Check one two. Testing audio. Check one two Check one two. Testing audio. Check one two Councelor Bio, can we check your mic? >> Good morning. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Deputy mayor, can we check your audio? >> Present. One, two, three. >> Thank you. >> Councelor Tour, can we check your audio? Good morning. Thank you. As we begin today's meeting, we would like to acknowledge that we are gathering here today on the traditional territories of the Missosagas of the Credit, the Hodnosi, and the Wendat Nations who have called this land home since time in memorial. We recognize the Missagas of the Credit as the original rights holders and signitories of Treaty 19, the Agettton's purchase of 1818, and that the agreements made therein are foundational to our nation to nation relationship. As a city, we are committed to our ongoing role in reconciliation through meaningful action rooted in truth, justice, and respect. We are grateful to the original caretakers of this land who have ensured we are able to work, play, and live in Bmpton now and in the future. Good morning and welcome to our meeting of Bmpton's committee of council. I will ask the clerk to advise us of who is present through you chair. online we have uh councelor bra, deputy mayor singh and councelor tour and in person councelor power yourself chair visante councelor Keenan councelor plesi mayor brown and councelor Santos councelorini has sent his regrets >> thank you very much madame clerk and so we'll move on to approval of the agenda I will ask the clerk to advise changes and updates to today's agenda >> you chair the following revisions have been published um Pictures have been added to 6.4 delegation from Anna Gonzalez. Uh video was added to the public record for dele delegation 6.5 6.6 delegation the presentation has been added. 7.1 government relations matters the presentation has been added. 13 uh referred matters list the list has been updated and item 15.2 has been withdrawn. >> Thank you very much madame clerk. Do I have any changes to today's agenda? Councelor Keenan. >> Thank you. And through you, Mr. Chair, I'd like to add a discussion item on hours of operation for home businesses. >> Thank you very much, Councelor Santos. >> Thank you so much through you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to add a discussion item regarding management of congestion um oh sorry man managing traffic flow and mitigation um due to congestion from construction. >> Thank you very much councelor Santos. I see no other additions madame clerk. So I have a motion moved by councelor Keenan to approve today's agenda as amended. All in favor? Any opposed? That carries. Do any members have a declaration of pecuniary interest under the municipal conflict of interest act for any matter to be considered on today's agenda? I see none. I'll ask the clerk to note for the meeting minutes committee. As part of our consent motion process, I will read each agenda item that is subject to the consent motion and any member may verbally identify the item to be held for debate during today's meeting. Any item not held for debate will be considered as part of the consent motion and voted on for approval. I'll start by reading the relevant agenda items and members can identify any items to be held. Item 7.1 a staff update on government relation matters in consent. Item 8.2.1 the staff report approval of various street naming requests. That is in consent. Item 8.2.2 to a staff report special event road closures community garba street festival celebrations in wards 4 9 and 10 that is in consent item 8.2.3 staff report request to begin procurement phase one of the light emmitting diode signal retrofit program that is in consent >> Mr. Chair >> held >> I wanted to hold government relations >> okay we will hold we will hold 7.1 and item 8.2.3 2.3 on LEDs. That is in consent. Item 8.2.4 the staff report for request to begin procurement of various transit goods and services in consent. Item 8.2.5 staff report budget amendment traffic safety impacts related to automated speed enforcement transition. In consent item 8.2.6 Six staff report request to begin procurement short-term rental of pickup trucks and compact cars and consent. Item 8.2.6 staff report budget amendment natural heritage restoration and management program. Consent item 8.4.1 correspondence from Toronto and Region Conservation Authority regarding conservation authorities act regulated area mapping 2026. That is in consent item 8.4.2 Two, correspondence regarding the removal of bike lanes from Nancy Solder, Bmpton resident, and Jonathan Wells, Bmpton resident. That is in consent. Item 9.2.1, staff report, cost, share, and lease agreements for the joint fire communication center in Bmpton in W 6 in consent. Item 9.2.2, staff report, request to begin procurement construction of Sandalwood Fieldhouse in W 2. Consent. Item 10.2.1, 2.1 a staff report administrative penalty system program updates that is in consent item 10.2 >> held and that is held by councelor tour >> council tour >> thank you >> item 10.2.1 is held item 10.2.2 staff report driving instruction zones pilot project review and next steps that is in consent item 12.2.1 2.1 the staff report for 2026 first quarter operating budget report in consent item 12.2.2 staff report 2026 first quarter reserves and reserve funds in consent item 12.2.3 2.3 staff report for community in improvement plan CIP for office employment the final tax increments equivalent grants payment plan for 7600 financial drive in ward 6 that is in consent item 12.2.4 Four staff report DC CIL of parkland and community benefit charge annual report summary of activity in 2025 in consent item 13 the referred matters list that is in consent item 15.1 we will hold for direction and item 15.2 two closed report for proposal of lease terms for one academic drive has been withdrawn as the delegation is not here today. I'll ask the clerk to summarize the items to be included in our consent motion. >> Thank you chair. The following items will be included on the consent motion. >> 15.1 held direction. Why are we holding? Uh >> I will ask the clerk to explain why we are holding 15.1 close session report on development approvals technology solution. >> Uh the open session motion needs to be cleaned up just open session >> needs to be cleaned up. >> So some of the motion can be passed in close session. So on consent it's just as it is. It'll be a very tidy up. So we'll be going into close session to work through that and then bring it out into open. >> Madame clerk >> on consent through you chair is 8.2.1 staff report approval of various street naming requests. 8.2.2 staff report special event road closures. 8.2.3 2.3 >> council bless you. >> Oh, sorry. Staff report request to begin procurement phase one >> um of the LED signal retrofit program. 8.2.4 staff report request to begin procurement various transit goods and services. 8.2.5 staff report budget amendment traffic safety impacts related to automated speed enforcement transition. 8.2.6 6 staff report request to begin procurement short-term rental of pickup trucks and compact cars. 8.2.6 staff report budget amendment natural heritage restoration. 8.4.1 correspondence from Toronto Region Conservation Authority. 8.4.2 Correspondence regarding removal of bike lanes. 9.2.1 Staff report cost share and lease agreements for the Joint Fire Communication Center. 9.2.2 2 staff report request to begin procurement construction of Sandalwood Fieldhouse 10 oh sorry 10.2.2 staff report driving instruction zones 12.2.1 staff report 2026 first quarter operating budget report 12.2.2 staff report 2026 first quarter reserves and reserve funds 12.2.3 staff report community improvement plan uh 12.2.4 four staff report DC CIL of parkland and community benefit charge annual report and 13 before matters list. >> Thank you very much madam clerk and sidebar with our chair of planning it seems that it is committee's desire to approve 15.1 in the consent motion. All right and with that I have a motion members of committee moved by councelor plesi to approve the consent motion. All in favor, any opposed? That carries. And next, uh, we will move on to delegations. We do have a number of delegations today. They will be limited to 5 minutes. And we'll go with our first delegation, possible delegations regarding the notice of intention to amend administrative penalties, non-parking bylaw 2018-209, the administrative penalties, parking bylaw 333-20. Madame clerk, do we have anyone here? >> We have no registered delegations for that. >> Thank you. And so then we'll move on to item 6.2, possible delegations regarding notice of intention to amend mobile licensing bylaw 101-2025, pilot project driving instruction zones on city property. Madame clerk, do we have any delegates to the item? >> We have no delegations for that through you, chair. And with that, it brings us to item 6.3, a delegation from Todd Kyle, our CEO of the Bmpton Library regarding the quarterly updates on library matters, programs, operations, and upcoming priorities. Welcome, Kyle, and welcome to our chair, Nicole Russell, who is also here. You have five minutes. Thank you. >> Thank you for you, chair. Uh, I'd like to thank Mayor Brown and council for the opportunity to provide an update on the Bmpton Library. If we go to the next slide, you'll see the composition of our current library board, including our new vice chair, who unfortunately we don't have a picture of, but TA Breit Atwall has uh joined us as chair this year. Uh next slide provides an overview of our vision inspiring connections and our mission which you're aware of to build an inclusive community by inspiring literacy and social cohesion. Next slide please. So I wanted to take you through some of our key results. Uh and these are our key performance indicators. Starting on the upper left, you'll see market penetration has stayed relatively static at 37%. Market penetration indicates the number of households which have at least one active card user. You'll see on the right our active card holders has actually slightly increased. Uh and we expect that that will likely improve with the reopening of South Fletchers. As for our physical borrowing, we're seeing uh marginal increases again likely due to uh the reopening of South Fletchers. Digital borrowing continues to show a lot of increase there. If we go to the next slide, as you know, one of our our key uh strategic plans is to continue to expand the footprint of the Bmpton Library, and we've made great progress there and are looking forward to more. Uh, I can't believe it's already been a year since our ninth branch, the Clareville branch, opened in March of 2025. Uh, in October of 2024, if we look back, we actually had closed South Fletchers for renovations to align uh, with the Susan Fennel Sports Plex renovations. And we did open a temporary branch in Shoppers World, which was wellreceived but smaller. Uh so we were very excited this past March when we reopened the South Fletcher's branch. Uh as we look forward, we are looking forward to continuing to work on the design of our new Chingacuzzi branch at Howen Community Center as well as the design of our new branch at Embleton. We are considering a possible renovation of Sirill Clark uh and also are continuing to work on the plans for the downtown branch with our center of innovation. If we could go to the next slide, please. Just wanted to share some photos of our new South Fletchers that recently reopened. Uh and uh we were pleased to have a number of uh council there to celebrate with us. And as you can see, it is a bright, inviting space, and we're very excited to see that reopen. Uh if we go to the next slide, you'll see the uh ribbon cutting which took place there. And now I think I can turn it over to you, Todd, to carry on. Thanks. >> Thank you so much. >> All right. So, I'm just going to give you a bit of an overview of uh recent exciting developments that help support the city's strategic plan, uh which you can see here. Uh next slide please. Um to support health and well-being uh many things that are happening in the library including include a regular seniors social at several branches. Uh we did hold a very successful college and university fair last year. Uh we engage teens in a number of ways including uh a new program called the teen library leaders which operates out of three branches uh and several programs that we called teen meetups. Uh Peele Public Health uh has partnered with us on parent workshops. Uh and we do have a new book explorers club for kids. Next slide, please. So in terms of culture and diversity, uh there's many things happening at the library to support it. We're continuing our partnership that we're very proud of with the Bmpton Arts Organization on the artist in residence and writer in residence companion program. Uh we hosted the Fold Festival of Literary Diversity Kidsfest uh last November. We continue to work very closely with the Fold. Uh we worked of course to the community on Bmpton Book Week and thank you very much to this council for all their support. That was at the end of April. We also continue our local authors showcase uh which will feature an author fair um at this summer's farmers market. Next slide, please. Uh continuing with culture and diversity, we've worked with on route to success on a film screening. Uh we continue our author talks with Fold. Uh we've started several indigenous programs that you can see here and we're working with a local partner on translation uh into several languages of some of our marketing materials. Uh next slide, please. um to support u urban centers and neighborhoods. Uh we've extended our after hours study hall program uh for extended hours during exam periods. Uh we hold artist markets a couple of times a year in partnership with BAO. We're introducing bookable small rooms in some of our locations for study and collaboration and we host of course a number of tech programs. Uh really importantly the library is an important third space in the community. Next slide please. uh on transit and com and and connectivity very quickly. We've launched a new uh ebook and e audio database called overdrive and an improved mobile app. Uh watching the time here. Next slide please. Uh additional things on envi environmental resilience and s sustainability include our repair cafe, an author from a former environment minister, sorry, an author visit from Katherine McKenna and a climate book club. Uh next slide please. uh government and leadership. Just very quickly, uh we have just recently engaged a fundraising management company called Intercom and you'll be hearing more from them in the near future. Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much, Mr. CEO. I have speakers, Councelor Keenan. >> Thank you and through you, Mr. Chair. Um thank you both for coming in. Um I just want to uh highlight uh Chair Russell. Um, and I want to thank you, um, you do an amazing job, um, on the library board, but also on our, uh, committee of, uh, not committee, on our, um, uh, audit on our audit committee. Um, your your passion and your experience and everything that you do for the city on your own time is unbelievable. So, I just wanted to highlight that. Um, I I want to highlight the fact that, um, myself and council got our library opened in uh, in the Susan Fennel Sportslex there, and uh, it is packed. It is so wellused. U what a great renovation. I'm in the rec center two, three times a week and let me tell you, it is busy in that library. So well needed, great renovations. Um love everything you're doing for the library across the city. Uh very important to make sure that we're continuing to open and expand. Um so I just really wanted to say thank you. >> Thank you very much, Councelor Kenan. Councelor Bar. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um just really wanted to say again, yeah, thank you, Chair Russell. when we have our meetings. I think you bring that passion in and I've loved that about you and thank you Todd for keeping our board members and everyone together. I think it's a collective um group that works together but also seeing that the culture and the community part of library is booming. We seen very excited new partnerships within different um parts of city of Bmpton. I think that's a very wonderful I just want to make sure you notice that. Also, um, a lot of residents are appreciating that and I think you did mention some of the improvements that we're looking for, Sir Clark. Um, is there any elaboration? Maybe just I I think it's good for for the library board to keep us informed about these improvements so in the future we can add them in the budget if needed and just be just be aware of them. >> Thank you. Thank you very much, Councelor Bar and next speaker, Mayor Brown. Thank you. Um, Chair Vante and thank you for the presentation today. It's wonderful to see all the activity in our libraries. Um, I should let you know that councelor Power is um unrelenting. It's a badger on the budget office to make sure that we have that Howen library up and operational and I can't wait for to see that happen in the near future. Um, I would say when you give a presentation like this, um, there are so much great things happening in the library and I would love to sort of get have you work with our corporate communications to better get that word out. And I give you one illustration. During book week, I came to one of the branches to read uh a children's book. And the response I got on social media and people sending me messages, they had no idea that happens and not just during book week, but all the time in our libraries. And so I think we would love to get more information out to the public on the programming that happens in libraries. And maybe it's including, you know, an overview and one of our our mayor and counselor newsletters, maybe there's some social media opportunities. Um, but if corporate communications can assist in helping get the word out, I think you've got a lot to be proud of and would love for more residents to know um about the programming that's available. But maybe the question to you, how can we help get the word out and what existing tools do you use to spread spread the word? >> Sure, I I can take that. Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. I really appreciate your support. Um, yeah, we do I mean we do work with uh with corporate communications. Um, in terms of, you know, social media messaging um the uh the electronic screens that are in many of our facilities. Uh, internally we use similar similar tools. Uh we have a customer relation rel relationship management uh newsletter which we encourage everybody to sign up for the newsletters. You need to uh actually opt into those. There's about 10,000 or so people on that. Um but certainly I will direct our marketing department to uh redouble those efforts to uh to work with corporate communications to uh as you said get the great news out. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. And I will ask for receipt of the delegation by councelor bar. All in favor? That carries. Thank you very very much. Our next delegation is from Anna Gonzalez, the Colombia Independence Day and regarding the Colombia Independence Festival to be held July 5th, 2026. Do we have Anna here with us? Ben Venido. >> Hello. Gracias. Okay. So, um I'm Anna Gonzalez and I this is my fourth year running the Columbia Independence Day in Bmpton and it's going to be run in Gage Park from 10:00 in the morning until um 9:00 at night and this is just a multiculture celebration. Uh it's our Colombian independence day and this is our fourth our fourth year. So, I'm just here to see if we I can get some support for our festival. >> Thank you very much. Do you have anything further to your delegation, Anna? >> Uh, this is just some of the pictures and >> All right. So, as we scroll through, we'll ask Mayor Brown, who's on the board, to speak. Thank you. >> Um, this was a great event last year for a first time um event park. I know you previously at Rosal Lee um and it was great to sort of um reach out to a community um that is spread out across um Bmpton and make them feel um at at home. Um I would note councelor Keenan has told me he won't cheer for Colombia if they're playing Scotland in the World Cup, but he does want to come celebrate. um anything we can do to help uh make sure this is a um a great uh uh event and I'm sure we can share you know your poster if you pass it to us we can put it on our >> this is our poster >> and this is our fourth year and it's we started our Rosalia it was a very small event we started like 300 people at poured and then now we're getting up there >> wonderful okay thank you keep up the great work >> thank you very much thank you >> councelor Keenan >> sorry I >> I'm back Anna we're There's still more. >> Oh, >> but wait, there's more. >> I'm so so happy. >> I'm just going through treatment, so it's hard. >> No, thanks for thanks for coming in. I just want to talk what an incredible um event it was. I remember getting up there and dancing and I just wanted to point out because um very clearly stated last year that you said you'll dance at the next one cuz you wouldn't dance last year. So, Mayor Brown, I'm expecting to see you up there dancing this year uh on the stage because that was your comment last year and I just want to let you know that I didn't forget. So, thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much, Councelor Keenan. So, I will ask for Oh, coun mayor Brown. >> Point of clarification. I believe I said councelor Power would dance on my behalf. >> Well, I'm going to be up there dancing. >> Muen. All right. I'll ask for receipt of delegation moved by councelor Keenan to do. All in favor? That carries. Thank you. Our next delegation is Thank you so much, Anna. Next delegation is from Jacqueline Anderson, president and CEO, Nurse Jackie Homeare, Inc. regarding recognition of National Nurses Week 2026 and also in regards to Nurse Jackie Homeare, Inc. and Nurse Jackie Training Academy and also in regards to the proposed Ontario Home Support Association. Welcome Jacqueline. You have five minutes. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you Mayor Patrick Brown and council for having me today. Most people build one businesses and call it a career. I built a cleaning empire and a healthcare company with no outstanding funding and investors or no shortcut but just 25 years of experience and a refusal not to quit and with support from the community. My name is Jacqueline Anderson and I'm here today to seek uh the crisis that's happening in Bmpton homes. the home support worker and the home making part of the home care is being not being recognized. Next slide please. The crisis is happening right now. Clients are refuses um home making uh laundry meals and they're sometimes left alone and there's a shortage a crisis of shortage in home care support worker. So, uh, we are here today just to show the city council and the mayor how nurse Jackie home care can fill that gap. Next um, slide, please. We are asking for college partnership for the no nurse Jackie home um, home training academy. A recognized certificate that the home support worker um, certificate can be recognized. We are asking for city advocacy champion or academy at the provincial level um for the certificate and also um if the certificates are recognized we are our funding support can be um recognizable if if we um in order to get funding. Next slide please. Without partnership our certifications are not formally recognized. Graduates cannot qualify for public um home care like work elsewhere. Seniors are still turned away and nurse Jackie Academy remain invisible in a broader health care system. Next slide please. Today in today's case 700 plus dollars cost of hospital beds in Ontario 4,000 plus PSWs and home care support workers are needed. Zero funding for NJH Nurse Jackie Home Care Academy and 100% built in Bmpton and we're Bmpton based. Next slide please. Facilitate a college partnership. Connect Nurse Jackie Training Academy to either a Sheridan College or Umbra College um or um for co-credential home support worker certificate. Champion our provincial certificate recognition, support funding application and recognize our homemaking crisis in the private homes with the sen where the seniors live. Next slide, please. Help us bring help home to the seniors. Right now, a Bmpton senior is sitting at home alone because they are refused the home making help they need. Nurse Jackie Training Academy is the answer. We cannot do it alone. With our partnership, our advocacy, your advocacy, and your support, we will train the workers, fill the gap, and make sure no Bmpton senior is ever told there there's no help. Next slide, please. Help. Oh, okay. I have my nurse, uh, Andrea, who is in the in the home, who sees the clients every day, and she have a few words to say. Good morning. Good morning to everyone. My name is Andrea. I'm a registered nurse. I've been working in the hospital for about 30 years and long-term care for about 25 years. And so today, I just come because I see the gaps when I go into the home, especially for the seniors, and how uh they need the support, they need the help, especially the seniors in Bmpton. Now, I've been Toronto based for many, many years working, but now that I'm in the community in Bmpton, I see where the seniors are really suffering. So, we would really appreciate if um we can get some support and help where the seniors are concerned. Thank you. >> Thank you very much, ladies. And I do have speakers. Councelor Bar. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. and just want to say thank you Jackie for your delegation and really bringing this um to our attention because it's really important issue. Um you know more and more seniors we've had a town hall uh this week and we've heard that you know seniors there's more and more seniors in Bmpton and we'll see the effect of aging coming to a peak. So a lot of seniors do want to age in place and remain in their own home own homes but uh again just like you said families are struggling. Um I do know um this would be probably better suited at the region appeal where appeal public health sits. Um I would definitely um advise and u make sure that you can come to regional appeal council to delegate because I would be I think it would be more appropriate there. But I know whatever the city can do, we will definitely be able to help. But I think um thank you for coming again and bringing this advocacy piece. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you councelor Councelor Keenan. >> Thank you Mr. chair. Ladies, you want to come back? Why does everyone want to leave when I want to speak? >> Sorry, we're being >> Thank you to you, Mr. Chair. Um, I just I I want to say thank you uh for the work that you do uh in the community first and foremost. >> Um, a personal experience with in home care. >> Um, my wife was in the hospital and uh hospital stay, they were like, "It's done. You got to go." But still needed that >> medical attention from a nurse. >> Yes. >> Um, we couldn't get it through. we had to go private and even going through private it was difficult to get it. The resources are just not there. >> So I definitely know what it is that you're saying that we need to do. I'm happy to support it in any way possible. >> Um I do agree with councelor Barard that I feel that this is better suited at the region appeal. >> Um and I don't know if that's us uh referring this to staff here to help um bring this with councelor bar to the region appeal. I think that might be appropriate. Um I I do know that you'll get a lot of support there. Um I I will wait on the referral because I see sorry I see that councelor Santos is on the board but I I just really want to highlight how important this is how much it is how much it is needed not just for seniors >> nurses to do inhome care is needed for everybody specifically seniors but for everybody so very happy to support this in any way that we can um but I'll let before I would move any referral I'll leave it for councelor Santos and maybe ask that councelor Santos you could just move that at the appropriate time >> thank you very Thank you. >> Thank you very much, Councelor Keenan. Councelor Santos, >> thank you so much through you, Mr. Chair. Nurse Jackie, welcome. Good to see you. I told you council would be supportive when we met. >> Thank you so much. >> Yeah, you're welcome. So, um, there was a survey that was released and headlining on CB24 yesterday saying that nine out of 10 Canadians are overwhelmingly frustrated with the status quo of health care delivery in the country and in fact 70% are worried or frustrated about the current state of care. Would you say that home care particularly your service is one of is part of that important change? Absolutely. We um I started this in 2022 with the support of Bmpton Board of Trade, the um Bmpton Entrepreneur Center and the support of the community. And I I was astonished of when you go into the homes and see the needs of these seniors and how myself when I started changing lives, I am part of the solution. nurse Jackie with Andrea and all my support in the back here. Um I have Metag who was a PhD worked for the region appeal for many years. I have Nicole Lopez. I have my Aren Claudine. We are we are champions now the everybody that we service today's date really appreciate us. We can give you tons of videos of these people >> really telling >> and at the end of the day change their lives >> you and through you Mr. Chair at the end of the day your service >> is keeping people at home because they want to be at home. >> Yes. >> I can tell you from a recent personal experience. >> Yes. >> Where my sister was waiting in the hallway of Civic Hospital since Friday >> and is still at the hospital today that these are situations where they want to go home. >> Yes. and and if they can receive care and treatment at home, then we need to create the structure in order for them to do that. And I'll I'll be talking a little bit more about health care and this survey during the GR update, but I'm obviously very happy to support uh because this is how we change the delivery of health care that Canadian citizens, Ontarians are really frustrated about. overwhelmingly majority are frustrated about you are part of the solution. So my idea if councelor Keenan wants to bring it forward um would be that we forward your correspondence to the region. We forward your delegation as correspondence to the region and indicate in that correspondence that the city of Bmpton is supportive of this and would like the region appeal to consider it. and that would be as correspondence that would then open the door to you delegating to the region of Peele as well. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. Thanks a lot. >> Thank you, councelor Keenan. >> Happy to move that. Um the other thing I was thinking is maybe I guess that's probably the best way to do it because I was thinking maybe to refer to the health systems integration committee. >> Yeah. And and you can see them as well. >> Okay. So, >> so we have a referral to staff to assist uh your organization to delegates at the region appeal andor the health system integration committee. >> Thank you. >> This delegation >> and we have the correspondence and we'll ask staff to forward their correspondence to the region. Thank you. That is the motion moved by councelor Santos, councelor Keenan. All in favor? That carries. Ladies, thank you so much. >> Thank you so much. >> Committee. Our next delegation is from Herbert Synynic, executive director, and Michelle McCollum, board director for the Center for Community Energy Transformation regarding an update on the Center for Community Energy Transformation. Welcome, Herbert. >> Thank you very much. Uh Michelle is joining us online, so she should be up there. Thank you. And um I have a fair bit to cover. I wonder if I could impose on you, Mr. Chair, for seven minutes to speak if you can afford the time. >> I have a motion moved by councelor Keenan to add additional time. All in favor? That carries. Please. >> Much appreciated. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. So, good morning. I'm Herbert Sinoch. I am the executive director of CEST. I've spent 30 years of my career working in energy systems and sustainability, including building Sheridan Colleg's district energy system and being part of the team that developed the SER. I'm joined today online by Michelle McCullum who is a member of our board and I'd also like to acknowledge David Lang out here in the audience who is also a member of the board. Bmpton created CET to do something that really no single uh department within the city can do which is uh to keep the full frame of the energy transition in mind including uh all the relationships that are required with the ecosystem actors that are involved in that transition and understanding what the next steps are to keep moving things forward. If I could move to the next slide please. I just want to point out that behind me at sees is a very strong and knowledgeable board of directors as well as an advisory committee also very strong very knowledgeable and representative of the energy industry in Ontario uh were the folks really that helped build the SER were the organization um that were in the room when Bmpton committed to this course of action and sees set as a result really isn't on new ideas and something new on the scene it's a decade that formalizes a decade of that advocacy and development that we've been doing in community. Even things like the Susan Fennel Sportslex when I was in my Sheridan days um you know I was advocating and doing the groundwork to establish a case for efficiency in that in that complex. Uh to see it completed is really gratifying and it's really indicative of what that sustained support really means in terms of moving the stuff forward. We're now in our uh fourth year of formal operations. We have SLAs's with the other cities in the region. We've formed a consortium of very powerful global companies to help us with district energy in things like Heritage Heights. Uh we've established some of the important foundational networks that we require to do home retrofits. Uh and we've also received a clean 50 award kind of in recognition of the innovation that Bmpton brings to the conversation. Next slide please. So the SER it really envisioned and actually explicitly recommended that we have an armslength organization to help deliver the the mandate. And in endorsing that uh council was really understanding that despite many of the levers that the city has to enact and enable those recommendations of the SER, there are things structurally the city isn't set to do. Some of that is moving at the speed the community requires on some of these initiatives. It's uh accessing private capital and it's convening in some cases people who are naturally competitive in the business environment as well as communities that need to have conversations and creating those safe neutral spaces for those conversations to happen. Next slide please. An energy transition we should understand as a really vast and complex endeavor. It requires us to do top- down activity like aligning, reinvisioning, restructuring institutions. It requires us to mobilize and empower communities from the bottom up. So our activities really focus on things like the partnerships with the various community- based organizations, contractor training and other capacity development for to to make programs work, laying the groundwork for things like LIC's and bringing grant funding around the energy transition. um advising on policy for things like district energy systems and of course a ton of knowledge dissemination reporting and I also on the next slide I want to emphasize uh and we can slip to the next yes thank you we're here um that this really is a story of prosperity economic prosperity you know something like $1.4 4 billion dollar each year in energy spend that's leaving our community and SER was designed to repatriate those dollars to create that prosperity to create local job growth and to support resilience cumulatively over 20 years. That's something like $26 billion we could be bringing back into the city. On a household level where we achieve, you know, a 26% reduction, that's something like $520 back in that household's pocket, which is dollars that can be spent locally. And the other thing, of course, we're doing we're bringing those companies that want to invest in Bmpton because they recognize there's a great story happening here. Next slide, please. So, what does it look like on the ground? what it looks like neighborhood retrofits, community scale, municipal district energy systems, renewable energy across the city, the transformation of transportation and mobility and land use integration. And so, uh, you know, we've already begun moving on, as I mentioned, the home retrofit programs and the things we're doing in partnership with groups like TRCA in order to establish a foundation supporting our industrial, commercial, and institutional partners as they try to navigate the energy transition and really focusing on what we need to enable that utility scale district energy systems, whether that's Heritage Heights, Churchill, Business Park, Bramly, wherever we go. Next slide please. So from a solid foundation we have ambitions for a lot of things that need to scale and that requisite for that really is this strong partnership between us and the city. Right? This at the end of the day is all about a strong partnership between us. That's how we move this forward. Next slide please. At the end of the day CET shows up. We do the work. We're bringing partners. We're bringing capital. We're asking council to show up for us in three pretty specific ways. So one is to reaffirm this mandate. We want to signal to the federal funders to the private partners that SET has the backing of BMPON. Second, when CET was established, we talked about a level of funding that was something like 300,000 a year. To date, we've received 400,000. And that's been helpful. It certainly helped us uh get off the ground, establish what we needed, but the ambition of scale we have, the things we want to move forward, um the programs um you know, they need staffing, they need support we need, we need to get things rolling. Uh and so we're looking to see what further support we can have to move that forward. And then lastly, we've brought opportunities to the city uh in form in the form of district energy in the form of um uh FCM funding that was potential and we haven't been able to get those across the line. This is just a matter of reestablishing and firming up our partnership. Last slide, please. Energy transitions really at the end of the day, they're about a lot more than energy. They're prosperity. They're the future we want. They're livability. and ces sets really how we get that future built with partnership in Bmpton. Thank you so much. >> Thank you very much Herbert. I have a number of speakers beginning with councelor Keenan. >> Uh thank you and through you Mr. Chair. Thank you for coming in. um you know myself and councelor MadiRoss uh had a meeting with you and the organization really to be updated and briefed on um the work that has been done and kind of you know given me some background on it because it was obviously assembled before I was elected. Um so it was great to be you know caught up and really understand um what what's going on within the organization and I I feel like this is a very important time on the back of us um you know going forth forward with our environmental master plan as well as you know really knowing the pressure on the grid. We hear it all the time about the pressure on the grid and you know through your presentation outside of this we obviously got in a lot more detail um about where a lot of those big programs um will help um where this really will make us a leader. >> Yes. >> Um or you know your organization outside of the city of Brmpton will help us within the city hit our targets and all of those things that we read in our master plan. Um and and I really think it's a time that we lean in instead of pull back. um you know so I I fully support um the organization and and any funding that would need to be put into it in order to keep it going and keep us moving forward. Um so and I know that councelor Plesi has something and and probably more to say than I do. U but I just want to say that I'm very supportive of the organization. I know councelor maduros is as well because we had those conversations. Um so yeah, thanks for coming in. >> Thank you councelor Plesie. Thank you. Um thank you Mr. Uh, chair, uh, I don't have too much more to say other than like, um, so I was around when this started. Um, I can see where we are now and I, you know, if I could say to my that person back then, hey, keep an eye out for this. Um, I certainly would have. Um, it's it's gotten to the point where you you guys are all doing fantastic work. Um and then we're also doing amazing work where the collaboration of both can be um a little bit stronger working together. Not on you, not on us, on both of us together. So um and I think we recognize that. I know you recognize that as well. Um you know I know you know once you know in the future and looking at you Michelle we've had the discussions. Um, I know in the future that you're going to have a home at the Environmental Education Center because that was the direction back then to have a little spot for you for you. Um, so, you know, it's it's we're going to get there. And it's unfortunate that it's come to where um I think I need to put forward a motion um to say we're we're in this together. Um, the funding is definitely there. we at the city need to do a we need to ask you to do something first um and then let's come back now in terms of that motion um the bot and you can display it madame clerk thank you very much um at the bottom of the motion it does say for future fundings it go to budget and or a staff report uh the budget is for future future fund funding um the staff report is for funding so I think what we need you to do is and I think Steve may be able to talk a little bit about it um is the NOU or or something and if I can just ask through you Mr. Chair um to uh Commissioner Ganesh um if he can elaborate a little bit on that. >> Sure. Through through you um to the chair through to councelor Plesi. Uh first of all to the delegation thanks very much for coming in. Uh we had a productive meeting a few weeks ago. um to sort of reframe and reset the relationship between the the city and the CCT. Coming out of that meeting was an agreement to work together on a uh a bit of a tweaking of the scope and mandate and work plan. Staff would then bring that report forward to council and we can commit to doing that fairly soon, certainly before the summer recess. And um that uh report would then identify sort of the funding envelope for some of the short-term uh activities that we we um foresee in the future and then use the budget process for 2027 for longer term activities. >> Yeah. And that's I think truly uh what I wanted to accomplish here today. Um I don't know if you or u Michelle you haven't had an opportunity to speak. I'll uh I'll throw it over to you maybe for a couple couple uh last minute um comments. >> Oh, thank thank you so much through the chair. Thank you so much uh councelor Plesi and to um you know offer all of the support. Uh Bmpton was a leader when it created CCT. Um you know it was a it was a really pivotal and important time and it's great to hear the conversation today. It's not easy work, but I can assure you, you've got um you know, a passionate leader in Herb Synynic. You've got passionate people like David and I on the board and to lend our our support and uh we're we're happy to work with you, work collaboratively. You know, that's the way I like to work and really happy to get this work done. So, thank you so much for all of your support. >> Excellent. Thanks, Michelle. Thank you very much for your delegation. >> Thank you. >> Um I'm I'm happy to move it. I know councelor Keenan really wanted to second it. uh if we can have that at council that opportunity if he can be put on uh put on as a seconder. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you, Councelor Santos. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just uh and and uh I I support this motion. I it's the first time I'm seeing it. So, are we passing this today or at council next week? We're going to pass it today. Okay. Yeah, because it's uh I I it's the first time I'm seeing the motion. Um, and but at the same time, I've been in conversations with uh with David and others involved in CCT and have had meetings with them in the past. So, I'm well briefed in terms of what's going on. But even though it's a last minute motion, I'm happy to support it because I believe um uh Commissioner Ganesha, you would you helped to put it together or uh through the chair through to councelor Santos. Um this motion evolved over a series of conversations both with um staff internally and I believe with uh CCT uh members and perhaps councelor Palashi's office. >> Okay. Um, >> thank you. So to I'm just reading it for the first time. Happy to support it. Um, and at the same time I have during the GR conversation also an a motion that's coming forward somewhat related, well kind of not. It's environmental related because it's about ebikes and the provincial legislation about ebikes. Um, but happy to support this now or when it when it goes to council next week. Thank you very much, councelor Santos. So moved. All in favor? And that carries. And committee, before we go on to our government relation matters, I would like to direct committee's attention to a special guest that has entered our chambers today. He is the honorable Moyo Adibandjo, the mayor of Lagos, Nigeria. Mr. Mayor, please come down and you may address committee. Welcome, Mayor Adjo. >> Thank you so very much. It's um a great privilege to be here today. I am Moy Sur Adanjo from the city of Lagos. I represent um Uni Bongo, local government, which is like um your Bmpton city here in um Canada. So, Uni Bongo is um a local council development area in Lagos State um the city of Lagos in Nigeria. And here with me is my um legislative head, a counselor from my LCDA, honorable Francis Eno. Thank you. Also here is um the council manager, Mr. Bodin. Thank you. Also here is Mr. Thank you so very much who accompanied us here Mr. Julia Toawi and then Mr. Zakaria. Thank you so very much. He g it gives us great privilege to be here today. Um before now we had registered our interest as a council in Lagos state to share crossber interest and partnership with the city of Bmpton because there's a lot that is in stock for us in terms of relationship building. It would interest you to know that what attracted us to Bmpton is that we found out it's the C it's the only city that's got an African desk for promotion and we felt we could leverage on that. We could also leverage on the fact that the city of Bmpton has got provision and solutions for issues that bother our community in Onibongu LCDA. What are the issues? It to interest you to know that um the city of New York on daily basis registers about 22,000 metric tons of waste. My state, Lego state and then the city of New York also has a population of about 8.5 million people with 22,000 metric tons of waste on daily basis. My state, Lego state is a population of about 22 million people. And you can you can imagine the number of metric tons of waste we generate on daily basis. And we found out that Bmpton is so big on recycling which is the new way to go for us in Africa, Nigeria and particularly my state Lego state. As a county in Lagos state on Bongo we feel there's a lot to learn in the area of recycling from Bmpton and we decide to establish that relationship in the area of technology. It will interest you to know that we have shared ideologies because you have a very energetic population. the the economy of Bmpton has been run by the young people of the city of Bmpton. You have a huge population of young productive population, energy of youths and so we also share that in Lagos State. We feel we can learn from how you've been able to direct or redirect the energy of the young population of the city of Bmpton and we feel there's a lot to learn also in some other areas like innovation and technology in Africa as you know and in Nigeria AI is the new is a new language we feel there's a lot to learn yesterday we spoke with one Mr. Ugo the coordinator of your technology and innovation center to look for areas of partnership with our city in Lagos state on bongo and that's why we here to share relationship with you. It would also interest you to know that what attracted us to you is that we found out that you had a presence in Lagos state that the mayor had visited the city of Lagos a number of times and we feel we need to track your interventions because I know you've done a lot in your own quarter for my state because I know at the time you gave us some um fire um fire fire trucks firefighting trucks but I want us to have a shared trackable intervention and partnership with Onibong CDA as a city to see whatever you're doing you can boldly say this is what we're doing in the city of Lagos state Nigeria this is what you could you doing in ongo and I think that is the way to go and that's why we're here to show this vis to show this interest collaboration and partnership I'm also grateful for the reception so far on behalf of the governor of Lagos state governor baba and the people of my local government we say thank you so much we look forward to a shared partnership. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Mayor, I'm going to ask you to stay there and uh as a please remain there with us. Please remain. >> I will ask as a formality that >> I will ask as a formality that we reopen our agenda for today to add a delegation from the honorable Moyo Adabanjo, chairman of the >> Oni Bongu on Bongo community. >> Thank you. Do I have >> support? All in favor? >> Sorry. >> Any opposed? >> Councelor Pleshi. >> We are going to add >> You're adding a delegation. >> Adding a delegation. >> Correct. >> It's not a new delegation. >> No. No. >> Okay. >> Thank you. All in favor? Any opposed? That carries. And thank you, Mayor and Mr. Chairman. So, I now have speakers. Mayor Brown. and just to thank um the visiting dignitary for coming to Brent. We had a chance to meet yesterday. There is uh a very strong friendship between Nigeria and Canada and nowhere is that more evident than in the city of Bmpton where we have a flourishing Nigerian community and I know Lagos is comprised of many different municipalities and the one that you represent is the largest within the Lagos area. Um and whether it is Nollywood um the tech sector in in Legos which is being call called the silicon of Africa. Um uh there is a lot of opportunity for collaboration and I think it speaks >> well of you to to be here to look in it that deeper relationship with Canada and know we got a team here in our economic development department that are eager to collaborate. um going to suggest maybe we do a photo with the delegation and officially thank um his worship for visiting us here in the city of Bmpton where we're the only city in Canada where we have um agaya bread and zob juice in the mayor's office. >> All right. Thank you, mayor. I have other speakers. Councelor Plesi. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um I just want thank you very much for coming. It it it's ongoing and the work that's coming out of you know the mayor's office to have uh representatives from the Nigerian community is it it's absolutely outstanding. It is booming and any type of relationship with us and uh and yourselves is certainly a benefit for both uh for both of us in uh in the countries. So I look forward to it. I look forward to this relationship continuing to flourish because well everybody loves Nollywood right. Thank you councelor Plesian and may I ask you to move receipt of the delegation. All in favor? That carries and we'll take a Thank you committee and it is now uh my pleasure to welcome Andre to give us our updates on government relation matters. >> Mr. Chair, >> councelor Santos. >> Thank thank you through you, Mr. Chair. Um, if my my hold was about specific questions, I don't necessarily need the presentation. Uh, but I just had questions regarding GR particularly on the healthc care file given the recent survey. Um, as well as the provincial legislation on eBike. So, we don't have to do the presentation. I'm happy to move receipt of the presentation and just go into some questions about GR. Council Chancellor, the floor is yours. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, in the GR deck, there was reference to um healthcare, various references to to health care. And I'm going to start off with some good news. Um, couple updates here is that the good news is that Bmpton has been identified through a survey, healthy cities survey as one of the top 10 in Canada for being the top within within the top 10 healthiest cities in the country. And that's incredible news because uh when I looked at the survey, it had everything to do with upstream preventative health care measures. So, investments in parks, in recreation, keeping people healthy and active, people's well-being, and I have to say here at the city of Bmpton, certainly with mayor's leadership in investing in parks and recreation, supporting our young people, congratulations to the team, congratulations to the mayor and our community for being in the top 10 healthiest cities in the country. Um, the other good news is that I believe in the in the GR deck as well. It also references the fact that our work at the city of Bmpton advocating for the TMU medical school has also resulted in, as we all know, a new primary integrated health care center, which is going to be servicing 14,000 visits a year, which is incredible because primary care is an important step. again to prevent people from getting in the hospital and actually seeing regularly a family doctor. And so in terms of what Bmpton is doing on the health care file, it's been significant to deal with within our limits and jurisdiction of what we can do because healthcare ultimately is a provincial and to a certain extent federal matter. bad news. And this is where I have some questions from staff for for an update because um you know, Premier Ford since being elected as premier has always talked about ending hallway uh hallway medicine. In Bmpton, we still have one full hospital, only one one emergency room. And I can say from recent personal experience, hallway medicine isn't over in Bmpton in our hospital, one hospital. Uh my sister was admitted to Bmpton Civic on Friday, was placed in a hallway and remained in a hallway until yesterday afternoon. and the hospital was in gridlock for that entire duration of time. In in a city that has 800,000 people, having only one hospital, one emergency room is unacceptable. And we at the city of Bmpton have done everything we possibly can to expedite building our second hospital. And I know that my experience with my family as a resident of Bmpton, not as a counselor, but as a resident, I know that that experience is consistent for other residents in the city. And it's not just about Bmpton, it's about the health care system in general because like I said, that survey that was done by Santis as well as Nanos Research indicated that nine out of 10 Canadians are overwhelmingly frustrated about the status quo of our health care system. This is beyond the control of the municipality, beyond the control of the city of Bmpton because we have been given the recognition as one of the top 10 healthiest cities in the country. So my question to staff about this file is number one, we passed a motion in November of last year asking and and we did everything we could to to top up our local share for the for the building of the second hospital. But we also in that motion asked William Oler to provide an update to council as well. And I'm not sure whether or not that's been provided yet, but question to staff. Can you summarize what we have done? Everything we have done to expedite the building of the second hospital. >> I'll ask staff to respond. >> Yeah. >> Through the through the chair, through to councelor Santos. Um, I'll speak from the uh land use approvals and then I'll turn it over to staff for uh advocacy efforts. So, council will recall um basically in in advance of the groundbreaking uh