City Council Meeting: Vacant Buildings, Parks Planning, and Dog Safety

The committee discussed vacant-building enforcement, the Parks and Recreation Master Plan update, and proposed changes to dangerous-dog rules. Members directed staff to improve coordination on high-risk vacant properties, examine ways to recover inspection and enforcement costs from property owners, and report back in the second quarter of 2027. The committee also reviewed a parks plan intended to guide growth to 2042 and approved amendments requiring broader consultation on dangerous-dog policy.

Topics Discussed

VACANT BUILDING ENFORCEMENT

Council discussed recurring problems at vacant properties, including repeated fires, break-ins and safety risks for neighbours. Councillor Skylar Franke said the city currently has "187 of these houses on the list" and added, "I would like to see in the future these houses not burning down, not exploding and making sure that neighbors are safe."

Staff said enforcement is not only complaint-driven. Miss Beffer told council, "We have the registry of vacant buildings. We have identified the problematic properties on that registry and those properties get additional attention in the form of inspections." She said staff work with the fire department on proactive inspections.

Members also discussed shifting more of the cost burden to property owners. Councillor David Ferreira said, "I want to take the costs off of the tax base and I want to put the costs onto the holders of these vacant properties," arguing that fees could both encourage repairs and reduce pressure on taxpayers. Franke also asked staff to "look into the possibility of having the fire department be able to issue fines as well."

A report on enforcement options, including possible cost recovery through user fees, is expected in the second quarter of 2027.

PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN

Council reviewed the Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2026 Update, which staff said is meant to guide parks, recreation facilities and open-space planning as the city grows to about 593,000 residents by 2042. Miss Smith said the update is intended to ensure those spaces "continue to meet the needs of our rapidly growing and increasingly diverse population."

The plan sets a citywide parkland target of 1.88 hectares per 1,000 people and aims to have 94 per cent of residents within an 800-metre, or roughly 10- to 15-minute, walk of a park. Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis supported that direction, saying the goal of a park within a 10- to 15-minute walk for 94 per cent of residents "is a good target for us to have."

Council members asked how the city will measure demand for new facilities and sports. On netball and other emerging sports, staff said there is no fixed participation threshold. Mr. McGonagal said, "There isn't necessarily a numerical threshold. What I would say is demonstrated demand will be on local participation numbers," along with organized clubs and affiliations with provincial and national sport bodies.

PARKLAND, FACILITIES AND ACCESS

Discussion also focused on how residents access recreation spaces across the city and whether future facilities should be built in partnership with school boards. Lewis said co-locating facilities with schools could be "a good cost efficiency way to approach things, especially from a land acquisition point of view," and asked whether co-builds are part of staff discussions.

Councillor Hadleigh McAlister raised questions about amenities residents regularly ask for in parks, including washrooms and covered spaces. "It's one that comes up a lot," McAlister said, asking whether long-term planning includes those features.

Members also discussed affordability and access to recreation programming. McAlister asked whether the city expects changes to "Play Your Way" or other subsidized programs as London grows.

RECREATION DEMAND AND COMMUNITY INPUT

The committee approved a delegation request from Elle Butterfield, who spoke about introducing netball to younger residents. Butterfield said, "My main aim is to introduce netball to younger boys and girls, giving children an opportunity to discover a sport that they may never experience before, develop confidence in teamwork, make friends, and hopefully grow the sport."

Council also asked how residents and sports groups can continue to shape the master plan before the final report returns. Councillor Jerry Pribil asked staff what the best route is for groups to provide feedback "from now till the final report comes back," including through the city's Get Involved pages and direct communication with councillors and staff.

DANGEROUS-DOG REGULATIONS

Council reviewed proposed changes to dangerous-dog investigations and enforcement, including how staff assess incidents and whether education should be part of the response. Councillor Anna Hopkins asked, "Would part of the strategy be about the education component to the dog owner?"

Councillor Sam Trosow pushed for broader consultation before staff return with recommendations. He said, "I just want to make sure that when the staff report comes back that they're consulting with as many interested stakeholders as possible," adding that "there is a lot of expertise in this community regarding dog behavior."

Ferreira argued that owner response and training matter in preventing repeat incidents. "Behavior can be changed at any dog, any age," he said, adding that improvement depends on "what type of environment" the dog is in and "how the owner is responding to those behaviors."

Motions

Passed - Vacant Building Safety and Enforcement: Staff directed to improve identification of high-risk vacant properties, security measures and coordination among fire, police and municipal-law departments. - Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2026 Update, Item 2.2: Delegation request approved for Elle Butterfield to speak on netball programming. - Enhanced Response to Public Safety Risk and Dogs, Item 2.3: Amendment passed directing staff to consult the Environmental Stewardship and Action Community Advisory Committee, the Humane Society and the London Animal Care Centre. - Dog-bite investigation bylaw amendment: Carried with direction for staff to report back in the second quarter of 2027.

Attendees

Councillors identified in the discussion or materials provided:

• Shawn Lewis
• Jerry Pribil
• Hadleigh McAlister
• Skylar Franke
• Sam Trosow
• Anna Hopkins
• David Ferreira
• Corrine Rahman