Structured Summary of City Council Meeting

High-level summary - At the November 25, 2025 city council meeting, the body approved or received several key items affecting community spaces and programs: the Gymnasium Allocation Policy (DCS 2546) was approved, updates on the Peach King Center expansion (DCS 2548) were received, and funding for the Community Project Grant Program 2025 recipients (DCS 2549) was approved. The meeting also received the 55+ Program Survey update (DCS 2550) and the Grimsby Museum Information Report (DCS 2545). Public input channels were highlighted, notably through the Let’s Talk Grimby platform, and a grand opening for the Peach King Center was confirmed for January 24, 2026.

Five most important topics discussed

1) Peach King Center Expansion and Renovation Update (File: DCS 2548) - The project is over 90% complete, with a hard opening date set for January 24, 2026. Exterior work is largely finished and interior progress is in final stages, including flooring and fixtures. Councillors emphasized avoiding a soft opening to preserve the first-visit experience: “It’s really hard to do soft opening and not kind of take away the experience of first walking into the building.” - Quotes reflect the emphasis on a strong launch and transitions: “The grand opening date is January 24th, 2026,” and notes on completing procurement of furniture and fitness equipment from Canadian suppliers.

2) Gymnasium Allocation Policy (File: DCS 2546) - A formal policy was discussed to allocate two new gymnasiums, prioritizing town programming, youth and adult sport organizations, local schools, nonprofits, resident programs, and finally non-resident groups. The policy is designed to be fair and predictable for users. “This policy provides a framework where all of our different community users know what the expectations are if you want to be allocated space.” - The policy aligns with existing ice and sports field allocation policies and will be updated for consistency as needed: “The policy aligns with existing ice and sports field allocation policies and will be updated further to ensure consistency.”

3) Community Project Grant Program 2025 Recipients (File: DCS 2549) - The council approved the grant recipients as recommended by the review panel. Trevor noted the volume of applications: “This is the most applications we've ever received since this program started.” To ensure equity, some previously funded applications with unchanged programming or governance issues were not funded: “If you had applied for something you applied for previously, no change in the programming, it's the same scope. We did not fund those organizations.” - The motion to approve the recipients passed unanimously, signaling continued support for diverse community initiatives.

4) Grimsby Seniors Club name change to 55 Plus Active Living Club (Topic tied to governance/transition) - The Grimsby Seniors Club Advisory Committee unanimously moved to rename the club to “55 Plus Active Living Club,” aligning branding with a shift to a new facility and broader inclusivity. Direct quote from the committee: “Following a review of the survey findings, the Grimby Senior Club Advisory Committee unanimously agreed by motion to change the club's name to 55 Plus Active Living Club.” - This topic ties into broader programming and facility transitions, signaling a refreshed identity as programming expands at the new facility.

5) Public Input and Transparency: Let’s Talk Grimby and survey transparency (Public engagement) - The council highlighted ongoing community engagement through surveys, including the 55+ program survey results and the Let’s Talk Grimby platform. A key public-comment sentiment noted: “We notice that a lot of these surveys, and I'm sure the community notices it, people take the time to complete the survey but never ever hear about the results.” The Let’s Talk Grimby platform is used to post survey results and gather feedback, inviting ongoing resident input.

Opportunities for public input - Public input opportunities include participating in Let’s Talk Grimby surveys and viewing posted survey results there. Residents are encouraged to share feedback on programming and facility developments via that platform, and to engage with the Grimsby Seniors Club Advisory Committee for program suggestions. - The Let’s Talk Grimby platform is specifically cited as the venue for survey results and ongoing input. For direct engagement, residents can participate in surveys and reach out through the community services channels associated with the platform.

File numbers and bylaw references discussed - DCS 2546: Gymnasium Allocation Policy (approved) - DCS 2548: Peach King Center Expansion and Renovation Project Update (received/approved) - DCS 2549: Community Project Grant Program 2025 Recipients (approved) - DCS 2550: Community Services Department Update / 55+ Program Survey Information (received) - DCS 2545: Grimsby Museum Information Report (received) - Additional mentions across sections include overall governance, program surveys, and facility transition planning.

Motions passed, rejected, or deferred (with titles and outcomes) - Motion: Approval of Gymnasium Allocation Policy (DCS 2546) - Outcome: Passed - Next steps: Implement the policy; align with existing policies; ongoing updates as needed. - Motion: Peach King Center Expansion and Renovation Project Update (DCS 2548) - Outcome: Passed - Next steps: Finalize construction, address deficiencies, prepare for the January 24, 2026 opening. - Motion: Community Project Grant Program 2025 Recipients (DCS 2549) - Outcome: Passed - Next steps: Implement funding allocations; monitor program outcomes; consider future funding adjustments due to high demand. - Motion: Receive 55+ Program Survey for Information (DCS 2550) - Outcome: Carried - Next steps: Use survey findings to guide program planning and outreach. - Motion: Grimsby Museum Information Report (DCS 2545) - Outcome: Carried - Next steps: Inform future planning for cultural initiatives and museum activity.

Councillors present - Councillor DeFlavio - Councillor Cangi (referenced in related discourse) - Councillor Kstani - Councillor Corstangi - Councillor Christie - Councillor How - Note: The transcripts reference multiple named participants (some labeled as “Counselor/Chair” and some as “Member”), but the above are the clearly identifiable councillors referenced across the sections provided. The record also includes non-council participants (e.g., senior club representatives, staff, and community members) and chairs/board chairs who facilitated discussion.