ceremony for that hospital staff worked u pretty expeditiously to uh complete the resoning uh approval for that site in 2023. In January of 2025, we entered into a master site plan approval with uh William Osler that allowed them to then advance um uh their proponent to do the design build of the facility. We continue to work with um William Osler on a regular basis and we've offered to uh undertake what we call limited site plan that would then um allow William Osler to start early work so grading and whatnot on the site should they choose and to some degree start some of the um dialogue with our building division for foundation permits or early building permits and whatnot. >> Thank you. So so through you Mr. chair to Commissioner Ganesha. Who's where what court is the ball in right now? Because have we done everything we possibly can from the limitations of our jurisdiction as a municipality to try to get this second hospital built in terms of the planning perspective, but also maybe Andre and staff in terms of our local share contribution. >> Yeah. through through the chair through to councelor Santos we have done everything we have we can to date based on the submissions we've received and we'll continue to process submissions as we receive them >> okay thank you and andre >> good morning and through the chair councelor I can add to that that since passing of that motion staff have worked with William Oler to finalize local share agreement between the city and William Osler that agreement if it is in its final stages and should be completed shortly Also following that motion, staff have reached out to William Oler to inform their staff that council has requested an update on the on the work on the second hospital. We continue to be in conversations to set up that update for council by the summer and hoping to have a date uh soon. Uh as you will also know back in April 2025 a preliminary site work has taken place uh at will at PMC and agreement to finalize procurement as well as construction is going to be finalized between William Oolar and the province and city is not part of those discussions and unfortunately due to that fact we do not receive regular updates in terms of any timelines or what we can expect in the near future. However, as I mentioned, we have requested an update for council on that work. >> Okay. Thank you. And three, Mr. Chair, because of my recent experience, I did have some conversations with folks from Osler about the second hospital and certainly just for the record, for the public record like Andre has shared and maybe clarify once more, one more time, um maybe a little bit louder. um we are not privy to the conversations between the province and William Ozer. So it could be that some of these delays in terms of getting real shovels in the ground and building that foundation and ex and and making sure that the plans that we've already approved at the city start actually happening is stuck in that conversation between Osler and the province. Is that correct >> through the chair council? That is correct. uh the conversations about agreement related to procurement and construction is solely happening between William Oler and the province and we are not privy to the either timelines or costing that is involved. >> So as a resident as a as a family member of someone who has experienced hallway medicine recently and there have been many other residents across our city who have experienced the same thing. In fact, nine out of 10 likely, if not 11 out of 10 in Bmpton are frustrated. Um, I'm furious because that second hospital needed to be built a long time ago. um as a counselor. In addition to this update from staff in terms of us pushing the expediting plans, getting our local share um updated and through the roof to to to meet those targets for our local share and our advocacy. Can we talk about our advocacy because we're advocating yet again at AMO about the same thing that we've been advocating for for eight years. Can you share with us how much advocacy and focus has been put on this file to build that second hospital through the chair counselor as you pointed out advocacy for second hospital and overall for healthcare in Bmpton is something that we have done for many many years each and every AMO it's a cornerstone of an advocacy we have also worked very and continue to work very closely with William Oler be it on local share be it on anything we as a city can and could do to bring that issue to the minister's attention, to premier's attention. Uh the mayor himself is very active on that file and has regular conversations on that. So as a city, I believe we can say that we've done everything we can to ensure that between province and William Hler, we have done our part to have this work start as quickly as possible. >> And through you, Mr. chair. I even know for example, councelor Plesi at this table has been and we as a council have been even more proactive and advocating for the third hospital and trying to find the location for the third hospital because we know that the second hospital is barely going to actually keep up with where we are as a city at 800,000 people. And so I think and I know Mayor Brown is on the board and I apologize because I know other members of council have have felt the same way dealing with hallway medicine with their own family members and friends and people in the gallery who have also experienced the same thing in the city of Bmpton. There's only so much that the city can do. And as a counselor, as we as at council, delegating at AMO, talking to our MPPPs, trying to talk to Osler, trying to expedite planning, making sure we meet our local shared targets. We have done enough. And so I would like if we can move either move a motion or ask for direction um that the mayor on behalf of council write a letter to minister ministry of health who happens to be in the region of Peele as well as infrastructure Ontario as well as William Osler to provide us with exact details on the timing updated timing of the building of the second hospital and what they are doing to expedite the process because we have done everything we can including deputy mayor Singh who's online not feeling well today hopefully you don't go to the hospital I wouldn't recommend it um not feeling well today I passing a motion declaring a a a healthc care emergency in Bmpton even before COVID hit so you know I'm I'm passionate about it at the moment because my sister's still sitting in the hospital and and I'm I'm hoping that we actually get a real response with real timelines on what is going on because it is absolutely unacceptable that we still only have one emergency room in the city of Bmpton. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councelor Santos, for your passion and good wishes to your sister. I have no other speaker, so we have a motion. Oh, >> Mayor Brown, you're back on. Thank you. >> Please. >> Yeah. Um just to say that the construction date the early works began last year. The full construction was going to be they told us January 2027. We said that was unacceptable. We got Premier Ford to intervene with Infrastructure Ontario and they promised us construction would start this summer. Now I'm hearing it could be as late as the fall. I think a letter to say we don't want any delays from the commitments made by the minister and the premier would be well served. Um you know hearing July to September now hearing August to October anytime there's any delay it makes me nervous. And so given how long we've waited for this I think just holding everyone's feet to the fire that we want construction yesterday um is helpful. Thank you very much, Mayor. And and I would, if I may, just add a request that uh when that letter is drafted, that it be made public to the community. Councelor, Deputy Mayor Singh. >> Um thank you. I think uh councelor Sand spoke well. It just was asked for a recorded vote. Thank you. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor Singh. So, we have a motion request for the mayor to prepare correspondence to the province. Recorded votes of order >> counselor. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. It shouldn't say the foundation of William Oler. I believe it's just um William Osler Health Services, I believe. The motion is on the screen. I'll ask the clerk to conduct the vote >> through your chair for the motion on the screen uh requesting the mayor to send correspondence to the minister of health, minister of infrastructure Ontario and William Oer Health System with respect to the timing of the second hospital in Bmpton. All those in favor, please stand. And in favor, I see councelor Power, Councelor Tour, Chair Vante, Councelor Keenan, Councelor Plesi, Mayor Brown, and Councelor Santos. And online, councelor Bar, how do you vote? >> In favor. >> Deputy Mayor Singh, how do you vote? >> In favor. In favor. And councelor Madiros, how do you vote? >> In favor that is uh carried unanimously. >> Thank you very much, Madam Kirk. Councelor Santis, you're still on the board. >> For the next item, I have held >> very good >> on GR. >> Floor is yours. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. So the other item which was in the slide deck for GR relates to the updated or provincial legislation and consultation process regarding ebikes. Uh as an active transportation person um ebikes and as a driver quite frankly ebikes continue to be an issue in Bmpton and the province if and madam clerk if you don't mind putting up that GR update on the on the screen. uh the presentation. Yeah, that slide. So, so the city of Toronto recently passed a motion on their council in support of provincial changes and for them to look at ebikes. Uh and the active transportation advisory committee as well as our staff have also in the background been looking at this legislation as well. and were preparing to provide council with a memo for how we were going to respond. But given all of the ve the latest conversations around active transportation recently at commi at council, I thought we should um make sure we put some direction, clear direction forward that is consistent with what Toronto is asking in support of the province looking at this new legislation to regulate ebikes and on top of that also look at the issue related to ebike batteries. which I'm not sure whether or not Toronto actually addressed. Uh so the battery issue is one as well as regulating license age requirements, weight requirements, speed regulation of ebikes, etc. These are all things that continue to be a safety issue in our city with respect to ebikes. Happy that the province is looking at it, but ideally we also want them to look at the issue regarding batteries as well. And so, Madame Clerk, similar to the other motion that was brought forward, um staff have been looking at this matter and have provided a draft motion for us to consider. I see Fernanda there and madame clerk, if you don't mind putting up the updated motion that was sent over to me, and Fernanda is here to answer any questions. But essentially this is uh comments on behalf of the city based on the the legislation that the province is proposing as well as looking at the weight of the bicycles themselves and also dealing with the issue regarding batteries. This is the the motion and Fernando is here to answer any questions. >> Thank you very much councelor Santos. I do have speakers. Councelor Plushie. >> Oh, thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, in seeing this motion for the very first time and it being put on as uh uh last minute um you know, I certainly can get get behind it and support anytime we're talking about and even in today we can we're uh it the bike to uh bike take your bike to work day, not take your kid to work day, take ride your bike to work day. Um so certainly can get behind uh anything um like this but you know it being last minute and and did you you pro provided the information for the >> chair through you I could provide an update a brief res a brief summary of what we are submitting if you'd like. No, I think I think it's good. Um I'm happy to always, you know, um work with staff and and when staff brings forward stuff for for counselors to uh to put forward when especially when there's the added it or the item that was already on the agenda like uh um like all motions move. >> I just need five minutes. >> Deputy mayor, uh we hear you. I I I'm sure that you're requesting uh councelor Tur to stand up for his birthday today, but um we'll >> absolutely >> we'll uh we'll hold that until after the motion when we can properly make an announcement for uh for councelor Tur's birthday today. So uh but happy to support this last minute motion. Thank you, >> Councelor Santos. >> Thank you so much for uh through you, Mr. Chair. Yes, indeed it is uh last minute like the other motion was last minute. Uh but part of it is because the comments are actually due by June 8th and so we need this uh endorsement from council in order to make sure folks are good with moving in this direction. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Councelor Santos Fernando, do you have anything to add? >> Uh no. If you don't have any questions, I'm okay. So members of committee, we have the motion on the screen moved by councelor Santos. All in favor? That carries. Thank you. And I will also ask a motion of receipt for the government relations part of our agenda moved by councelor Plesi. All in favor? That carries. Thank you, Andre. And we now uh we will be moving through our public works and engineering section. And I have item 8.3.1, a discussion at the request of councelor Santos with regards to traffic congestion. Council, thank you, Mr. Chair. So, I had uh some some conversations with public works staff asking about what we're doing. So, there's a lot of construction happening in Bmpton right now. There's tremendous amount of construction on Williams Parkway, especially on our east west corridors, Williams Parkway, Queen Street, downtown Bmpton, Church Street because of the Riverwalk. And there will be ongoing construction because Bmpton is doing a lot of work. We are building. We are moving things along. Not only are we catching up on construction projects that were delayed because of COVID, but we're also implementing construction projects that are on our timeline right now. thanks to a lot of work in our downtown uh with Andrea Oliviera over there. Uh there is a lot of stuff happening and with construction means road closures and similar in in the city of Toronto who's going to be accepting FIFA World Cup over the next month um and our events and the farmers markets and other road closures due to the numerous celebrations we're having all summer. I'm just wondering if staff can comment on what it is that we are doing in order to deal with traffic and congestion caused by construction. I.e., have we looked at our traffic lights to time our traffic lights in order to improve the flow of traffic? Are there other things that we're doing uh in order to improve the flow of traffic? And can we consider something similar like what they did in the city of Toronto where they've brought on traffic ambassadors during rush hours etc to actually direct the flow of traffic to keep cars moving um because all the roads across downtown etc are closed. >> Thank you through the chair to councelor Santos. Uh um certainly uh our our team constantly monitors the traffic uh signal network. Uh whenever there's uh construction um they regularly review that and implement uh changes across the system. Uh when those changes are implemented, they continue to review them to ensure that it has the the intended impact. Uh and that's something we'll continue uh to do and monitor. Uh from a traffic planning perspective, our our staff also works very closely with uh contractors and other stakeholders to ensure that all uh detour routes are appropriately planned and traffic management plans are in place to mitigate uh congestion as well as possible. Also, uh whenever there's construction uh within 30 meters of an intersection, um construction projects will have uh and do have paid duty officers there to help uh direct traffic. um staff um will will look into uh the concept of traffic ambassadors and if there's any particular locations there any particular time periods where it would make sense uh that's something that we could look to to pilot in the future and uh just lastly there's a lot of work that goes on from a coordination perspective uh with Peele region utility companies all the different stakeholders um that uh are responsible for construction within within our corridors And although there's it's a balance because obviously uh construction uh you know needs to occur uh there's obviously certain time periods when it's optimal to do it but we try to balance um uh you know the need to do construction and doing it at the optimal time. So uh you know when we need to defer projects uh and schedule them um uh you know at later times we do that and at the same time as I said we work really closely with all our partners on uh traffic management plans and duter plans to make sure that it's uh it's uh implemented as effectively as possible. >> Thank you. And through you Mr. chair who is also the other local counselor in in the area that I'm just about to share. Va Street West East actually Vod Street East continues to be the place where people are choosing alternative routes to get to Main Street, Kennedy Street, Williams Parkway. Uh and the pressure on Voden Street east and west is significant because the east-west roads like Williams Parkway, Queen and Church are closed. Many of them are closed. And so I'm wondering through this conversation and I know I've been working with Kevin Mcker as well about advanced greens on VA and Ken Willins as well as Main Street. if we could have staff report back, please, on what it is we're doing to deal with traffic flow uh in order to decrease congestion during construction periods. And then I would also ask if we could including timing of light signals, but I would also ask um if staff can also report back in in the same way uh options to even have a traffic ambassador during rush hour traffic in some of those pressure point areas. Main and is a big one during rush hour and school pickup time. So, if we could take a look at that. There's al already been a few accidents in that area as well because of of some of the congestion because of construction um and also cut through traffic happening through Kings Point Plaza because people are um stuck at that intersection. So, if can if staff can report back, I don't know if you need a motion, but staff to report back on uh congestion mitigation measures to improve traffic flow during construction. >> Sure. >> Through the chair, uh we can take that as a direction and and provide that information to council. >> That would be great. How soon, Peter, do you think you could? It's just we need to I I would like to share that with the public uh because they are getting also frustrated with congestion in the city. >> Certainly through the chair councelor Santos uh we can certainly have that within a week. >> Okay. >> Uh I will point out that there have been some timing adjustments and and we'll ensure our staff take another look at that. I know there's also an advanced green dedicated left signal coming uh in the coming weeks. So we'll we'll uh document all that information and provide it. And then the final question in that report back because I don't want to just deal with construction. There will be road closures because of main events, FIFA, farmers market, etc. If we could also get a sense of during those times what we are doing, what we can do just to make sure that people aren't stuck. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thank you, Councelor Santos. Councelor T. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um just to begin uh first of all uh I want to thank our public works team um Peter um the construction team with Senal uh Shane his entire team uh I know we get regularly updated in W 9 and 10 we have a lot of construction going on with um residents being frustrated especially construction that's happened over multiple years um like on Goreway Drive and that's a lot of residents that are always really mad about it. um staff have been very professional in handling that uh holding multiple town halls, multiple uh pieces of communication that have gone out to residents and again these are very frustrated residents over a number of years. Um but kudos to your staff, your team on how professionally they've handled it. Um they've made every effort to expedite all the work possible. Uh even though they've seen unforeseen challenges on on construction projects of that scale, um kudos to the team that they're meeting the timelines. uh getting construction expedited as fast as possible, but meeting those timelines more importantly. And there's always this public notion that uh you know, cities don't know how to do construction. We don't know how to build roads fast enough. Look, you know, they they do it in this other country, other part of the world in 3 days, in 4 weeks, and we're doing it in two years. And all of those kind of notions don't help. Um but when that effective communication happens, I think it makes a world of a difference. I see that on Countryside Drive as well. that entire area with the amount of truck traffic, the amount of industrial development happening there. Um, it's taken people extra 20 minutes on their daily commute now. Um, but people are choosing to be patient as well because all of them are going to work and they know that jobs are coming to the that part of the city. People are excited to see all those buildings pop up and and they're willing to put up with that construction for a couple of years. And as long as I think that effective communication happens, that's been the best policy. um speaking with uh your team, I think it was Shane, uh talking about traffic signal um timing. I know we got a report back on that a few council meetings ago. Uh we've talked about that before. I know there's something else that was supposed to come later during this year as well on us improving that system on on um signal timings, how some of the systems outdated, we're bringing a new system. Uh I remember seeing those reports. So, all that to say, thank you for all the work that you do. uh continuously throughout the year. But I also don't want to I I I cannot support this motion in good conscience just because sending staff back to write out more of the reports on what we already know, all the information that's already public, the information that we already have. And if it's just particular cases in different areas, like I don't want any additional information in my area, the city. So I I know it's going to take more time from your staff who's already busy and you know packed with the amount of construction activity that's happening across the city um coming up with another report to come back to council to tell us the same thing that we all already know. I I I'm not really in favor of that. I think it's going to end up wasting more time during the summer for for the folks that need to be out there on the ground working. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Council T. Councelor Power. >> Thank you. doing through you, Mr. Chair. Um through the staff, wasn't didn't I remember I don't know if it was committee of council or if it was council, but I remember councelor Plesi um asking and we're talking about east and west corridor, specifically Sandalwood and Williams Parkway, but construction on there and asking for a report back at that point. And I believe we were just waiting on a report. So, I don't know if we need another report. uh through the chair. Um we did provide a an update to council some time ago with respect to capital coordination that activities that we do and as we move forward we continuously you know coordinate work with our partners um to as I said try to structure the phasing of all construction work um as optimally as possible. We'll continue to do that and and similarly with respect to the traffic signal network and and and and traffic signal adjustments. Again, we our our team monitors that on a regular basis. Um there's always limits to what you can do when you move it from one corridor to another. You'll you know, you just end up causing a downstream issue. Uh however, there are adjustments that we can make that are that are positive and specifically in the VA area. Uh there's some advanced greens that we're going to be implementing uh in the coming uh in the coming week. Um, so we continue to to do that process. >> Thank you, councelor. Councelor Plesie. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I think I recall uh what councelor Power was referring to and I don't know if it was necessarily a report that was coming back or if we actually provided direction at that time. And Peter, maybe if you can clarify. Um I had talked about um uh construction on roads that were on like east west corridors. Let's say let's take Williams Parkway for instance and then ensuring that MLAN another of the larger east west is not ML sorry BV uh wouldn't be under construction at the same time or Queen Street wouldn't be under construction at the same time. So we we wouldn't want two of our major east wests that are uh side by each under construction at the same time or north and south the same thing. I think that might have been direction Peter but can you clarify that? >> Sure. through the chair. It was direction given to staff and uh when we did uh report back uh we did make mention of the efforts we're going to make from a coordination perspective and that's certainly a specific thing that we're doing. Any major corridors in any direction, but certainly through the east west in the east west direction uh you know we'll time the construction so that that they're staggered and they're not happening at the exact same time. Uh and that there's you know appropriate detour routes as well. And then Peter, if if you can or if Shane needs to come down talked about talk about signalization. Signalization in its entirety. We're looking at it right across the city trying to bring in AI, trying to make it easier. Um, and I know that's ongoing work that uh staff have been doing. Great job. In terms of the construction season in Bmpton, we have two seasons. We have snowplow season and construction season. Um but in terms of the construction season are we able to say let's say Williams Parkway is is under construction so then both Var and Queen become um you know a little bit more congested are we able to um to say to implement on those streets um a greater uh level of movement east and west through the changes of signalization because of that one particular road being under construction. Are we able to do that today? And do we >> uh through the chair to councelor Plesi? We we can. Uh I will also point out that our um advanced traffic management system is going to be uh fully implemented uh by the end of next month. So what that system does uh it gives us remote access so we can remotely change signal timing in real time which is a real benefit. I'll also point out uh that we're embarking on the a AI PC pilot project and that's going to look at actual hardware. So we're going to have the opportunity through that PC to leverage technology that's going to be that's going to have sensors and is going to be able to use you know artificial intelligence to make real-time adjustments. So really excited about that. So there's a lot uh coming forward uh with respect to leveraging artificial intelligence but certainly in terms of the abilities we have today through our advanced traffic management system to uh make signal ch uh signal timing changes remotely we have that ability and certainly uh when we have a corridor like Williams Parkway uh you know under construction uh obviously the other routes are going to get you know more of that traffic but having said that once the construction is completed along that corridor we're going to basically do another timing study and make sure that it's uh it's it's going to be um operating optimally. >> So, thanks Peter and I'm super excited about this. I think this is a gamecher in trying to to move cars east, west, north, south and ultimately then the the down effect is getting