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Committee of the Whole: Votes here are recommendations. When the committee votes “yes,” they are technically voting to recommend that the City Council approve a specific action at a future date.

Council Meeting: Votes here are final and legally binding. This is the stage where the recommendations from the Committee of the Whole are officially “ratified” or passed into law (by-laws).

00:00:54
Hello. If you could see me now,

00:01:56
you’d know how blue I’ve been. One look I’m in. Then you’d realize I’m still in love with you. If you could see me now, you’d find me being brave and trying awfully hard to make my tears behave. But that’s quite impossible. I’m still in love with you. You’ll

00:03:06
be made for a while. I’ll try to smile. But can I play the part with my heart behind a smile? The way I feel the look of love is plain. in your eyes. I think. Good morning everyone. My name is

00:18:34
Maryannne me Ward, mayor of the city of Burlington and I’d like to call to order this regular meeting of Burlington City Council for Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Is there a strange echo? Okay. Uh can you can we fix that? Yeah, >> all right. Trying again. Is that >> better? Thank you. testing. One, two, three. Is that

00:20:02
better? Yeah. How’s that for you folks out there? Good. Okay. Excellent. All right, thanks everyone for that. Uh, I’ll now read a safety notice for those present in council chambers. In the event of an excuse me, an emergency, please evacuate the council chambers by the nearest exit staircase, which is located through the doorway marked with the exit symbol.

00:20:35
Once you’ve evacuated the building, please gather at Veteran Square outside of City Hall. I’ll now read a land acknowledgement. Burlington as we know it today is rich in history and modern traditions of many First Nations and the Matei. From the Anesnabek to the Hton and the Matei, our lands spanning from Lake Ontario to the Niagara Escarment are steeped in indigenous history.

00:21:00
The territory is mutually covered by the dish with one spoon wampam belt covenant, an agreement between the Irakqua Confederacy, the Ojiway, and other allied nations to peaceibly share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we gather is part of the treaty land and territory of the Missosagas of the Credit.

00:21:22
I’ll now ask all those willing and able to please stand for O Canada. Oh Canada, our home and native land. True patriot love in all of us command. to explore. God keep our land glorious

00:22:21
and free. Oh Canada, we stand on guard for thee. Oh Canada, we stand on guard for thee. Uh, all City of Burlington committee and council meetings are live webcast and archived on the city’s website. Today’s meeting is being captioned digitally through our agenda management software. So, I’d ask everyone to speak clearly so your words can be captured.

00:23:06
We do have rules of engagement in council meetings. Uh, the golden rule, treat others as you’d want to be treated. By way of introduction of our members, our first order of business for today’s meeting is to conduct a roll call. I’ll turn it now to the city clerk to take attendance and confirm quorum. >> Thank you. Mayor me Ward.

00:23:27

Councelor Gre >> present. >> Councelor Karns >> present. >> Councelor Nissan >> here. >> Councelor Stoalty >> present. >> Councelor Charman >> here. >> Councelor Bentania >> present. >> Mayor meard >> present. >> Uh councelor Escorm. >> Excellent. Our CEO is joining us today. Kurt Penson, our city clerk, Mike Dbrand, clerk’s assistant, Debbie Hordike, and other staff will be introduced as their item comes up.

00:23:48
Our meeting is scheduled today until noon to reconvene at 1 and uh going until 4:30 should we need to do that. Does anyone require a hard stop at noon? Okay. And is any do we expect any early departures today? All right. Seeing none, are there any requests to reorder items on the agenda? Seeing none, uh any questions before we move to approval? Okay.

00:24:23
Uh moved by councelor Benia, seconded by councelor Stolty, and I’ll turn it to the clerk for the recorded vote to approve the agenda as presented. >> Councelor Gre >> support. Councelor Karns, >> support. >> Councelor Nissan, >> support. Councelor Stoalty, >> support. Councelor Charman >> support. >> Councelor Bentovenia >> support.

00:24:43

Mayor Meard >> support. >> Seven in favor. >> And that does carry. Uh declarations of pecuniary interest. We have one. Go ahead, Councelor Greg. >> Uh yes, I need to declare an interest on item 13.1 uh K, the uh Waterown Road Properties DGM36-26. Thank you. >> And we’ll include the enabling bylaw in that declaration as well.

00:25:07
uh in the list. >> Yes, please. Thank you. >> Okay, excellent. We’ll get that uh number recorded in the minutes for you. Uh any other declarations? Okay, seeing none, uh we do have several proclamations and a number of peer lightings. May is building safety month, Jewish heritage month, and itashi month. June is Black Music Month, Aphasia Awareness Month, and Pride Month, as well as National Phabottomy Technicians Recognition Week, which is June 22nd to 26.

00:25:43
We do have a number of peer lightings. June 1st lit red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple for Pride Month. June 2nd lit purple for Spinal CSF leak awareness week. June 3rd, lit orange for join the Jay, Joseph Brandt Hospital Foundation. June 5th, lit blue and green for World Environment Day and World, sorry, Canadian Environment Week.

00:26:07
June 6th, lit gold for Seniors Month. June 11, lit purple for lipadeema awareness day. June 12, lit green for Brain Injury Awareness Month. June 14, lit purple for ALS Awareness Month. June 17 lit black, red, white, and blue for the Missosagas of the Credit First Nation. June 18, lit white, gold, red, and blue for the Inuit.

00:26:32
June 18, lit red and white for the Matei. June 20th, lit purple and white for Six Nations of the Grand River. June 21st, lit orange for National Indigenous People’s Day. June 25, lit purple for World Vatigio Day. June 828, lit blue and purple for light it up for Huntington’s disease. And June 30th, lit blue for Aro Dryosis Awareness Day.

00:27:07
Apologies for that uh pronunciation. So, lots uh of incredible things in the community and if you want to know more about some of those uh you can look those up online and you can see the listing on the city of Burlington webpage. We turn now to recognitions and achievements and we have uh our wonderful city staff uh to be recognized today for the United Way campaign award and check presentation.

00:27:31
Thank you for joining us. Uh, I’m pleased to share that at this year’s Waves of Impact Gala hosted by the United Way Golden Horseshoe, the City of Burlington staff’s United Way campaign was recognized with the Inspiring Local Love Award. This honor celebrates campaigns that have persevered through challenges to continue to make a meaningful difference in their local community and the United Way.

00:27:58
Because of these efforts, thousands of our most vulnerable individuals in our community will continue to receive the vital programs and services that they rely on. I’d now like to invite Ian McLo, the administrative assistant for the community planning department and the committee chair for the city of Burlington Staff United Way to come forward and say a few words.

00:28:21
Come on up and welcome and congratulations. Good morning, members of council, members of the XLT, members of the public. My name is Ian Mlonzo and I am an administrative assistant for the city for the community planning department as well as the committee chair for the city of Burlington’s United Way committee.

