Council Pauses Towers, Boosts Inclusion - City Council - April 22, 2026

Brampton City Council addressed a Ward 6 development near Mississauga Road, a proposed change to women’s recreation memberships, and a partnership that will see neurodivergent residents produce FIFA World Cup 2026 licensed merchandise. Council amended Bylaw 70-2026 to pause the high-rise portion of a development while staff and the applicant sort out how potential places of worship could affect parking. Council also directed staff to study whether monthly gym memberships should be extended by a week to account for time some women may not use facilities during menstruation.

Topics Discussed

DEVELOPMENT PAUSE NEAR MISSISSAUGA ROAD: Council amended Bylaw 70-2026 to temporarily halt approval of high-rise and mid-rise towers in a Ward 6 development near Mississauga Road. Two blocks originally zoned for apartments will revert to agricultural zoning while staff work out details related to potential places of worship and associated parking impacts. Councillor Plesi said council wanted “the opportunity for the applicant and staff to proceed with everything outside of that high-rise component of it… just any of the towers.” The rest of the development can proceed.

GYM MEMBERSHIP POLICY REVIEW: Councillor Pallesi raised a proposal to adjust women’s monthly recreation memberships to reflect periods when some users may not attend during menstruation. He said, “during that time, uh, it’s been showed that women don’t, uh, go to the gym on those days,” and asked for “the opportunity for us to move our monthly membership for them to 37 days.” Council directed staff to consult with gym users and report back in mid to late June on “the possibility of including an additional week to monthly memberships to count for portions unused due to menstruation and review and consider a reduction of the associated fee.”

FIFA WORLD CUP MERCHANDISE PARTNERSHIP: The Chance Center, a downtown Brampton charity, told council it will produce Toronto 2026 licensed apparel and drinkware for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The organization said products will be co-designed and produced by neurodivergent individuals—including people with developmental disabilities, autism, and Down syndrome—alongside racialized youth facing employment barriers. The co-founder and executive director said, “At the Chance Center, we believe people don’t lack ability, they lack access to real opportunities.”

CLOCKWORK DRIVE PARKING: Council directed staff to evaluate options for permitting on-street parking on one side of Clockwork Drive while maintaining cycling connectivity, with a report due back in May 2026.

VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION: Council approved a proclamation for National Volunteer Week (April 19–25, 2026). Councillor Powers cited 2025 volunteer figures, saying: “In 2025 alone, over a thousand Brampton volunteers contributed to more than 52,424 hours in service to our community, highlighting the depth of commitment volunteers bring to supporting city program, services, and community initiatives.”

Motions

Passed: - Consent motion covering Bill 98 response, Credit Valley Road development application, and Committee of Council minutes - Memorial bench for Judith Maduro in Roampton Park - Direction to staff to review extended gym membership options for women (including a possible additional week and/or fee reduction) - Direction to staff to evaluate Clockwork Drive parking options (report due May 2026) - Fee waiver for Hartley Turtle Troopers family fun night (“I’d like to add a motion to wave the fees reserving parking for Heartley Turtle Troopers that we do every year.” — Councillor Pallesi) - Bylaw 70-2026 (as amended) — rezoning two parcels to agricultural use in Ward 6 to pause the tower component

Proclamations Approved: - National Volunteer Week (April 19-25, 2026) - World Primary Immune Deficiency Week (April 22-29, 2026) - Human Values Day (April 24, 2026) - Universal Mercy Day/Prophet's Birthday (April 24, 2026) - Black Royals Day (April 26, 2026) - Tanzania National Union Day (April 26, 2026) - GBS-CIDP Awareness Month (May 2025) - Gujarat Maharashtra Day (May 1) - MS Awareness Month (May 2025) - National Youth Week (May 1-7, 2026) - Elizabeth Fry Week (May 3-9, 2026) - Red Dress Day (May 5, 2026)

Attendees

Present: Mayor Patrick Brown (departed mid-meeting), Councillor Pallesi, Councillor Burr, Councillor Keenan, Councillor Powers, Councillor Medeiros, Councillor Duros, Councillor Santos (assumed chair after the mayor’s departure), Councillor Plesi, Councillor Bar.

Note: One councillor declared a conflict of interest, but the specific item was not identified in the meeting summary provided.