Brantford

The meeting commenced with the national anthem and an invocation, which included recognition of the historical presence and current community engagement of various First Nations, Miy, and Inuit peoples in the City of Brford. Following the roll call, council members declared no conflicts of interest. The council proceeded to separate several items for discussion, including matters concerning the sister city relationship with Rine, Wisconsin, deputy mayor appointment, zoning bylaw amendments, municipal code updates, and the food security action plan. The main body of the meeting involved the approval of numerous items listed under committee reports, such as investment plans related to housing and homelessness, budget reviews, contract status reports, and applications for a telecommunications tower. A statutory public hearing was held regarding property tax adjustments under sections 357, 358, and 359 of the municipal act. Two applicants presented cases for tax relief: one concerning an unadjusted storm easement granted to the county, and another regarding an incorrect industrial tax classification on a property that had experienced a fire and subsequent change in residency status of the owners.

The meeting commenced with the election of the chair and vice chair, which required a motion to suspend procedural rules to allow for consecutive terms. The committee then addressed procedural matters, including acknowledging the role taking and noting a resignation from a councilor, with an appointed replacement expected to join after council ratification. The committee reviewed the agenda, separating item 7.1 concerning nonprofit housing development (Indwell) for a delegation presentation, and approving the previous minutes. The delegation from Indwell presented their organization, which focuses on creating affordable housing communities with on-site supports, emphasizing their values of dignity, love, and hope. They detailed their proposed impact in the area, aiming to build 200 units over five years in five communities, starting with a project at 452 Grey Street involving 90 to 100 units across two housing communities. The presentation covered funding pillars for construction and operations, and the proactive approach to community engagement, including design consultations and seeking municipal support for rezoning and applications for federal funding.

The meeting began with the welcoming of former counselor Cheryl Antoski, followed by the roll call and declaration of conflicts of interest, notably concerning proposed changes to parking requirements (item 12.1.3). Several agenda items were separated for individual discussion, including matters related to city tree protection, traffic and parking bylaws, operational service policy amendments, a new sports and entertainment facility resolution, official plan and zoning bylaw amendments for Hardy Road properties, alternative sites for a community garden, the 'Building Our Community From The Kids Up' initiative, and accessibility advisory committee matters. A motion to approve all non-separated items from committee reports (covering operations, police, water/wastewater, social services, finance, and planning) passed unanimously. Six proclamations were read and approved: National Poetry Month, International Transgender Day of Visibility, BRAVA Volunteer Week, Autism Awareness Month, Sikh Heritage Month, and Earth Week/Clean Brantford. Rules were waived to allow a late delegation from the Sikh Association regarding Sikh Heritage Month. The first presented delegation addressed the Official Plan Amendment and Zoning Bylaw Amendment concerning properties on Hardy Road.

The meeting commenced with roll call, confirming no declarations of conflict of interest or delegations were present. Key discussions focused on item 4.1, a follow-up report concerning per market compensation for counselors. Staff presented analysis of comparator salaries, including a recalculation excluding Hamilton due to their full-time status, and provided data on the estimated hourly rates based on a 2021 survey. The committee also reviewed information regarding meeting attendance and requested staff to gather additional data on the hours assigned to salaries for market comparators to ensure an apples-to-apples comparison, specifically targeting the City of Peterborough's employment status declarations. Furthermore, substantial discussion occurred regarding the extensive benefits package afforded to part-time counselors, prompting a request for a more in-depth benefit analysis across other Southwestern Ontario municipalities. Finally, the committee decided to issue a survey to all elected officials, including the Mayor, incorporating qualitative questions regarding their motivations for engagement, alongside quantitative data collection.

The Committee of the Whole Operations meeting commenced with an invocation and remarks from the Mayor commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day, honoring local veterans and those who made sacrifices. Key agenda items discussed included the Private Tree Bylaw update, which addressed the city's low current tree canopy of 21.5% against the 40% goal for 2051, and recommendations to accelerate tree planting efforts, particularly on city property. A presentation was also given on the Alternative Transportation Strategic Review, initiated in response to council direction to study alternatives to the paused Oak Park Road Extension EA. This review focused on evaluating conceptual corridors to address projected significant population and employment growth, particularly focusing on north-south traffic issues. Items approved via consent included the Asset Management plan for non-core assets, Council approval of the Joint City County HSP event program, and the minutes of a previous meeting.