00:28:45
I am pleased to inform you all that through our campaign efforts, City of Burlington staff raised 63,000 63,10081 cents to go towards the United Way Golden Horseshoe. This was accomplished through our payroll deduction program as and our staff events such as the annual softball tournament with the town of Oakville and and Burlington economic development tourism and our chili cookoff which shout out to councelor Benavvenia for winning our celebrity chef award this year as and as well city of Burlington and as well the city of Burlington was a recipient of the spiring local love award at the United Way Golden Horseshoes Waves of Impact Galla last month. The award highlights campaign campaigns that preserves through challenges and continued support supporting their uh local communities with the United Way. I want to take the moment to thank council, the Burlington executive leadership team, the uh Burlington senior leadership team and

00:29:44
our unions including QP locals 15 uh 1540 rather, excuse me, 2723 and 44 and IAFF local 1552 for their continued support in the United Way committee. the city of the city, excuse me, the city staff who have participated and contributed both to our events and payroll deduction. Valentina Ellis from the United Way Golden Horseshoe for continued support and wisdom.

00:30:12
And lastly, I would like to thank members of our comm community of our committee. Without their hard work, passion, dedication, and commitment, we would not be here today. The members of the committee who have joined me today are Amanda D’Angelo from the community planning department, Steven Cam from the transportation services, Jason D from government relations, Laura Gubbery from uh art from recreation community culture and Craig Humer from trans transportation services and lastly Amy Daca from engineering services. I would like to now turn it over to Jennifer Lo Loker from uh who who is the chief development officer for the United Way Golden Horseshoe. >> Good morning everyone. It is a pleasure to be here this morning. On behalf of United Way Golden Horseshoe, I want to start by saying thank you to the city of Burlington for your incredible

00:31:10
commitment to community. Your spirit of generosity has made incredibly meaningful impact right here in Burlington and we are so grateful. Raising over $63,000 is an outstanding achievement and that speaks volumes to the culture of care right here in the city for our local Burlington community.

00:31:30
I also want to take a second to echo gratitude and thank the entire United Way committee and to recognize a few individuals who’ve played such an important role in making this campaign such a success. Craig, thank you to Craig Kumer who’s been such a supportive United Way campaign cabinet member for years and years, sleeping in his car, flipping burgers, pulling planes.

00:31:56
What a wonderful individual. uh your ongoing commitment and advocacy continue to make a real difference. And to Ian, who we just heard from, Ian, thank you for your leadership as an employee campaign chair. You’re instrumental in driving this committee forward. Your energy, your organization, and creativity really helped bring this work uh to life.

00:32:17
Thank you for helping to engage so many people. I want to say a special thank you to Councelor Karns. your continued uh engagement and support of United Way, whether that’s through Women United special initiatives or your leadership in helping to make United Way a charity of choice for the Burlington Christmas Market. Thank you. We’re so grateful.

00:32:39
What stands out most about this campaign is not just the result, but how you got there. And this team cares so much about helping those in need right here at home. From the return of the chili cookoff, yum. Sounds like it was a blast. Uh to the softball tournament, there were basket auctions and this incredible opportunity at the Burlington Christmas Market.

00:33:02
It’s clear that this campaign was built on engagement and creativity and a genuine desire to bring people together for a great cause, supporting those in need right here at home. These events were more than just fundraisers. They created connection. They built community. and they remind us what’s possible when people come together for a shared purpose, helping those in need.

00:33:26
And this spirit of engagement is what powers United Way’s work. So today, as United Way Golden Horseshoe, we’re bringing together communities across the region to strengthen collective impact. And while we’re working more collaboratively, what remains at the core of everything we do is local impact. The support that you’ve raised here in Burlington helps ensure that people in this community can access more than 60 local programs and services to get the help that they need when they need it right here at home.

00:34:00
What lies ahead is incredibly exciting. We look forward to the fall campaign and we see so much opportunity in building on this momentum together. Whether it’s growing participation, expanding events, or finding new ways to engage employees and bring the broader community together, we are really looking forward to working alongside the city of Burlington to make even greater impact for our community.

00:34:26
So again, thank you for your generosity. Thank you for the creativity that goes into running a United Way campaign every year. Your commitment is making a difference in the lives of children in need, isolated seniors, those who need afterchool supports, families in crisis. Thank you for making a difference.

00:34:45
We are so proud to be working with you, alongside you, and we look forward to everything else that we’ll accomplish together. Thank you. >> That is a very robust summary of all the things that people have been doing. So, thank you so much. And I would like to now invite uh all of council with our senior leadership team and staff to join me in the horseshoe for the check presentation.

00:35:09
And I think we will show our appreciation for you now as well by applause. Thanks everyone. Yes. >> Oh, amazing. All right. It’s always great to start

00:37:17
the day with uh some feel-good news. So, thanks everyone for that. Um we have no other presentations. I do have a motion to approve the council minutes moved by councelor Charman, seconded by councelor Karns to rem u approve the regular council minutes of April 21st. the regular council minutes of April 28th.

00:37:37
All those in favor, show of hands. Any opposed? Seeing none, uh we do have one registered delegation today. That’s Marcia Paley from the Heritage Burlington Advisory Committee in person in council chambers to speak regarding the motion memorandum regarding extension of the designation deadline of registry listed heritage properties.

00:37:57
Uh you have five minutes and there may be questions. Come on up. Good morning, Mayor me Ward, counselors, city staff, and members of the audience. This morning, I am here on behalf of Heritage Burlington, who offer their unanimous support for councelor Stolties and the mayor’s motion to seek the province’s approval for an extension of the heritage designation deadline from January 1st, 2027 to January 1st, 2030.

00:38:40
For reasons identified in the motion, our senior heritage planner along with the advisory committee has worked very hard to transition listed properties to designated heritage properties. Unfortunately, we still have over 150 more to go. However, this request for the extension before you today is not just for us.

00:39:00
We are also wanting to offer our support to all of the municipalities of which onethird of the 140 with municipal heritage committees have over 21,000 her listed heritage properties provincewide that may not be able to be designated. By my estimate, even at a hundred for the remaining 80, that’s well over 60,000 properties of heritage um that should be designated.

00:39:29
To our sister cities of Hamilton, Ottawa, and Toronto, who together have over 7,500 listed properties, the next seven months is insufficient. Truth be told, even the next three years may not be enough time. However, it would certainly help. Thus the reason I come before you for a second time in one month to ask for your support.

00:39:48
As this should be my last opportunity to speak for this council, I want to thank you for your financial and political support for the city of Burlington’s heritage. Much has been accomplished and you’ll hear more of it at the next annual report. Now more than ever in this uncertain world, our heritage gives us an anchor.

00:40:09
Time and again we have asked for your support and you have come through and we’re asking you to do so again. Your continued advocacy and your leadership is needed once again. This concludes my delegation. Thank you for the time and I welcome any questions. >> Thank you so much Marcia. You do have one coming from councelor Stolty.

