Good afternoon everyone and welcome to the special council meeting on June 1st, 2026. Individuals interested in participating in today's meeting were eligible to register online using the delegation registration form at www.kitchener.ca/delegation or via email at delegation@kitcher.ca. Any written comments received prior to the commencement of this afternoon's meeting uh have been circulated to members of council and will form part of the public record. The meeting live stream and archived videos are available at www.kitchener.ca/watch.now. Before we begin this afternoon's meeting, I'd like to acknowledge that today we're gathering on the traditional territory of the neutral Anesnabi and Hodnoni peoples. We recognize our responsibility to serve as stewards for the land and honor the original caretakers who came before us. our communities enriched by the enduring knowledge and deeprooted traditions of the diverse First Nations Matei and Inuit in Kitchener. Today, before we begin this afternoon's uh meeting, I'd like to take a moment to recognize a few uh upcoming periods of observance during the month of June. First, I'd like to acknowledge that June 6 commemorates five years since the deadly attack on the uh the uh on the on our London family. We continue to hold them in our hearts and stand with communities across our region and country in reme remembering the three generations lost to a cowardly act of hate. Moments like this remind us of the responsibility we all share to challenge hate, foster understanding, and build a community where everyone feels safe and valued. It is in that context that we continue to see the impacts of hate in our communities today. Just weeks ago, a deadly attack at a mosque in San Diego claimed the lives of three people in what authorities are investigating as a possible hate motivated act. And in the coming days, the Center for Mutual Well-being, formerly known as the Coalition of Muslim Women, will release its snapshot of hate report on June the 6th. This report is an important reminder that Islamophobia and other forms of hate continue to affect people across Ontario. As a council and as a community, we must remain committed to listening, learning, and taking meaningful action to address hate in all its forms. That commitment to building a community where people feel safe, respected, and included is reflected in how we recognize and celebrate the diversity of our city. June is also a time to recognize Seniors Month, National Indigenous History Month, and Pride Month. In that spirit, I'd like to begin by recognizing Seniors Month. June is a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of older adults in our community. This year's theme, let's get moving, highlights the importance of staying active, engaged, and connected as we age. Across Kitchener, there are many opportunities for older adults to take part in programs and events that support wellness, learning, and social connection. Seniors play an important role in shaping Kitchener as volunteers, mentors, leaders, and neighbors, and their experiences and perspectives strengthen our city. Throughout seniors month, we also take time to celebrate these contributions and recognize outstanding community leaders through initiatives like the Senior of the Year Award. This year's 2026 Senior of the Year award will be presented at a special invitationon event with the 13 nominees and their families on Wednesday, June the 10th. It's also an opportunity to reflect on how we continue to build a community where older adults feel supported, connected, and able to age with dignity, independence, and a strong sense of belonging. As we recognize the contributions of seniors in our community, we also take this time to reflect on the deeper histories that shape our city. In a city like Kitchener built on diverse stories, it's important to recognize the ones that came first. The histories and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Matei peoples are a fundamental part of who we are as a community today. As we mark National Indigenous History Month, it is time to reflect on that history and what it means for how we move forward together. It is also a time to acknowledge the ongoing legacy of colonialism and the injustices including displacement, force assimilation, and systemic discrimination that continue to impact indigenous communities. Here in Kiter, we're on the traditional territory of the neutral anesabi and honosonyi peoples, recognizing that history is an important part of understanding who we are as a community and how we should continue to move forward on our journey toward reconciliation. It is also a time to listen. To listen to the voices of indigenous peoples, to learn from their experiences, and to acknowledge the impacts of the past that continue to create inequities today. Across our city, indigenous residents, artists, knowledge keepers, and leaders are making important contributions to our community. Their work, creativity, and leadership help make Kitchener a stronger and more inclusive place for everyone. As a city, we remain committed to continuing the work of reconciliation. That work takes time. It means building relationships based on respect, supporting ind indigenous voices, and taking meaningful action. As part of that ongoing work, we'll be taking an important step forward this summer with the creation of an indigenous people's gathering space in Victoria Park. It will be a dedicated s ceremonial fire space ded developed in partnership with local indigenous communities, creating a place for gathering, reflection, and cultural practice. This month also includes an opportunity to come together as a community. June 21st is National Indigenous People's Day. Celebrated on the summer solstice, it holds spiritual significance for many indigenous peoples. And I encourage everyone to attend community events and connect with the work of local indigenous organizations. As