Council Meeting Summary

Council advanced a broad committee governance review, approved heritage designation for five properties, held an informal public meeting on a Housing Accelerator Fund zoning proposal affecting 14 places of worship, unanimously approved a 632-unit development at 143 Columbia St. W., and unanimously backed a motion supporting public ownership of water and wastewater services.

Topics Discussed

1. COMMITTEE GOVERNANCE REVIEW

Council considered changes to committee rules and structure following a Committee of Council Review. Proposed changes included a two-year ineligibility period for former council members and former staff before serving on most committees, raising the attendance review threshold from 25% to 50%, mandatory orientation, rotating chairs, quarterly meetings, automatic honoraria, and updated disclosure and recusal rules.

Staff said committees "continue to provide valuable community perspectives," but recommended that some bodies shift to working-group models. Councillor Bodaly supported that change, saying it would make committee interactions with staff "more flexible" and "less bureaucratic," while still drawing on "that expertise and or lived experience that we desperately need." A half-term review of the working-group model is planned, with a broader committee review in 2031.

2. RELATIVES ON COMMITTEES

Council debated a proposed amendment that would have barred relatives of sitting councillors from serving on advisory committees. The amendment was defeated 3-5.

Councillor Freeman opposed the change, saying, "I think it suggests there's a problem or there has been a problem in the past and I don't think there has been," and added that she had "never seen undue influence happen" when serving on a committee with a councillor's family member. After the amendment failed, council left the broader governance recommendations intact, including stronger orientation and conflict-related guidance.

3. HERITAGE DESIGNATIONS

Council approved a report to designate five properties under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. Staff said Bill 23 requires municipalities to either designate or remove listed properties from the heritage register by Jan. 1, 2027.

Senior heritage planner Sue Schappert told council, "Heritage is definitely a passion of mine both personally and professionally," and said conservation of heritage properties is "very important to the city of Waterloo." She also said heritage designation "is not about freezing a building in time" because heritage attributes can still be altered through the heritage permit process.

The five properties discussed included 36-40 King St. S., 15 King St. N., 16-24 King St. N., 23-25 King St. N., and one property in the Mary and Allen neighbourhood cultural heritage landscape. Staff said more designation reports are expected in September and in 2027.

4. PLACES OF WORSHIP ZONING PROPOSAL

Council held an informal public meeting on zoning bylaw amendment Z-26-09, tied to the city's Housing Accelerator Fund commitments. Staff proposed expanding permissions on 14 places of worship properties to allow residential uses and "third spaces."

Planning staff said the amendment "will help streamline development approvals process and remove barriers facing faith communities in moving forward with redevelopment projects," and said it is one of the city's Housing Accelerator Fund initiatives. Staff also said more consultation is planned and that "no decisions are being made at this time."

Delegates raised specific concerns about notice, signage, traffic, servicing, heritage, green space, and the lack of site-specific analysis. Stephanie said, "consultation only works when those most directly affected know a proposal exists," while Sherry Wolf asked, "why the standards applied to private applicants are not being applied here." Father Steve said his parish had asked in writing to be removed from the list and questioned "why we are still on this list."

Councillor Freeman also questioned the process, saying, "when are we going to follow our planning process," arguing that council should review transportation and servicing studies and neighbourhood context before granting broad upzoning. Staff responded that this was the start of engagement, there were no active planning applications on the listed properties, and additional in-person and online consultation will follow before the matter returns for a formal meeting.

5. 143 COLUMBIA ST. W. DEVELOPMENT

Council unanimously approved zoning bylaw amendment Z-23-04 and planning report IPPW 2026-037 for 143 Columbia St. W. The project proposes 632 dwelling units and 709 bedrooms in three towers of 26, 27 and 28 storeys, with 100 vehicle parking spaces and 182 bicycle parking spaces.

During discussion, councillors asked about tower separation, bike parking, affordable housing and family-sized units. Councillor Freeman asked staff to explain "the reduction of the tower separation from 11 to 8.5," saying she was "still struggling with understanding that." She also asked why fewer bike parking spaces were being offered given the site's proximity to universities and cycling routes.

Staff said holding provisions will remain in place for water capacity, transportation review, and final approval of the geothermal system design. A planner told council, "Due to the current water capacity issues that the region is experiencing we will be maintaining the servicing aspect of the holding provision on the property."

Motions

• Amendment to restrict relatives of sitting council members from serving on advisory committees — Rejected (3 in favour, 5 opposed)
• Original committee governance recommendations — Carried
• Heritage designation report for five properties under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act — Carried unanimously
• Zoning Bylaw Amendment Z-23-04 / IPPW 2026-037 — 143 Columbia Street West — Carried unanimously
• Bill 60 - Schedule 16 motion supporting 100% public ownership of water and wastewater services — Carried unanimously

Attendees

• Mayor McCabe
• Councillor Bodaly
• Councillor Broadley
• Councillor Freeman
• Councillor Hammer
• Councillor Hanmer
• Councillor Henman
• Councillor Rowe
• Councillor Roach
• Councillor Vassallo
• Councillor Vasek
• Councillor Wright