00:40:31

Thank you mayor. Thank you Marca. I just want to give a quick thank you for all your tireless effort on behalf of Heritage. It’s quite remarkable. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it. And my question to you is, uh, I think we had a conversation about this a month or so ago when this the idea of this motion was coming forward.

00:40:46
Actually, it was a couple months ago. Um, are other municipalities making this request or is this something that Burlington’s taking a lead on and really kind of pushing the effort on behalf of other municipalities as well? >> Through the mayor to councelor Stoalty, it is my honor to say that this city is taking the leadership role.

00:41:03
We did so on the heritage helping housing grant program motion. Uh there are others that have followed suit um with the support of the acco and this one we actually brought forward to the acco and they’re also campaigning with the provincial government. So um again it’s the leadership of this council. Thank you.

00:41:24

Thank you very much. >> Thank you so much. I don’t see any further questions. Uh we’ll deal with this item in the order on the agenda. You can stick around or you can leave and watch online. We won’t take any offense. Thank you so much for being here. Uh our next item, we do have a petition regarding motion memorandum regarding parking supply structure downtown east of Brandt.

00:41:46
And I’ll turn it to the clerk now to read the petition into the record. >> Thank you, Mayor Mid Ward. I’ll just I’ll read what the state uh stated the reason for the petition and how many signatures there were. So the petition states, “We the undersigned agree that the public parking supply downtown has not kept pace with the development pressures.

00:42:02
New mobility initiatives designed to move patrons around our downtown are welcomed and in process, but parking is critical to the health of our business community and it may and it must be delivered now. We support the BDBA’s demand to deliver new public parking by 2030. We strongly encourage city council to approve a plan that will deliver a new parking facility as a short-term priority.

00:42:23
and there were 60 signatures received on the presentation. >> Thank you. Are there any speakers to the petition? >> Okay. Uh I’ll just offer that uh we’ve heard you folks uh and the motion that we’ll be dealing with later on the agenda speaks uh exactly to accelerating that and getting the information that we need to make a good decision.

00:42:45
So uh thank you uh for being here. I note that uh Brian Dean from our downtown BIA is here. Uh thank you. Thank you for your members uh coming and speaking to us and being uh being present and asking uh sharing your concerns and and again we’ve heard you and um we will be working on that.

00:43:06
Thank you uh councelor Karns. >> Thank you through the mayor. The the severity of this petition is reflected not just in 60 signatures but in the number of businesses that are behind those signatures. These are not just individuals. These are uh business owners that represent jobs, investments, and commitment to the vibrancy of our downtown.

00:43:27
And uh as we heard earlier, leases are coming up. It’s there’s a big wave right ahead in the next four years. Um that will fundamentally shift the landscape and the uh patterning of small local businesses, bricks and mortars in our downtown. So, uh, for example, even just one local business can mean 50 urban jobs right here in our, uh, downtown and and steps from the waterfront.

00:43:50
So, um, it doesn’t necessarily need to be a full structure, but there’s certainly been enough funding um, siphoned and directed towards this initiative. And, uh, what the businesses and the signitories are asking for is a plan that will deliver results. Now whether that’s um an agreement on what a public private partnership looks like as we are moving through the es and flows of significant development in the downtown core on the east side uh if it means a new structure on land owned by the city. We have a Burlington lands partnership that has carriage of that file um or if it means a net new of which we have a leasing department and a legal department um that needs to be working towards that. Uh I also want to recognize the role that engineering services and the engagement uh group plays in bringing this to fruition, but the stakes are very high. Um this is probably one of the first times the BDBA has launched a petition and delivered it to council. Oftent times they sit back in an advocacy role and this is probably one

00:44:50
of the strongest strokes that have been uh levered towards this council asking for something that’s necessary for the livelihoods and the future vibrancy of a of a downtown. that’s um definitely beloved and is now a destination location alongside our Burlington Economic and Development and Tourism Department.

00:45:08
So, uh the stakes are high, the petition is heavy, uh and the partners are at the table ready to work towards this. Any further speakers? All right. Uh turning now to the recommendations from the standing committee. I’ll identify each uh each one. We do have a number in consent, but before we get to that, uh just to give the folks uh out there an idea of what we’ve been working on, we do discuss these at committee prior to them coming to council.

00:45:39
So, we met at committee of the whole May 11 for 7 hours and 22 minutes. There were nine delegations and 11 recommendations that we’ll deal with today. Pipeline to permit committee of May 14 was 43 minutes. Uh no delegations to that one. uh two recommendations today and the regular council meeting of April 21st was 3 hours 20 minutes with three delegations and two recommendations.

00:46:04
So in total 15 uh recommendations, 12 delegations, six bylaws. Uh so total time spent in committee was 11 hours and 13 minutes. Uh confidential session of May 11 was 1 hour and 7 minutes with two recommendations. So, we will get the uh consent list up on the board and I’ll start reading through what we’ve got there.

00:46:29
If anyone wishes to pull an item for further questions or a separate vote, let me know. If you just wish to comment, it doesn’t need to be pulled. So, we have the 2025 uh treasurer statement, the tender award for Walker’s Line, the status update on indigenous services, the community survey follow-up presentation, guidelines for the use of strong mayor powers, and amendments to the council relations policy, advisory committees of council governance framework, motion memo regarding the parking supply structure, resource funding agreements. Oh, no, that one’s pulled out. Um the um proposed new building permit bylaw, amendment to the Burlington housing community improvement plan, confidential Halton District School Board Lands item, and a confidential update on litigation matter related to 127 Plains Road. Does anyone wish to pull any of those? Go ahead,

00:47:29
councelor Karns. >> Thank you. I’d like to pull C, status update on indigenous advisory services work. I’d like to pull E, guideline on the use of strong mayor’s powers, and I’d like to pull J, amendment to the Burlington Housing Community Improvement Plan. Okay, those have all been pulled out. Any other that wish to be pulled? All right, seeing none, um I will pass it to the clerk for the recorded vote on the balance.

00:48:02

Thank you, Councelor Golthra. Support. >> Councelor Karns. >> Support. >> Councelor Nissan. >> Support. >> Councelor Stoalty. >> Support. >> Councelor Charman. >> Support. >> Councelor Bentomania. >> Support. >> Mayor me Ward. >> Support. >> Seven in favor. >> And that does carry.

00:48:14
Turning now to the pulled items in the order they were pulled. Item C, the status update on indigenous services advisory. Um, any comments or questions? Okay. It’s just a separate vote. Oh, go ahead. Uh, councelor Kren. Uh thank you very much through the mayor. I do have a question and I do want to recognize the sensitive nature on our path of um truth and reconciliation.

00:48:39
And so my question is around communications and collaborations and how it might reflect on council that in the last month I’m wondering about the absence of any council member being either aware or in attendance uh to the following which is red dress day for missing murdered indigenous women. Uh there was a walk I observed uh after the fact for the Moose Hide campaign at Spencer Smith, which is an indigenousled grassroots movement aimed at ending gender-based violence.