we continue this work together, I also encourage everyone to take part throughout the month by attending local events, supporting indigenous artists and businesses, and taking time to learn more about the history of this land and the people who have called it home since time immemorial. That same commitment to inclusion and belonging carries into how we also recognize Pride Month. A sense of belonging is something we all share or long for. It's the feeling of being able to show up as yourself, knowing you're respected, supported, and valued by the community around you. In Kitchener, creating that kind of community is something we're committed to building every day. As we mark Pride Month this June, we take time to celebrate the 2s LGBTQIA plus community, the people, stories, and contributions that help shape our city, and recognize the ongoing efforts to ensure everyone can live safely and authentically. But belonging doesn't happen on its own. It's something we create together through the way we treat one another, the spaces we build, and the choices we make as a community. Kitchener is committed to fostering a culture of inclusion where neighbors look out for one another, where differences are welcomed, and where everyone has the opportunity to participate fully in community life. That commitment shows up in big ways and small ones, in policies and programs, and in everyday acts of inclusion and respect. Each of us has a role to play in that work. Whether it's speaking up, offering support, or simply choosing kindness, our individual actions help shape a city and a world where people can live without a fear of discrimination or exclusion, and where everyone has the freedom to be who they are. We see that commitment reflected in the strength of Kitchener's 2SLGBTQIA plus community. Local artists, advocates, and organizations like Triide continue to lead with resilience, care, and creativity, helping to build spaces where people feel seen and connected. This spirit will be on full display at the Tribe Pride Festival on June 6 at Victoria Park, where the community will gather to celebrate, connect, and show their pride and support. Events like the tripired are a powerful reminder of the importance of visibility, community, and joy. As we mark Pride and Kitchener and raise the Pride flag at City Hall, as we did this morning, we do so with bold celebration, and purpose. We're recognizing how far we've come and reaffirming the work that still lies ahead. Together, we can continue building a city and a world where everyone belongs. And last, but certainly not least, before we move into this afternoon's agenda, on behalf of city council and the residents of Kitchener, I'd like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Kitchener Rangers on the momentous 2026 Memorial Cup Championship victory, the first one since 2003 and their third in Ranger history. We're so proud of this team. The Kitchener Rangers recent win is something many in our city have been celebrating. It's a reflection of hard work, teamwork, and the strong spirit of community that makes Kitchener what it is. Moments like this have a way of bringing people together. Whether you're a lifelong fan or simply enjoying the energy it creates across our city, bringing junior hockeyy's ultimate prize home to Kitchener after hiatus since 2003 is an achievement our community will cherish for years to come. And to celebrate this historic accomplishment, we invite all Rangers fans and community members, young and old alike, to join us tomorrow for a parade and a victory celebration to welcome our champions home. A community celebration will take place beginning at 6 p.m. commencing with a parade beginning in downtown Kitchener at King and Queen Streets. and Ranger fans are encouraged to line King Street as the parade proceeds to Kitchener City Hall and and join in the parade uh where with the team where a special memorial cup uh championship celebration will take place. I want to thank those uh sponsors who have become part of the celebration including Sunlife who are celebrate who are sponsoring the the overall event. uh Musanookis who are uh sponsoring a barbecue with hot dogs and drinks for up to 2,000 peoples and Cobra Solutions who are um sponsoring a special um championship poster uh for the first 2,000 people to take home. For more information, visit the City of Kitchener's website at www.kitchener.ca rangers. And a special shout out to our city of Kitchener uh team at the auditorium who last night hosted a a watch party. Uh we had about uh 1,500 uh or a little more uh people participating. Uh councelor Dave Schneider wasn't in his normal role of of being an announcer during uh appropriate moments uh in the in the game. Uh and we had a number of members of council and staff in attendance. So, it was a a great way to come together with community uh for this championship game. And with that, I will now move two. Uh are there any disclosures of peunary interest? There being none, uh I'll move to delegations. And we have uh one delegation. uh to all delegations, I want to remind them that the city values, encourages participation and dialogue in a democratic process that occurs in council and committee meetings and through written submissions and correspondence. It is important that these interactions remain respectful towards other members of the public, staff, and council. In cases where dialogue is not respectful or delegate interrupts the mayor or counselor, staff or other delegations, makes derogatory statements about the mayor, counselor, staff, or others that is disrespectful, or a use of language that is considered harmful or defamatory. The chair may interject and take necessary actions to maintain a respectful and inclusive environment for everyone, which could involve removal from the meeting. One last reminder, delegations are permitted to address council for a maximum of 5 minutes, which will be displayed