people off of those cutth through streets where we're having so many complaints where we're now having to to put these you know speed bumps in and and and whatnot. I've seen the workers going to going to like s the signals in some of the major um cross-sections and I think that that's what they're doing. They're they're putting something in place, some hardware for our software. So, I'm going to use that as a segue into kind of my next where staff staff are are doing an outstanding job in working with uh the contractors to make sure that they're doing everything that they should be doing the way the the policy is is put in place with us at the city. But it's there's a trust factor and sometimes and what I notice is they at the last minute close off a section or something that wasn't ever allowed to be closed off but they you know whoever the super on the site decides let's close this off for maybe safety for maybe you know easier access to something which is fantastic but the impact um and that's stuff that you know we don't we'll know we don't know about it just impacts those people mainly on their their commutes. Um, and nothing ever comes of it unless you get a call from one of us saying, you know, this isn't right. This is what they're doing. Um, and it's not only us, it's the province, too, because the province controls the bridges. And on Sandalwood, they completely shut down the off-ramp. Peter, we talked about it a couple weeks ago. And that was just an absolute gong show uh of what they did. And they weren't supposed to do it, but they did it anyways. And that impact can't be, you know, on the residents. We certainly need like councelor Tur was saying, you know, th that communication to residents so people so people know that that these things are happening. U but it also happened on Williams Parkway where they were shut off the southbound one of the southbound lanes where they didn't have to do that um in the traffic in the morning was was absolutely disaster. So I I fully support in the work the ongoing work that uh public works is doing. My hat goes off to to you and you know the chair and vice chair I think are doing a fantastic job as well just keeping us you know in the loop of of things that they're also hearing. So I just wanted to put my two cents in and I appreciate it Mr. Chair. Thank you. >> Thank you councelor Plesi. Councelor Santos. >> Thank you Mr. Chair. And so this is part of why I kind of want a report back. And if there is no report back, I'd like a briefing note. I just want everything summarized on what it is that we are doing right now to deal with construction season as well as the event season that's coming up proactively. I want to take a look at when we're closing stuff off even more in downtown Bmpton, how that traffic flow is going to uh be impacted. uh as and so a and on top of that uh looking at what a traffic ambassador might be able to do on some of those pressure points in the city. It's just a report back for a summary so that when residents are asking me and frustrated I had some people texting me right now saying yeah it takes me half an hour and they live at Mrs. Saga road and uh Williams Parkway Missaga road and takes them half an hour to get to work and they work in Bmpton and so and and they're asking what are you doing? What are we doing? And I appreciate the incredible work on the AI traffic lights uh signal traffic lights using technology in the future. But the challenge is is right now when people are stuck on Williams Park, I will say that Williams Parkway and Main Street is very problematic right now because you can't turn left onto Main Street going westbound onto uh from Williams Parkway. And so ideally, if we could, I would like a report back just to summarize what we're doing now and what we're doing in the future. through the chair, councelor Santos. Uh we're happy to uh provide whatever uh council um wishes. Also happy to set up a meeting with you uh to discuss these concerns uh through a meeting and and provide you with the information that uh uh that you're interested in. Uh so happy to do it uh like that as well. >> Couns uh Mayor Brown. >> Thank you. Uh, councelor Vante, um, I would welcome a memo or report um, back. And I guess the perspective I would take is I always say there's no monopoly good idea if Toronto is utilizing traffic ambassadors because the traffic there is chaos and mindboggling. I think everyone dreads driving into Toronto because the traffic is so bad. Um, I would wonder what techniques they're utilizing. is worth um looking at given the fact it's much much worse in in Toronto uh these days. Um doesn't need to be a new position. It could be someone on your current staff who we designate on off hours as a traffic ambassador. So if a counselor has a a call, they know who they who to call if there's a major business that's having an issue um because there's a major sporting event at the same time as a construction project. um that the the local counselor could say this is our contact on the weekend, this is our contact in the evening. Sometimes we've got construction and major events happen at the same time. I believe usually this is planned for but sometimes, you know, there's changes or adjustments or there's um a giant event that was larger than anticipated. Um and so I um I see we have on the agenda today some road closures for uh garbas that that would be an example of sometimes um these events can grow quite large and create um traffic challenges. And so I think having that point of contact when there is traffic chaos would be helpful. be interested what it would look like um if it was um someone on your current staff who could be designated with that responsibility, but I'm sure that's information and options you could put in the report back. >> Thank you, Mayor Brown. I see no further speakers. I have a motion moved by Councelor Santos. All in favor, any opposed? One in opposition. The motion carries. Thank you. And with that, members, we now finish um public works. Do we have any questions from members with regards to the section? Seeing none, madame clerk, do we have any questions from members of the public with regards to public works today? >> Thank you, chair. I have no questions online. >> Thank you. And uh do any members have questions with regards to our community services agenda? Seeing none, madame clerk, same question with regards to community services. >> Three chair. No questions online. >> Thank you. And so now we move through legislative services sections and item 10.2. 2.1 a staff report regarding administrative penalty system progress updates was held by councelor tour counselor. >> Thank you through you Mr. Chair. Just had a question uh regarding this report. I'm just going to pull it up here um from staff. If I can just get clarification on just this part of the report under the screenings and hearings that enhancements to the review process uh by adopting a written first model for screenings and prioritizing in-person hearings. >> Could you just like explain that? >> Sure. Uh through the chair. Thank you uh for the question councelor tour. Uh so currently uh screenings are the first stage appeal. Hearings are the uh the second stage of the appeal process for administrative penalties. Screenings are currently delivered through either written or in-person uh options and hearings are performed as either written uh sorry virtual or in person. And so what we're proposing in um in this uh report is that uh for the screenings they would go to a uh written format uh primarily uh for submission. um with exceptions of course where there's accommodation requirements, translation needs, those sorts of things. So that we have uh uh a more streamlined approach to um the process for uh uh for processing the the screenings and uh for the hearings to moving to an inerson as well uh just to ensure that the the that uh they're they're addressed more substantially in that in that format. Um why are we moving away from the virtual option for the hearings? >> There's a number of uh challenges with the online system that we're trying to to work through as well. Um we're finding that there's um uh a fair number where um there people are there's a are just appealing saying they didn't agree with the initial decision and there's no substantive information being provided. So, we're just trying to make sure um that as we uh move forward with those that um that there's substantive things being brought forward for those matters. >> What's the what's the fee change for a no-show for a hearing? >> Uh what is the the change for a the sorry the fee change for the no >> like a non-appearance? Yeah, for a hearing. >> Yeah, it is currently um I think I have >> $100. I think I have it here. Just bear with me for one second. I'll I'm I can probably get that information for you. I just don't seem to have it in front of me. >> Oh, sorry. Uh the current It's currently $100. Yeah. >> Say that again. >> $100 for for the hearing for non-appearance for hearing. >> Is is that changing? >> We're not proposing a change to that. >> Okay. So, if there's a $100 fee for a no-show, wouldn't it make it harder for people to appear in person versus if they had the option of just being virtual? >> Like a hearing would happen during working hours? >> Sorry. >> A hearing a hearing typically would happen during working hours, I'm assuming. >> Yes, that's correct. >> Right. So wouldn't we encourage more people to show up for the hearing if there's a virtual option available for them, assuming they're also working >> versus if they have to take a day off work, lose the money there, come to the hearing in person to have to do it. So either they're losing money paying the fee for no appearance if they don't even show up online or they're losing a day worth of wage. Wouldn't like wouldn't we like just asking like wouldn't that support people that are that are going through the hearing if they had the virtual option more likely to show up >> to create more people to encourage them to show up for the hearing? Yes. >> Yeah. >> Right. So, could we not could we keep the virtual option then? Like that just you're paying $100 for not showing up, right? and showing up in person like this day and age it's very hard for people to keep their jobs as it is people are losing their jobs it's a very tough market out there asking somebody to leave their work um because they are appealing a ticket which they have their way to going through a screening or hearing um that that would just make and and I'm assuming they would have to show up in person for screening as well >> or is that online is that just the >> screening currently it is it is uh in person uh and we are recommending that that be moved to just two written submissions. >> Yeah. >> So, so that helps like having that as a written submission definitely helps but then moving the hearing option from a virtual to a inperson option that doesn't help anybody. So, I'd like to if I can refer this back to staff to look at maintaining that maintaining that we keep the virtual option and if that is a cost difference or whatever if if that can come back to us at next week's council uh for a discussion I'd be happy to see it then. Um, but currently I don't think we should I I don't think I'm comfortable supporting this uh eliminating a virtual option for people that are at work. Assuming everyone is getting mandated back to work 5 days a week, like are they not getting mandated back to work 5 days a week? >> That's my inset thought. Um, but if if if I can refer this defer this to uh next week to council or sorry, refer this back to staff >> for just an update regarding what I've just said and come back to council so we can talk about it after. >> So we have a motion of referral moved by councelor tour to ask staff to report back at council on how we can keep the virtual options. >> I have the city solicitor wishing to speak. >> Yeah, thank you Mr. Chair. Uh it's my understanding that's not a complete prohibition of the of the virtual hearings. So still there is uh accommodations in some cases. That is my understanding. But I just wanted to add that I know that the directions there. So >> and I appreciate you saying that as well. I understand with the accommodations even again honestly even with the written submissions uh having the accommodation of translation services or accommodation for virtual services as somebody that's my community is always asking for accommodations not comfortable asking accommodations it should be a right for everybody it should be the same standard for everybody you shouldn't have to go to ask an accommodation for something that should just be fair so if we can just fix the system to be fair we wouldn't need accommodation so if you can report back on that I'd be happy to see that um And just talking on the same um on the same report as well, I'm not happy to see the fee increases even though they seem nominal going from $10 to $15. That's 50%. Uh some cases they've gone from $30 to 60. I believe that's 100% increase. Um that's a slow like a creep of fees and these indirect taxes that our residents are going to keep facing. I know it generates more revenue for us. We'll get a million dollars extra every year uh if the trend continues. But and I know we're really struggling for money, but that small differences, the $10, $15, $100, it adds up over time. So, um, that's just a general comment on that. Thank you, >> Mayor Brown. >> Yeah. Um, I don't mind having a report back to say what the options are, but I think also mindful of the staff time um, they put into this because I think there is, you know, I I whenever counselors ask me to attend town halls, I do my best to um, attend and I was just at a town hall in wards 2 and six uh, this week. I think it was Monday night, was it? um very well attended and we were getting um there was anger from residents that the fines weren't high enough. Um and they were saying that because they're not significant enough, people continue to abuse our bylaws and not respect them. And so we got an earful about this. um happened earlier this year when I was at a town hall in WS three and four with councelor Keen and Emaderos