00:49:08
And then I also observed um without invitation uh you know there was a you know a laying of tobacco in memory of a ward to indigenous boy who died in the care of those entrusted to protect him of which I made comments at the last committee of the whole and I’m just wondering uh one of my questions last when we when we discussed this matter at committee was around communications and I’m just wondering how might we find out about these things as a council so that we can um show our support Yeah, through you mayor. Um perhaps I’ll take this. Um you know in the report we highlighted that we are on a journey with respect to uh understanding um what the city can be doing to foster greater engagement with um not only First Nations but members of the indigenous community uh here in Burlington.

00:50:06
um we have some more work to do. Uh we think it is important that we do take stock in some of these uh you know these the these critical events and milestones in our community and that we share those uh with members of council. So um we’re working on that. We think it’s important um and we’re hoping um in the coming weeks and months we can uh you share more of that information with council as we move forward.

00:50:33
So perhaps a follow-up question. If events of this level of significance are happening on city property, two at Spencer Smith, one appearing at Beachway Park, how might council be aware proactively um so that all of council can show support? So my question is really related to, you know, use of city locations.

00:50:53
My understanding is to do these types of things, there must be some communication around using city property. How does council get involved? Yeah, through you, mayor. Um, we’ll certainly make sure that uh on a go forward basis, council is aware of all activities um that you described. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks.

00:51:14
I’ll uh make a few comments as well on that. I was able to be at all three of those. These were not city events. Uh they were not city- led. They were not led by the indigenous advisory circle members as an official organization. Uh in terms of the red dress day, uh that was uh something that an individual resident of our community posted on their Facebook page, invited anyone to come in community to join.

00:51:37
And uh it was very organic. It was very um it I I assume we don’t need a permit for people to use our parks in this way. And uh a number of people were saw that posting and were able to come. The Moosehide Walk was sponsored by Telus. it was a corporation that wanted to do um something for their employees.

00:51:59
Uh and uh so there was an invitation that that uh came to participate in that. uh they did not check the box uh to invite other um other people and so they just they filled out the form online and and so that if there’s a need for an automatic invitation to every council member that could be uh adjusted in the form but we honor and respect what people fill out when they ask for participation.

00:52:25
And finally the uh tobacco that was laid was done again by an individual in this uh community. It was not an organized city event. It was not a permanent event. it was something that an individual decided to uh to do and I was there in my capacity as a resident. So I hope that helps. Uh but whenever there is anything official that is run by the city or the indigenous advisory committee that should go out to all of council that should um be posted perhaps if we want to make a make it more formal. But uh there are many activities that happen in community um that residents just initiate on their own and they we welcome them to use our parks and our spaces and um I guess watch social media because a lot of that is posted online. I hope that helps. All right. Uh moving for a vote on that item. Um receiving for information. Thanks. Oh, sorry. another uh comment. Go ahead.

00:53:30

So, I’ll just make a comment um because I don’t want to ask another question, but I find it interesting that if a corporation is using our parks, which I just heard tell us was I would assume that there should be some kind of oversight particularly when we knew that this advisory service work was already underway.

00:53:49
We had a very significant conversation at the budget um as well around indigenous advisory services work. Um and I do have to believe that there should be some sort of oversight for corporations using our public parks um that would trigger some kind of circulation to council to make sure that they were aware.

00:54:07
So um my concern is this. If you know these types of things are happening related to something that is highly sensitive which is truth and reconciliation that council become aware regardless of who ticks a box. Um again we don’t have insight into that ticking box process. Um but we also heard at the region around uh more of the commitment by councils to be present in this type of a conversation alongside some community members as well.

00:54:34
So um just asking that council not be excluded. >> Okay. There is no uh effort to exclude anyone. These are individual uh private things that that occur. So I think that’s important. There’s lots of events that occur in the community including by the indigenous. I’m thinking of the full moon ceremony that’s been happening every month for six uh better part of six years.

00:55:03
uh there’s been no similar request for that to be circulated. So, this is in the same vein, but certainly now that that this has been raised uh that there is some interest in people attending events um I can certainly do my best to let folks know. Uh but if there’s a city uh again a city sponsored event u that uh council would want to attend then I think that should be circulated to everyone and it will be and people can uh attend as they wish.

00:55:33
All right. Calling the vote now. Thank you. >> Councelor Golorth, >> support. >> Councelor Karns, >> support. >> Councelor Nissan, >> support. >> Councelor Stoalty, >> support. >> Councelor Sherman, >> support. >> Councelor Bentomania, >> support. >> Mayor Mard, >> support. >> Seven in favor. >> That does carry.

00:55:48
Turning to item E that was pulled, guidelines for the use of strong mayor powers and amendments to the council staff relations policy. Were there any questions of staff on that? Go ahead, councelor Karns. >> Thank you. I understand through the mayor that there was a circulation email alongside the clerk’s office that I had uh initiated that spoke to uh additional transparency and clarity and engagement for community members related to the use of strong mayor’s powers that would divide any decisions into three categories. A declaration, a decision, and a direction. And those are uh three different nuanced uses of these powers. And so the clerk has advised that that they are open to including this and updating the website. Um but we just don’t have that on record and it wasn’t believed that a staff direction is required. So I just want to hear from the clerks that uh this is in fact going to be happening and if there’s a timeline to share >> through you may board. Yes, this will be

00:56:47
happening. Uh we’re going to work with communications over the next week. it shouldn’t take too long to uh update the past decisions on the website and then use those um presumably accordion dropown menus going forward for the new ones. >> Thank you. >> Any further comments on this item? All right, just for folks who may be watching, um apparently there were 67 mayoral decisions.

00:57:09
I think 60 of those were to approve the bylaws of this council. So, uh endorsing the democratic process here. uh most of the rest were related to budget. The mayor is required to either present a budget under the municipal act or direct staff to do so. Uh so there’s no way around those uh decisions.

00:57:28
So I think that puts in perspective uh what’s been happening. Anyone who wishes to see uh those decisions, they are posted. That is a requirement of the municipal act. Uh so you can go and see all of those decisions and um read that list and and make your own uh decisions about whether those were appropriate or not.

00:57:47
Councelor Nissan, >> thank you your worship. I certainly welcome people to make their own uh to make their own decisions about whether these decisions were appropriate or not. But terms of my role representing the community, I would say they were not a good idea. uh particularly the one around uh development charges and uh putting staff in a very difficult position by asking several pages worth of questions at the last uh minute.

00:58:13
So um which led to a really a very difficult situation at council where we had to put off most of the meeting. So I would just say that uh this just shows the error of strong mayor powers and they should not be used at all. I don’t support these uh guidelines because they will create a rationale for their use when they are obviously anti-democratic.

00:58:39
I look at what Stratford’s doing in um in fighting this legally and I recall that uh council had uh asked our legal staff whether we could uh fight this in courts as well. And I’m glad to see Stratford going ahead and uh would just reiterate my request to staff to uh to get back to us about that.