on the screens in front of you. When there's 30 seconds remaining in your time, you will hear a small audio tone that will signal 30 seconds remaining. Please take that time to conclude your presentation as there will be a second tone at the completion of your time and the microphones will turn off automatically shortly after the exceeded 5minute mark. Lastly, please do not take offense if following your presentation, there are no questions from council. This is council's time to really listen and reflect upon the opinions and ideas shared with us from our community members. We'll now move into uh item 4.1, zoning bylaw amendment for 450 to 470 King Street East. I'll note that we have written submissions from Nathan Tarwell, Dr. Quinn Dupont, as well as Nathan Bud. um staff I don't believe have any present they know so we'll go to our one delegation and we have uh Dr. Quinn Dupont uh joining us virtually welcome Dr. Dupont >> thank you very much to the chair um first of all I would just like to thank uh you for willing to listen to me again um I have uh my my my wife is away for work trip and so I have my my one-year-old daughter here and um So, I'm very grateful that for the staff to have been able to enable this. And actually, it's kind of more appropriate that my daughter is here because she's really the one I'm I feel like I'm speaking most for. Um, I think as as as I've made clear before, I think that we need a park in this area. I think we need a park for the residents, but more than that, I think we need a park for my daughter Audrey. And um I think we all know that if this is if land doesn't get used for a park now it's unlikely to ever be a park in Kina um it's not like the land's going to get any cheaper so with that said um through the chair uh dear council that the city acquired the land for housing before any planning analysis was conducted the city accepted housing accelerator fund money to deliver housing targets the mayor announced the site would deliver at least 150 affordable units partnership has already been in place with housing saying architects have been retained and a public committee has already been named. So I ask that when council sits as an approval authority under the planning act, it acts as a quasi judicial role and the law requires you to weigh this application against the official planning statement, the regional official plan and get your own official plan with an open mind and you're required to be generally genuinely persuadable by the evidence and submissions you hear from delegations. That requirement is not satisfied by procedure alone. It is not satisfied by holding a public meeting and posting a notice and tableing a report. It's satisfied only if council can demonstrate on the record that the planning merits were actually weighed and that approval wasn't just simply a foregone conclusion the moment purchase was closed. So I'm asking three things. First, that council state on the record that the funding agreements and the prior public commitments did not bind your vote on this amendment. Second, that the conditions of the housing accelerator fund agreement as they relate to this particular site be tabled publicly so that residents can assess for themselves whether council's discretion has been constrained. And third, that when you deliberate, you deliberate against the official plan, including its parkland provisions and not against the sunk costs of the decision already made. Council's authority under the planning act is delegated by the province on the assumption that this will be exercised not performed and the legitimacy of this decision depends entirely on that distinction. Thank you very much and thank you for putting up with my daughter. Thanks very much u Dr. Deont for uh for coming in. Uh I don't see uh any questions and thanks for bringing a uh a young future uh delegate onto the onto the call. It's always uh always great to uh to have uh young people uh of all ages participating. Thank you very much. Okay. Um so um I will now move to councelor Singh to bring forward the recommendation from planning committee. >> Thank you Mr. Mayor. A rising from the planning and strategic initiatives committee from May the 25th. Uh moved by myself and seconded by councelor Chapman. >> Okay. Thank you. It's been moved and seconded. Any discussion? Councelor Stretch. >> Yes. Um, I have some questions of staff that I'd like to follow up on. Um, from our from our previous PAC meeting, um, we talked about the need for some maybe perhaps some collaboration with parking and what that could look like um, especially for different service providers. Um, has any any exploration h gone into what that possibly could look like? Miss Alzour. >> Yes. Through the chair, transportation services staff indicated that studies of affordable housing development shows a range of parking demand of zero spaces per unit 2.4 depending on the location, organization, income level, type, and access to transit. In this case, uh Kitchener Housing Inc. has provided detail comparable for Kitchener Housing Inc. housing on Joseph Street which is also a downtown location close approximately to public transit and it was built in 1980s. Um Kitchener Housing Inks reports that there are currently about 100 units um in this in this building with different room and sizes. Um, and in this case, the development only has 37 parking spaces and uh they're used by by tenants. Um, six of those units have two vehicles. The rest have no vehicles and this site has been functional functioning. Um, it is noted that for 470 King Street East, Kitchener Housing, Inc. will match housing to tenants. Um, for those who require parking, they might have to locate them in a different location. So they will make sure they arranged for that for they they arranged for that. Um so that's that's mainly it from the stats we buil we we pulled beside of course um the alternative methods of transportation that