thank you. >> All right. Uh, councelor null next then are you? >> Okay. Yeah, thank you. I basically said what I was going to say. I want to be really clear that we're this is a separate issue from the pilot project because at no point is the province or anybody suggesting that children under the age of 16 will be legally allowed to use e scooters. This issue is coming up over and over and over again amongst our constituents. And I do think that many are I I haven't seen the data, but I'm assuming a lot are writing in on the pilot project about children. So I think it's really important that we we have a separate lane. no pun intended on this particular issue to really find ways that we can address this. I know other municipalities are are looking at this. So, I think there's some good best practices out there both in Canada, United States, but it really is something we need to get our head around before um there's another tragedy. There's one recently with two children that were one was severely injured in Tobico. Um doctors are speaking out from sick kids. It is a it's a huge issue and I really look forward and thank you to Lyn Rogers for the conversation. Uh we talked a little bit about how this would work if it got passed and I and I totally support of blending it together in the same report. So, oh, and last thing I want to say is the Halton Regional Police Board will be hearing a report from Halton Police on this very issue on August 27th if anybody's interested. Uh our our uh our board meetings are televised on YouTube. >> Thank you, councelor. Your worship point of order. Can we get that report to council? be happy to after the fact. >> Councelor Omera. >> Um yeah, thank you worship and and just I just want to be clear with the motion that councelor Hasllett Theo and I passed last year with the transportation master plan. It wasn't just to bring back a survey. The second part actually, you know, asked for options for the to advance the town's opportunity to regulate the use of e- scooters and ebikes. So that's coming back with the survey. Is that correct? uh through Mayor Britain. Yes, that is correct. We are uh hoping to provide a wholesome uh overview of uh ES scooters implementation as well as the options for council to consider which includes the survey and in addition to councelor N's uh motion items today. >> Okay. And I just just to to be clear as well, I know counselor no wanted to separate ebikes, but there's this new thing where 60 kids get on their e >> sorry, I'll I'll wait for a second here. >> Could we have order in the uh council Ken? Thank you, Council. I apologize. >> No problem. Thank you. And and just to be clear, there's a new thing where from Kur Street to Bronny now 60 kids get on their ebikes and all do wheelies all down Lake Lakeshore Road and take cars off the road and everything. So there are kids on ebikes. There are kids on these e- motorbikes on Dundas doing wheelies going 85 km an hour. There's nobody enforcing any of this. There's nobody doing anything with this. So um I I would say there's some imperiveness to to to get on this. So I I thank you for that and I thank you for councelor Nol and Lischa for for um relighting this issue for sure. Thank you. >> Thank you councelor councelor mcnes >> through your worship. Um just have a question for staff where this would fall. I was reading and and heard about Toronto fire uh came out in an article about a week ago saying that every day now they're getting a call for a battery fire related to these e- scooters, e-mobility devices. you know, if Toronto's 10 times the size as uh Oakville, then I'd say probably we're getting, you know, a couple a week or so. Um, would that be needed through a direction or is that already encompassed in what you're reporting back on later this year, the the fire hazards of where these things are stored? I'm hearing it's on balconies and condos and, you know, all over the place causing problems. >> Uh, through Mayor Burton, the study in itself looks at the transportation component. It doesn't speak to or won't speak to again the storage component or the um that component of uh you know the use of e- scooters again because we are looking to bring forward options for a council to consider um you know the use of implementation. So we do uh it would depend if it council does want to uh proceed with that then I would see that coming in afterwards. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um, so just for clarity, councelor null, would that be something you would want to include? Just the safe storage of these devices as well, seeing where there's a knowing concern about them catching fire and uh I'm sure here too, but you know, Toronto is always the first one to deal with these issues. It >> doesn't fit, does it? >> Yeah, I with with great respect and I do understand the issue. Um, I'm reading about them as well. I do think that the imperative around children 10, 11, 12 year old children driving uh e- scooters and microobility devices at you know 25 50 60 kilometers an hour is is so important. It needs to stand alone in my opinion. Okay. I certainly support if you want to add something later on they've got lots of uh they got lots of runway before they give the report but I prefer to keep this one clean on this issue. >> No, no problem. I'll take it up with staff. Thank you. Councelor Mcnes, I would I would advise that the fire service almost certainly already has the authority it needs to deal with a lack of safety around incendiary devices such as a bad battery. Uh and we do inspections. So, uh there's there's powers already in the fire department. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> And after we consult with them, if they need more, we'll find them for them. All right. Uh I'll ask if there's any objection again. And this time I don't see any and so the request is approved. I'd now ask you uh for a mover and seconder for the bylaws uh as listed in the agenda 17.1 through 17.4. Councelor Giddings. Thank you. And uh councelor Shia. Thank you. Any objection? There being none, the bylaws are read, considered, and passed. And that ends our work. Uh uh thank you very much for the discipline and the focus that you showed today and uh you got through the agenda in a couple of minutes less than I thought it would take. So well done everybody. That ends the meeting and we'll see you at >> 6:30. >> 6:30 for Planning and Development Council.