00:58:59
Uh I did receive some uh feedback, but now that Stratford has uh decided they’ll fight it, I want to know if we can join that fight. Certainly would align with the motion that was approved by uh council uh going back over a year now. And uh other than that uh two hirings of the CAO where strong mayor powers were used when they didn’t need to be by the way.

00:59:23
Um so I don’t see the uh I don’t see the uh I don’t see the the point in using these at all. And it’s not the number that matters. It’s a bunch of bylaws for the most part. That’s fine. But it’s also the spectre of using them that is problematic that creates a chill in our public service.

00:59:40
So better to just not use them at all. and then we don’t need guidelines. >> Uh, councelor Charman, go ahead. >> Thank you very much. Well, as the mover of the motion in the first place, I can tell you that um the the the premise of this was actually lengthy lengthy conversations around strong mayor powers um that had been imposed on the municipalities by the province like it or not.

01:00:04
Um and yes there was a question about whether a mayor could accept those or not but you know there were there were decisions made and that’s also um important to note. The the critical issue about this motion, memor this motion was actually less to do with whether or not the mayor has the right to or should do uh the strong powers, but actually was the um clarity around the instructions to staff, which is that they should only accept uh direction from the mayor when it is written as a strong may direction.

01:00:37
Um and that was actually the central piece of this and it’s being misdirected in the press. I see people misrepresenting it. Uh the primary issue is nothing other than the direction to staff. We all have our opinions on the province and the decisions they make uh including about uh for example uh designating homes that people don’t want designated. Thank you.

01:01:02
Councelor Currence. >> Thank you through the mayor. I guess we’re opening up a little bit of a different conversation than uh what I had pulled this to ask, but I think there may be another opportunity now that I’m thinking about it uh to increase transparency and accountability. So, on the city’s website about mayoral decisions, um, which was just referenced, uh, to go and look there if you want to see, one of the asterisks does say the mayor may choose to delegate these specific powers and duties, but, uh, it doesn’t actually say which ones have been delegated and which have not, um, to council, which is an opportunity. And and just as a heads up, you know, the Orag 18023 does say, you know, appoint and dismiss the city manager, determine the organizational structure of the city, create committees of council, etc., propose the city’s budget. We know that there’s some changes coming down the pipeline for that, submit matters for council’s uh consideration, and direct city staff in writing. And I’m just wondering if staff

01:01:59
would find value in perhaps identifying which of those have been delegated and which have not. uh in the spirit of transparency and accountability staff. >> Uh thank you and through the mayor. Uh I’m just pulling the list up here while uh your question was being asked, but those powers have been delegated.

01:02:20
Uh some of them that you’ve referenced in respect to the for example the hiring and the firing of the city manager and uh those would be reflected in the list of decisions. is your question whether or not to add a an additional column specifically for those. >> Um if I may as a followup um you know I believe that the um city’s website is a little bit misleading.

01:02:45
It’s burlington.ca/moral decisions uh because it just has an asterisk saying the mayor may choose to get delegate these specific powers and duties and then it does say um it doesn’t say which ones have been delegated or not. So it could cause some misinformation in the community around knowing which are held and which are are delegated.

01:03:05
Uh and again may even provide some better clarity for council staff relations if they have awareness around you know not digging through the nuance of previous decisions to find out what’s been delegated or not. So might we see that as a bit of an update? >> Certainly through the mayor that’s something we can take back and look to uh uh provide some clarity.

01:03:27

Great. Thank you. Councelor Nissan, >> thank you. Your worship through you. Uh question for staff as well. Um the the question of you know that the uh direction by the mayor must be in writing. Isn’t that already part of the municipal act as amended uh through the strong mayor powers? Uh just like council decisions must be made through a process >> uh through the mayor uh to the chair.

01:03:57
Yes. or to to the through the mayor to the counselor. Uh yes. Uh any strong mayor decision is in writing. >> Sorry, repeat the last part. >> Any strong mayor uh decision or uh action is done in writing as a requirement of the actants regulations. >> So we don’t need this bylaw to guide that because in doesn’t the municipal act take priority over our bylaws anyway? >> Uh through the which bylaw are you referring to? the what we’re about to approve, excuse me, the guidelines uh which say that it must be made in writing. Don’t we already isn’t that already in the municipal act? So why are we reaffirming it? Do we need to reaffirm it or is it good because it’s in the municipal act? >> Uh through through the mayor to the counselor, this the guidelines that are before you today are I would describe them as over and above the requirements of the municipal act. If these guidelines did not exist, there would

01:04:55
the city would not be offside its municipal act requirements. Uh as described in the staff report and discussed at committee, the purpose of the guidelines is to provide is to give uh a mayor who’s exercising strong mayor power uh some additional considerations. They’re uh in in essence recommended only.

01:05:14
they’re not if if a mayor chooses not to consider those uh aspects of the guidelines, there’s nothing that is um offside about their decision or or contrary to the requirements of the act. Uh but the as discussed at committee and in response to the direction that staff was given, uh the the guidelines were prepared for to put on paper uh some additional considerations that a mayor exercising strong mayor powers may want to think about in reaching their ultimate uh decision uh on how they want to proceed using the strong mayor powers. >> Mayor, I’m just going to try to clarify and that’ll be it. Um the underlying rationale that was provided by the mover of this was that uh we uh was that we needed this in order to clarify that um decisions made by the mayor had to be in writing. So my question was is are these guy are these guidelines actually necessary for that or does that already exist in the

01:06:13
municipal act? uh through the mayor. The the requirement for the mayor to exercise strong mayor powers in writing is a requirement of the municipal act. >> Okay. Thank you, >> councelor Charman. >> Thanks. Uh again, we’re misrepresenting the issue. Um the the reason we put this forward was simply because uh there was a lot of endless discussion about wrong strongman powers and and one of the uh uh suggestions was that staff were making choices or taking actions based on perhaps a dialogue that was properly uh imply uh not properly documented between them and the mayor. And all we were doing with this motion was making it clear that this council agrees that that was not what we wanted and that the mayor also agreed to that. So it’s about

01:07:12
clarity to staff that and the public that there is no imputed direction of the mayor to staff without that direction in writing. I add we spent more time on this discussion over the last few years than we did on when the premier of Ontario decided to remove one of the most important road safety uh actions in the history of this city I would say which is bringing in speed speed cameras.

01:07:43
So I appreciate this as a political matter but really please can we move on >> councelor Kurts? >> Thank you through the chair. Well, I’ll call it a democratic matter just to start. Um, which I kind of find as important as many other things related to our relationship with the province. And so, uh, I will provide my rationale why I will be voting against this.