will be used on site. >> Okay. So just to follow up on that um you said alternatives will be arranged for. So what what could that look like? um like alternative units. If someone is in need for housing and maybe if I can elaborate more on that, if someone has a vehicle and they need an access to a to a a unit in an affordable housing, then Kitchener Housing Inc. will make sure they will provide them with a unit that has parking, maybe somewhere else, not in this building, >> including service providers. So service providers, anyone that comes from Kitchener Housing, Inc. will make sure that they will park on city facilities or other parking outside this building. So that has been arranged um for and then the site will uh provide some um short-term visitor parking that will arrange for those um service providers. >> Okay, thank you. Um and can you speak to the the formal affordable housing breakdown and what what is what is being offered? see if I can answer this. >> I am not from the design team. Um I'm from Kitchener Housing Inc. and uh maybe I'll back up because I think some of the confusion may be coming around definition of what is affordable, what is market rent, etc. And so if you will indulge me, let me start with our mandate, sort of the floors that have been established and the information that is dependent on our funders um and funding that's coming in. So Kitchener Housing, Inc. has been an affordable housing provider in the Kitchener area for 40 years. So we were there in 2003 when the Rangers won and also in 1990 when they made the uh the finals. Um our mandate is just around affordable housing. So there is a notfor-profit mandate and the metrics by which we measure our success is around the affordability of the homes that we provide. Now affordability of course is not a vacuum. It needs to be sustainable and there needs to be a particular level of dignity and and quality for human for individuals. Having said that, this particular project um when we use the term market rent and I think that's where there's confusion, we don't mean market rent the way perhaps people understand it. It's market rent in the context of a notfor-profit provider with a mandate for affordability. So there is no markup for profit or for dividend paying in that construct right there. I >> you can proceed. >> I can proceed. All right. Um, and so 100% of the units in this project will meet the Build Canada Homes definition of affordability, including ones that are targeted market rent. Of that, right now, a minimum of 25% of units will be marked as deeply affordable. the exact mix and it is our hope to make that number more than 25% um and to go deeper than the Build Canada homes definition of affordability is dependent on the funding that we receive. But I can tell you given there is no sort of profit motivation that any additional funding will go towards deeper affordability if that if that assists with this this question. >> Thank you. Okay. Are there any other questions? If not, um, and I'm not sure who wants to take this, Mr. Reedman or or Mr. Stevenson. Uh, there were some questions that the delegation um referenced. Um, and I'm wondering if uh, count staff can uh can reassure council and the delegation with respect to the concerns that were that were raised. Mr. Stevenson. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, yes, I can confirm and we talked a little bit about it last week that uh the city as a as directed through the strategic plan of council uh is undertaking a parkland acquisition strategy. It's our intention to bring that strategy forward to this term of council. Uh uh Dr. Quinn has has their delegation last week and this week correctly identified uh that King East is a neighborhood in need of parkland. Uh there are other opportunities that we are exploring that we will bring back as part of that parkland acquisition strategy for uh potential parkland both in King East and King West and other high priority neighborhoods. So uh we agree with with uh Mr. Quinn's delegation that there is a need for parkland. We see an opportunity of providing that through the parkland acquisition strategy and uh we can focus the discussion on how we actually achieve that as part of that process. >> Thank you. you maybe just as a as a Mr. Reedman XJC, you have your Go ahead. Oops, sorry. Go ahead. Through the mayor. And so I have uh the first question noted as that council council state on the record that the funding agreements and prior public commitments do not bind your vote on this agreement. And I believe part of that question was around um you know whether purchasing this land um required the planning act um application decision. And so what I can say from a staff perspective is that planning staff that made the recommendation and brought that forward were not involved in the housing accelerator fund component of the work. And so there was a separation between staff making their professional planning recommendation on the merits of an application and the team that put together the uh funding application component. Um there's a question around the housing accelerator fund um agreement and and what that requires. And so there was actually two funding sources that are applied to the site. And so one is the building faster fund which was primarily used for the land acquisition and the environmental remediation of the site. And so that one was an agreement um that council endorsed um back in the approval year around um how we were planning to spend the funds. And the condition of that is that the the property stay um within the city's ownership for at least 5 years. And so we are looking at a land lease condition on this property um to satisfy that requirement and the acquisition was used to enable housing um and so in this case it's enabling h affordable housing. Um there is some contribution of the housing accelerator fund towards this project. Um and there is a requirement