Brampton City Council Meeting

Brampton City Council unanimously appointed former regional councillor Gail Miles to fill the vacant Regional Councillor seat for Wards 7 and 8 after Pat Fortini's resignation, restoring representation at both city and regional council for the balance of the term. Council also unanimously approved bylaws tied to a development charge reduction and refund program running through March 30, 2029, and approved renaming Eastbourne Park as Clare Family Park.

Topics Discussed

1. REGIONAL COUNCILLOR APPOINTMENT

Council declared the Regional Councillor seat for Wards 7 and 8 vacant following Pat Fortini's resignation effective Aug. 25 at 11:59 p.m., then unanimously appointed Gail Miles to fill the seat for the remainder of the term. Councillor Rowena Santos said, "We definitely need that vote at regional council 100%. We need that representation at regional council and I don't think there's anyone better who could fulfill that than someone who has been already in that role and has that experience for decades and it's so great to see you back."

2. GAIL MILES SWORN IN

Miles, who previously served as a regional councillor, was sworn in after the appointment. In brief remarks, she said the current term has brought unusually heavy demands on council, telling members that "the challenges that you've been facing over the last term have really been great. the numbers are astounding and it doesn't look like those things are are going to change." She also said she had been working with Councillors Santos and Paul Vicente "on the addictions crisis that we see in our city."

3. DEVELOPMENT CHARGES REDUCTION PROGRAM

Council discussed amendments to the city's development charges framework and unanimously approved Bylaws 138-2026 and 139-2026 to implement a development charge reduction and refund program from March 31 to March 30, 2029. Mayor Patrick Brown said the city was trying to support housing construction without losing sight of infrastructure needs: "we do have growth. we do need roads and potable water and sidewalks and community centers and parks." Councillor Michael Palleschi added that "our partners at the provincial and federal government have said very clearly to us that this will mean a much larger allocation to Brampton."

4. FUNDING QUESTIONS ON DEVELOPMENT CHARGES

Resident Sylvia Roberts questioned whether outside funding would fully offset the revenue lost through development charge cuts. She asked, "What projects are we going to for example in the 2027 2028 budget? We have budgeted noise wall street put in without a road widening which doesn't seem like it actually conforms with the DCs and that's $20 million a year. Are those going to be moved off for example?" Brown responded that council would not support an agreement that failed to cover the cost of the reductions and said further provincial and federal funding announcements were expected.

5. PARK RENAMING

Council unanimously approved renaming Eastbourne Park as Clare Family Park in honour of the Clare family and the founder of Maki Masjid and Maki Islamic School. The renaming item passed without recorded opposition.

Motions

• Appointment of Gail Miles as Regional Councillor for Wards 7 and 8 — Passed unanimously
• Bylaw 138-2026: Development charge reduction/refund program — Passed unanimously
• Bylaw 139-2026: Development charge reduction/refund program — Passed unanimously
• Rename Eastbourne Park as Clare Family Park — Passed unanimously

Attendees

• Mayor Patrick Brown
• Councillor Rowena Santos
• Councillor Rod Power
• Councillor Gurpartap Singh Toor
• Councillor Paul Vicente
• Gail Miles
• Pat Fortini