01:08:04
And I’ll be voting against this not so much for the content within it. Um, but because I will continue to not validate the use of strong mayor’s powers as something that this council endorses or looks to wrap additional policies around. Because if you remember uh councelor Charman using your words what council had wanted there was a majority vote to delegate all possible strong mayor’s powers back to council that did not happen uh one which was very important was retained in fact which is why I’m asking for the clarity on the website uh for public transparency and so it really is something that we’ve heard far and wide from our community that sure if you have to do one because that’s compliant with uh provincial legislation, which may be the budget. Um the ask from the community was to delegate everything possible back to council as elected representatives for the communities that they serve. Uh so I

01:09:03
won’t be supporting this regardless of what is in it. uh because I won’t validate the fact that our city is going to continue to um wrap different uses around strong mayor’s powers, wrap different policies, waste time in council uh only just to uphold actual democracy. So uh I won’t support this. I’ll ask again if the mayor could find it uh in her to delegate all strong mayor’s powers listed on the website uh back to council.

01:09:30
Uh it was asked for by the majority of council. Um and that would help to improve council staff relations because we would be working as a collective whole uh which makes decisions by way of council in this horseshoe. So um I will leave that there and that will be my rationale. All right. Any further speakers? Uh >> okay. Go ahead.

01:09:58

Yep. Thank you. Second comment. Uh well I don’t appreciate the nonsequator around speed cameras. That’s ridiculous. So, I would ask that we not do that. Uh, we can go all day, but I’d say the guidelines are are actually the waste of time based on what staff have said. They are unnecessary and I see them being used as a post hawk justification.

01:10:15
So, time is wasted when we are reiterating. We don’t need to be having this conversation at all. Um, I I don’t I I just I don’t trust that these are going to be used properly. Um, the mayor of Kitner hasn’t used strong mayor powers once outside of approving bylaws. The the written request to uh that led to the development charges debacle was totally uh unnecessary.

01:10:40
I appreciate it being done in writing versus verbally, but that’s consistent with the municipal act. So, if that’s really the reason for this, then we can all sign a uh you know, the mayor just needs to reiterate that she’ll only do things in writing, which he has done. So I this is just it’s ridiculous and I think that having more um uh more having these guidelines totally unnecessary and we’re trying to basically change the history here.

01:11:07
So I would just uh recommend to those who are maybe thinking about their vote to just vote this down and get you know uh get aligned with the rest of the province that doesn’t see any value in or at least they have not approved any of these guidelines. So, uh, I don’t, this is not one I think we should be standing out on. Thank you.

01:11:31

Uh, go ahead, councelor Sherman. >> Sorry, question of staff. Um, by voting down this uh this item, does that in effect uh reverse the strong mayor decisions of this uh mayor? Does it change the law? Does it change the acceptance? um remove the powers that the mayor has already in place >> uh through the mayor. No.

01:11:56

Thank you. >> Any final questions? Any final speakers? All right. Uh I think we’ve kind of lost sight of how we got here. So, let me go back over and talk about where this evolved from. Uh strong mirror powers was new for all of us uh when it was initiated. There’s very little guidance in the act itself about uh how staff should understand it and how council should understand it outside of the uh requirement that things be in writing.

01:12:31
And so uh I’m always looking for continuous improvement and how I should govern myself under these new regulations which are not optional. They are in the act and so there’s requirements to govern ourselves under this new environment. uh councelor Charman uh joined me in actually reaching out to the integrity commissioner to say what would be helpful we we don’t want to change we can’t override the act but how can we do this the best way possible the most democratic the most collaborative how can we make sure uh that staff understand that just because uh any member of council including the mayor under these new powers does not uh issue verbal and it’s it’s taken as direction. And so the advice that we received, which I take very seriously in terms of how we govern ourselves and how we um uh how we attempt to u u not only be on the

01:13:29
right side of the legislation, which is really a minimum bar, but hold ourselves to a higher governance standard, was that we put in place some uh some policies of this type. These were recommended to us. I took it seriously as did councelor Charman and hopefully the goal was to give everyone uh both staff and council a sense of confidence that uh certainly for my part I have been and will continue to operate uh under those policies which again is a higher bar than the simple uh legislated framework. With respect to the two um issues that were raised, uh there’s a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding in community. I think we have a role as council members to clear that up. I believe in no surprises and I believe in giving staff a heads up in advance of a meeting when I’m going to ask a question so they can be prepared. And that is how the uh mayor’s direction around development charges

01:14:28
arose. I had a number of questions I wanted to ask them at council staff said because of the uh you know just to just to make sure we’re on the right side of everything let’s put it in writing and so I did and I will always heir on the side of getting information to council that is that is helpful and necessary for good decision-m and I would do that uh again notwithstanding that it gets politicized and weaponized.

01:14:53
Secondly, with respect to the CAO, uh that is the only power I’ve retained. I have no problem uh listing it. It would be helpful to folks knowing that council has been involved in those conversations and should be my rationale for retaining that has been explained many times. Uh I’m happy to explain it again to anyone who is wondering and that’s uh based on a principle.

01:15:19

Uh councelor Nissan, a question. I believe you’ve used your two speaking times. Go ahead. >> Yeah. No, it’s a actually it’s a motion to uh refer this back to staff uh for uh one month to get this integrity commissioner report I keep hearing about that I don’t have. So, if it’s helpful and necessary for good decision-m for a council to all have the same information, I mean, that would probably could change my vote maybe.

01:15:41
So, if I don’t have that, I can’t uh I can’t just go based off of secondhand. Uh sounds really important here. So, uh that would be my motion. Requires a seconder. Thank you, >> councelor Charman. >> I guess I guess Paul’s second. >> It’s on the board. So, uh, we need a second or first. I don’t know if that you were planning to second, Paul, but your name was on the board first and I’ll go.

01:16:05

I’m not going to support it. >> Okay. So, your second >> I was going to comment on that or refer to discuss the motion. >> I saw councelor Stolty’s hand go up because I was looking that way. Uh, you are the seconder, so it is properly on the floor and now we can open it for questions or comments.

01:16:19
You are first on the board. Go ahead, councelor Charman. Thank you very much. The um the language that’s in the motion is what the what was uh referred to uh came out of an email to me from the integrity commissioner. You have exactly what was said. >> All right. Any other questions? Go ahead.

01:16:39
Councelor Bentania, a question or comment just so we can get the right on the board. >> Comment, please. >> Uh okay. So, three minutes. We’ll just get that set up. And uh clerk, it’s a comment. Uh 3 minutes for councelor Bentovenia on the referral motion only. Please if you have comments on the main I would ask you to wait.

01:16:57
So we’re we have a referral on the floor. Go ahead. >> I just want to remind all of us that we can do whatever we need to do to learn what goes on and to help make our decisions whether it be talking to staff, whether it be talking to integrity commissioner or whether it be talking to other colleagues. And uh I I don’t see the purpose of of moving it back or forward another month cuz I’m not sure what we’re going to learn.