under that contract that we achieve I believe it's at least 62 units on at least three properties of um affordable housing and so this satisfies part of that condition uh through this work but there are two other projects in play that would also contribute to that um total contribution. >> Okay. Thank you very much for those clarifications. Um so the motion has been moved. Oh sorry councelor stretch. Sorry. Hold on. Go ahead. >> Thank you. Yeah, I just have a few more questions. >> Yes, please go ahead. >> Um I'm curious um at what stage the development plan was at when we started to engage with the community or to consult. >> Miss McGolder. Uh so through the mayor um the information related to this project has been in the public record since um the mayor's state of the city address and then subsequently through um website information and um public notices. In terms of engagement, the engagement or the consultation has been under um the engagement requirements through the planning act. Um and as um our planning staff have said um and can speak to in greater detail um there there was engagement above and beyond the minimum requirements under the planning act. >> Okay. Can you help um can you help us understand the difference between informing and engagement? U because there were some parts of this application that were I understand clearly in in either one of those categories. >> Yes. So through the chair in terms of um public engagement guidelines um there's a a spectrum in terms of um the types of engagement that you can do starting at inform which I would say up to the point of having um the design and the planning just justification report um that the the project had been following an informed model um subsequently through bringing forward the zoning bylaw amendment, it moved into um what I would call a cons consultation phase across the public engagement um spectrum of of levels of engagement. >> Okay. So, if I'm understanding that correctly, once the zoning change application came in, there was uh that's when instead of going from informing really came to the engagement. >> I believe Mr. Mr. Reedman has something to add on this >> through the mayor. And so when uh this was originally announced at state of the city, we anticipated an eight-story development with approximately 150 units, which would have met the as of right zoning requirements, which would require no consultation with the community. As soon as um we received a planning application for additional height and density, that's when it triggered additional engagement under the planning act. And so we followed all the steps and and went above and beyond by even hosting um an engagement session at the market which is beyond the statuto requirement which is actually just a council um presentation. So we also held a virtual neighborhood meeting on that application as well. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Um so the motion has been moved and seconded. Um any discussion? Councelor Stretch? >> Yes. I'd like to take the opportunity to uh voice um the concerns I've heard coming out of the King East neighborhood. Um the concerns about being underserved and feeling and mistrusting the plans that could possibly and sound like there are for um for Parkland acquisition. Generally there is a a mistrust of um of process feeling like when a confusion over when engagement and when inform uh inform like an informing the community when that happens and and how we are authentically engaging um with the residents so that we are able to take their feedback and pivot and move from that and um I am I am supportive of of this. Um, but I also I do have concerns and and would like to, you know, formally um ask um staff and council to take deep care in in how we're re rebuilding um our trust with our constit constituents and especially in this area of Kitchener where that has seen um a lot of development and a lot of change really quickly. it has been a focus um for us and so you know really taking care to to go above and beyond in our future um endeavors and engagement practices here. um and you know they the themselves as a community is changing with the beginning of a new neighborhood association and so hopefully we'll be able to hear um some voices collectively as well um because uh that that's really that's really important to them and so wanting to have a a say in what exactly and how exactly things happen is is very important. So, um, thank you for consideration this and I I please ask that you keep that in mind as we move forward not just with this project but others. >> Thank you, councelor Stretch. Any further discussion? If not, all those in favor? Any opposed? That's carried unanimously. Okay. Thank you. We'll move on now to mayoral business and updates. Um the only thing I would offer up here is that um the region will be um dealing with uh and considering um the risk based uh approach to uh water quantity and uh and development on uh on Wednesday. Um and uh I know our our staff have been working um diligently with uh with regional staff in in advancing that work uh so that they can come forward to uh to regional council and we'll share any updates uh after uh following that meeting. Um we'll now move on to item six. Motion to go in camera uh for the two items listed. Moved by councelor Oduni, seconded by councelor Chapman. Any discussion? All those in favor? Opposed? That's carried. Um we move to the bylaws. Madame clerk, is there any additional bylaws? >> Uh with the approval of the planning and strategic committee uh report for 450 and 470 King Street East, that uh bylaw now also needs to be added to the agenda. >> Okay. Thank you. So uh with that additional bylaw, do I have a mover and seconders? Councelor Schneider. Councelor Singh. Thank you. Any discussion? All those in favor? Any opposed? That's carried. Motion to adjurnn. Councelor Chapman, Councelor Misho. All those in favor? Opposed. That's carried.