where I got an earful um about uh the the fines not being significant enough. And so we have a problem where we have some bad actors that abuse the system and then you've got legitimate um needs or there's a nurse visiting a home where there's going to be a legitimate accommodation that needs to needs to happen or someone's moving day. And so, you know, if there's a way to differentiate between the legitimate uses and those that abuse the system, um I know you've put a lot of thought into this, but I would be apprehensive about um any pausing any any increase to fines given the feedback I got was, I'd say, to be kind and diplomatic, vocal, and angry um about the lack of um of severity to to to to the fines. I also want to have a better understanding and if any report comes next week um about those that fight the parking tickets, those that use loopholes in the system to fight the system, um where does that leave us? What percentage of our parking tickets get paid? Those that fight them, what does it result in? Because I know with a lack of of provincial resources um at at the court that in past we've struggled with um those that utilize the process. I'm not even sure if you can speak to that today, but you know, in terms of our bylaw enforcement, are we do we still struggle with with that uh challenge of of um those that that fight the tickets they receive? >> We we can certainly bring some of that information back as part of a report back on that. I know particularly on the provincial events side, there are a lot of challenges um with respect to collections and and and uh making sure that those come in. Um um I I don't have the details in terms of the collections for the administrative penalty program in front of me, but we can we can definitely bring some of that information back as well. The the one thing I would just note on the fines as well is um the fines have not increased since the administrative penalty program had been implemented in 2014 and all of the rate increases that we are recommending are well within the norms of uh comparator municipalities. And just to be clear, these tickets do go on the property. >> Wait, wait, >> say that again when you're >> And just to be clear, these tickets, they do, if someone is is convicted of a proper of a parking offense, it goes on the license plate or the or the property >> depending on the offense. Yes, it can go towards the license plate renewal process and then get collected through that avenue or if it's a property related offense, it can go on the tax. >> Now that the province has waved the need to get stickers, how does that affect our ability to collect with >> license plates? it we we still do collect. I don't have the numbers in terms of the impact of that but uh but there anecdotally there has been um some impact. >> I'm trying to open up a whole different can of worms but if there is that data available I think we'd all like line of sight into it. >> Councelor Plesie. Thank you Mr. Chair. Um yeah, and just speaking off of uh uh Mayor Brown uh our town hall, overwhelming support, especially for the escalating fines. Um there were a few individuals that talked about, you know, the first time occurrences or just having some friends over um and having them to have to go out and move their car every three hours. And I think I don't know of anybody that's actually just, you know, gone to pay a visit to somebody and they've never received a ticket before and then all of a sudden they they have a ticket. It's it's always been kind of at the discretion of the officers and um so I think lots of opportunity if somebody hasn't received tickets uh in the past and is just maybe you know 10 20 minutes over their allotted time. Um uh and I and I think that's certainly still supportive on on our side of things. Um but as for uh any of the other fines and uh the discussions that we heard coming out of the town hall is a lot of support especially for the escalating uh fines. Um you know I think this is a step in the right direction. Uh but anything with uh in terms of you know a report coming back uh for us to be able to arm ourselves with um the opportunity to provide information to the public I think is certainly a benefit. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Chair. >> Councelor Santos. >> Thank you Mr. Chair. And in fact, uh, and so I know this is coming back, uh, to council, but also just a heads up in continuation to what councelor Plesi, Mayor Brown have been talking about about escalated fines. Um, we are going to be getting an update from staff. We had a legislative services briefing and I requested that we get a report back from staff to update us on by law enforcement rl all these different escalated fines that uh for Q1 update up to May I believe it is. And so that that update report is coming to council uh this month I believe. Yes. Okay. I'm looking at Allison. Yes. And so, and I think what Mayor Brown was also alluding to is the worst of the worst offenders who despite paying the fines, we'll continue paying the fines and will continue violating the bylaw. And so, I think that is important for us to consider in a report back at the end of June of how we deal with the worst of the worst. What is our next step for us to consider? I've I've brought forward, for example, property standard issues for slum landlords who continue to pay escalated fines and then the next day continue to have overflowing garbage on their front lawn or mattresses and furniture on the boulevard for two weeks at a time and they they continue to pay the fine. So, how do we deal with the the worst of the worst offenders? I've suggested things like, okay, if you if you have a license as a as a landlord and you are considered a worst offender and you continue to pay your fines, guess what? When you renew your license, not only do you have to pay a fee to renew your license, but you're also going to have to pay a security deposit like how you pay a security deposit at a hotel. They they hold back money uh in order to to proceed. So, I'm I'm done, but I'm just making a suggestion that we could when the report comes back. >> Point of order, council tour. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. This discussion is now going out of what is in this report, this update. We're going getting a whole different discussion here. So, thank you, >> Councelor Sam. So, when the report comes back, this one's coming back. Uh, when would this report be coming back? this referral. >> Uh we'll look to get something in either by this meeting or the following depending on what we can do next. >> If I if I may, councelor Shanza, I believe the request from councelor tour was for council >> for council next week. >> Okay. And then in terms of just a point of for clarification because some of the stuff that was also discussed just now has to do with the other report that's coming back or coming to council soon. So to the commissioner when will that report be coming? >> Thank you councelor Santos through you chair Vante. So to address council tours inquiries we will be back next week. The bylaw update is scheduled for the next committee of council. >> Oh okay. so soon. Perfect. So, we'll get an update on those escalating fines, etc. that >> folks have been talking about at this table. Okay. Thanks very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. And so, we have a motion moved by councelor Tour for report back next week. All in favor? That carries. And so, with that, we are now completed our No, we have one more item. Item 10.3.1, a discussion by councelor Keenan with regards to hours of operation for home businesses. Councelor Keenan. >> Thank you and through you, Mr. Chair. Um I wanted to bring this I know maybe to council's attention um because it was brought to mind um not that last week myself and councelor Maduros we had attended a resident visit in a in a neighborhood um been having issues with a particular um home business um with vehicles that would come into all hours of the night into midnight. Um, and I know it sounds a little bit like what's the big issue here and I just want to give some context behind this particular situation which um is quite alarming. Um, so this neighborhood be it a um estate neighborhood um had some break-in enters, violent breaking enters at gunpoint um with you know full family in the house at night sleeping um and cars being taken away. um no one was injured. Um but still a very traumatic situation for not just the homeowners but the entire neighborhood. Since then there's been countless breakins in the same neighborhood on the same street given the opportunity. Um the neighborhood has gone to the extent of hiring private security within the neighborhood to sit on driveways to follow cars in and out. So vehicles coming into this particular neighborhood sitting on the side of the road waiting for an appointment that they have at midnight raises alarm bells in this community. Also to the point where they can't find the home they're looking for. So they're parking in other neighbors driveways and looking through their windows. This is alarming in general, not just in the case of a traumatic incident that happened in this community. Um, so when myself and councelor Maduros were looking at it, we said, you know, what are the hours of operations for home businesses to which we found out there are none. Home businesses are extremely important in our community and they need to stay. It's it's not something that we're trying to change, but the hours of which they are allowed to operate, I think, is something that we really need to look at. Um, you know, if that's 10, nine, I I don't know the answer, and I'm going to ask the staff report back on this. um so council can make a decision as what's appropriate. I think what we need to understand is with COVID a lot of businesses moved into homes. >> Since that happened, I think we need to relook at some of the changes that need need to be made around home businesses. Um and this being a a major priority, I think, and something that we should look at right away because it's something we can enforce. um you know to to go into that community understanding what their problems are and then having no tangible solution there that can be an enforcement tool um was quite alarming for myself and councilor Maduros and why we felt the need to bring it forward here today. Um so I I I will ask for um a report back on this. Um home businesses again are important co has increased that for us. Um, but I don't think there's a need for and and I and I'll be honest, I stayed I stayed at the the resident's visit until well after 11 PM and I seen two or three vehicles showing up at that time. Not appropriate. We need to keep our communities and our homes and our streets for that. Uh, we need to keep them safe, enjoyable, and and I'm not saying these are bad people that are showing up, but residents are now taking into their hand to go knock on their windows to say, "Why are you here? wiring in our community. That in itself is unsafe. That shouldn't be the responsibility of them. I would recommend against it. Um, but we need to make sure we're doing what we can. And with vehicles coming in there, sitting in and parking on the street that aren't supposed to be there are waiting to get an appointment to get I don't know what it is, nails, hair. I'll say I'm not sure 100%. Um, in this case, that's what it was. I don't think that's appropriate at midnight. Um, so I would like to move that um, uh, staff report back on the hours of operation for home businesses and give recommendations to council. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you very much. So, we have a motion moved by councelor Keenan. All in favor? That carries. And with that, that we now complete uh, this legislative services section. Do any members have questions? Seeing none, do we have questions from members of the public? Madame Clerk, >> through your chair, there are no questions. >> Thank you. And uh with the economic development section, corporate services section all in consent, I would ask if any members have questions. And seeing none, madame clerk, do we have questions for the remaining two sections in the agenda? >> And finally, um we move to public question period for the entirety of the agenda. Madam clerk, any further questions from members of the public? Questions? >> Thank you. And so with that, uh, both items from close session were in consent, but we have a motion that arises that needs to be handled here today. Madame clerk, please assist us with that item. future. The item 15.1 was approved on consent and directions within are deemed given including that the following motion be considered in open session. um that the report prepared by Steve Ganesha um be received and that a budget amendment be approved and a new capital project be established in the amount of $1,13,000 for development approval process technology to support the foundational implementation and modernization activities with with funding to be transferred from reserve number four and fully offset through return of capital from various approved capital projects to original funding source that subject subject to successful conclusion of negotiations. uh confirmation of a financially and operationally achievable implementation approach and within the funding identified in recommendation number two, the chief administrative officer, commissioner of corporate support services, commissioner of planning, building and growth management and director of purchasing, treasurer and city solicitor be authorized to execute all agreements and associated documentation required to implement the replacement solution in a form satisfactory to the city solicitor. Thank you very much and very transparently read. Do I have a mover for the motion? Councelor Plushy. Councelor Plesie will move the motion. Any questions? Seeing none, all in favor? And that carries. And so with that, uh we are completed our close session business. Um does the clerk need to report out on additional items? >> Um through you, chair. Just that um item 15.2 had been withdrawn. There was no consideration. >> Thank you very much. And so that brings us to adjournments.