01:17:32
We can pick up the phone, send an email, and we can get whatever answers we need if we want. Thank you. >> Uh councelor Nissan, a question or a comment? >> Yeah, thank you, Mayor. Yeah, I agree. We can pick up the phone, but I would just a comment. Sorry. Sorry, just so I know the timing. Okay, thank you. No worries.

01:17:52

Uh, yeah, I I agree that we could always pick up the phone and talk to the integrity commissioner, but I would prefer that those conversations actually and correspondence be uh in public and available for the public to see. We don’t all want seven of us asking for the same thing from the integrity commissioner.

01:18:06
That’s what council is for. It’s for group decision-making. And I would love to uh give the integrity commissioner a chance to come and provide us with some advice as a group uh on this because with all due respect to the colleagues, the proponents of these guidelines, uh I want to see it for myself and I’m not going to take others words for it at this point.

01:18:27
Um so an email exists, please share it, put it on the public record. That would be the most transparent thing to do. And don’t worry, not a lot’s going to change in terms of these guidelines if we put it off for a month. Thank you. Any other questions? Any other comments? Okay.

01:18:55
So, um I will just say that the uh language as Paul said was actually in the motion memo. Uh the reason that we have committee is to um and we get reports 10 days in advance is for folks to ask those questions to make those suggestions to um to bring that uh forward. Everyone has an opportunity to uh to do that through committee and through council.

01:19:20
Uh but that information uh has been there and was there. So um if it just occurred to you now, okay, that’s fair. Um didn’t see that in the in the report, I guess. uh but that is uh all the information is there. It is public. It has been public for uh well since uh the end of I guess April when agendas uh came out.

01:19:41
So I would just encourage folks to take the time that is available in our uh council and committee process to ask those questions to get that information. That’s why we have uh the pause. We had a a big pause between committee and council. We’ve uh given extra time even in that. So, uh, we’re we’re doing committee work at council and that’s okay.

01:20:01
We can do that, but this is, uh, inefficient use of our governance time and I would ask folks to respect everyone’s time in this room and do your work in advance. Councelor Karns, a question or comment, please, so we can set the board. >> Uh, sure. It’s just a comment. >> Go ahead. So, if I go back to the March 2nd, 2026 special meeting of council where the staff direction was adopted by council, it directs the clerk in consultation with the integrity commissioner to review council’s code of good governance. Um, it does a couple of other things which is really what set the stage for this conversation. Um, the city’s integrity commissioner was consultant in the creation of the policy. That’s fair too. That’s in the report. Um, and it also does say that uh they’re not re Sorry. I think there’s a little glitch on my computer here. Anyways, the point is this. That’s great

01:20:59
that the integrity commissioner has been consulted. It’s through this conversation where council char has just released new information which includes the fact that there is an integrity commissioner’s document that has been circulated to himself and perhaps others which all of council is not in receipt of.

01:21:19
It is not an appendix to this report. uh it was not circulated by email and so we in essence do not have firsthand the information that was provided by the integrity commissioner and that is new information that was just revealed by way of this dialogue and I have to believe everybody around this horseshoe does do their work and it doesn’t feel very good for anyone to be accused of not doing their work or being reminded uh of the cycles of committee which was great that we have more time in between but this is a material matter that there’s a reference to a document that was just verbalized that hasn’t been provided. And so I’ll use this maybe as a question. Um clerk, was that email from or communication or correspondence from the integrity commissioner which is the basis of this report circulated to st circulated to council >> through you mayor meboard? No, it was not circulated but that wouldn’t be our normal practice to circulate private advice from the entire commissioner to a single member of council. >> Okay. So then my follow-up question is

01:22:19
this. Is it responsible decision-m to base a decision this heavy on information that wasn’t circulated firsthand and to rely on information secondhand? >> I think that’s I’m going to call that out of order. That’s a question of >> and I’ll just leave that there as my foundation for supporting the referral to get that document directly. Thanks.

01:22:43

Councelor Nissan, question or comment, please. >> Blake has >> Oh, I’m sorry. Uh I didn’t see that. Blake, go ahead. >> Uh, no problem. Uh, thank you, uh, mayor. And I just wanted to, uh, there’s discussion about, uh, whether or not, uh, the email or or correspondence, whatever form it took from the integrity commissioner to an uh, and a single counselor, uh, should be properly before this uh, council.

01:23:07
And I just wanted to make sure that uh council is uh aware and and I think council is that certainly the role of the integrity commissioner is there for to provide uh advice and answer questions to individual counselors who may make inquiries of that uh integrity commissioner. But those communications are not something that is shared or uh with this council.

01:23:32
That’s individual advice uh that a member may seek out and may choose to how they want to act on that advice, but that’s not something that would be shared with this council um uh broadly as a matter of course and and I think the clerk referenced that as well. >> Thank you for that clarity. Uh councelor Nissan, a question or comment? >> Yeah, thank you.

01:23:53
I >> so we can set the board. >> Yeah, sorry. Um it’s a comment. >> Okay, thanks. Uh, you know, I don’t appreciate our process at council being reduced to do your work in advance. I I it’s innumerable the number of times that members around this table have asked questions off the top of their head and maybe not always a best practice, but it is important that we have some discussions in public.

01:24:20
And I’m the I don’t I just don’t buy this uh that we’re supposed to take your word that it was included directly in it. And furthermore, I have more questions of the integrity commissioner. So, this is the process set by council is that we are able to refer items and I think we should be allowed to refer it.

01:24:42
I I think it’s really uh unfair to uh call out to do do your work in advance. I would ask the mayor to to resend that comment please because um there are many examples of all of us not doing our work in advance such as the financing of the development charges which has already been referred to on this item uh which led to the debacle at council uh months ago on uh on the DC.

01:25:11
So I would just ask that that be uh retracted. I think it was probably made in the moment in the heat of the moment. Totally understandable. we all do it but uh really quite unfair and if if that stands I will be stating that very often I think at council thank you >> I’ll speak to that request in my comments I’ll have some more comments go ahead councelor Bentovenia >> thank you mayor um I’d like to move on so between the mayor and and Clark I don’t know what we need to do here but I’d like to call a vote of some sort this is uh I’ll >> do that >> getting ridiculous I I hear you. Uh can clerk, can I respond uh given given that or um calling the question? I don’t know if that takes priority. >> So, can I respond? I don’t know if I can respond now that the question’s been called. >> Point of order. >> Okay.

01:26:11

Point of order. >> Uh all right, then. Uh >> mayor, >> go ahead. Councelor Nissa, >> are you just call Are you just calling the vote? Is that what you’re doing? You’re calling the vote. >> I have asked the clerk if I can respond now that the a counselor has called the question.

01:26:26
I would love an opportunity to respond, but our procedure bylaw, I believe, and the clerk can weigh in that once the question has been called. There is no further opportunity for debate. So, um >> I’ll save the clerk some time, mayor, and tell you that he spoke to the item already, so it doesn’t count. Second, it requires two/3 support by someone starting from someone who hasn’t spoken to it.

01:26:49
So, I look forward to your comments. Thank you. >> I can respond. Okay, that’s great. >> Sorry, point of order. I don’t believe councelor Bentia spoke to the referral, did he? >> Did he? >> Okay. Are we are we good? You >> okay? I would like to take the opportunity to call the vote, please. I have not spoken to anything of this.

01:27:29

All right. I’m happy to answer the question in any other forum. I can’t answer it here. So, uh, the motion to defer the report, uh, requires a recorded vote. Go ahead, clerk. So this just so so I’m clear that we’re council’s not voting on the motion to defer. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> No, >> I think >> yeah I if if the question’s been called though according to the procedure by to stop debate it does require 2/3.

01:28:02

All right. This is why we have a clerk. Thank you. A two-thirds vote to end debate. >> Councelor Greg, >> of course. >> Take that out of support. Uh, councelor Karns, >> yes, please. >> Uh, councelor Nissan, >> no. >> Councelor Stoalty, >> support. >> Councelor Charman, >> support. >> Councelor Bentania, >> support.

01:28:29

Mayor Ward, >> do not support. That is five in favor, two against. >> And there you have it, folks. Um, now we turn to the motion to defer. Back to you, clerk, for the recorded vote. >> Thank you. Motion to refer the defer the report to the June uh committee of the whole meeting. Councelor Gre >> do not support.

01:28:55

Councelor Karns, >> support. >> Councelor Nissan, >> support. >> Councelor Stoalty, >> support. >> Councelor Sherman, >> do not support. Councelor Bentovenia >> do not support. >> Mayor Meidward >> do not support. >> That is three in favor, four against. >> And that does carry.

01:29:06
Turning now to item H. The Oh, I was trying to hurry us along here. So the recorded vote on the main motion, the guidelines for the use of strong mayor powers that also does require a recorded vote. Over to you. >> Thank you. So the motion to on the main motion for uh item E, councelor Greath >> support. >> Councelor Karns >> do not support.

01:29:44

Councelor Nissan >> do not support. >> Councelor Stalty >> do not support. >> Councelor Charman >> support. >> Councelor Benia >> support. >> Mayor Midwart >> support. That’s four in favor, three against. >> Thank you. That does carry. Turning now to item H, the resource funding agreements for the fiber network buildout that was pulled by councelor Bentovenia.

01:30:03
Do you have a question or comment or did you just want a separate vote? Go ahead, counselor. >> Uh, just some comment, please. >> Okay, go ahead. Um, I’m not going to repeat what I said at the committee meeting, but um, I do want to say that I am in favor of expanding fiber. We need it and I understand the process here.

01:30:26
Uh, I won’t be supporting the recommendation uh, at this time. I do see uh some due diligence that I believe we’re not doing um that may affect us uh certainly down the road. Um long-term risks and future liabilities are something that we need to look at. I believe that allowing uh these organizations, these fiber companies to use our rightways um forever once they’ve completed their their work.

01:31:11
I know that we’ve collected and we’re getting reimbursed for uh short-term work that we’re doing in monitoring what they’re doing, but when they’re gone and something happens, we’re on the hook. And I haven’t gotten enough information to know what happens down the road. and we talked about it whether we were going to get reports along the way to know what next steps are.

01:31:46
So, uh this is very concerning to me and uh and I think we should all be thinking about people making the decision around this table knowing what the next steps are. The risks here are unknown moving forward. So I will not be supporting this. Thank you. >> Councelor Sharman. >> Yeah.

01:32:12
I have a question of staff with respect to the issue that’s just been raised. Um is it is it correct that hydro gas distributors, telephone distributors, cooji co all of those service providers are responsible for maintaining their equipment and any impact on the right of way or other property belonging to the city as would this provider.

01:32:44
uh through the mayor to the counselor. That’s correct. >> So there is no risk downstream risk associated who is responsible for financial um uh challenges faced by the provider >> uh through the mayor to the counselor. I think what Angelo um so if the if the utility company stays in business then no there is no risk because that utility company is always present in there and we can get that uh fixed or remedied.

01:33:07
If the utility company goes out of business or is no longer in play, then it is a harder discussion to remove or fix any damages that that may cause. But for something like this fiber optic uh build, the risk is small for what damage could be caused later on if the company did disappear and that utility was not used.

01:33:29

Okay. Thank you, >> Councelor Benia. Go ahead. >> Thank you, Mayor. And I’m certainly aware of that when we’re talking about fiber optics. But I’m not talking about fiber optics. I’m talking about five or 10 years from now because of the fiber optics that are in there and are now embedded that we may need to do some work on our rightway.

01:33:54
Whether it be sidewalks, whether it be, I don’t know, put a hydrop pole in there, it’ll be at our expense and there’s no renumeration. There’s no discussion as to compensation. Um, money’s put aside. I mean, when when when cities do work, they they they keep retainers. They keep I don’t know what they call them these days, but we keep deposits until the work is not only complete, but that we’re safe.

01:34:26
So, my only question will be, can I get asurances that there will be no future financial liabilities based on this work being done? Simple question. >> Go ahead. uh through the mayor to the counselor. That is the planned approach we’re taking now that any costs that are impacted on the city because this plant or utility is in our rightway will be paid for by the utility provider.

01:35:03
Follow-up question is that what if it’s on the road? What if the work is being done on the road or on our sidewalk where the utility is not there but we need to dig up that area >> for that >> you know they have to repair their stuff >> for that example if the plant is being installed basically any disruption or cost to put or install the utility in the rightway road sidewalk boulevard doesn’t matter is the cost of the provider any cost when we come along to do our work later that uh would impact or delay or impact our works is the cost of the provider. So the only time where it gets tricky is if that provider goes bankrupt or is no longer present. That gets a trickier situation. But for something like this nature of work, it’s it’s it’s a marginal cost for us. if we come back at a later date to do our work

01:35:58
and they’re no longer a viable company >> or there’s a consolidation in the business would would have the same result. Correct. >> Uh no, if it’s consolidated with another business, then they had new business would take over the same responsibilities and risks of this provider.

01:36:14
The only time it would happen is if this provider was no longer in business and that uh existing fiber optic in this case was no longer being utilized or used. then we would just hit it, rip it out, and not replace it. But it wouldn’t be a cost to us. Okay. Thank you. I’m still not convinced. Thanks. >> All right.

01:36:37
Any other questions? Any comments? >> Uh, go ahead, Councelor Charman. >> Sorry, I was still mulling over the last line of conversation. Um, I I’m delighted that we’re going to have a uh a provider of fiber optics to premises. I’ve been in the uh telecoms industry for 30 years working for Nortell and and and and fiber optics was the way to get speed of business uh to homes and to businesses.

01:37:08
Um and and we don’t have fiber to home in Burlington. Um, and so I’m very excited to be able to have the kind of speed that is possible and will be helpful to our businesses. Thank you. >> Any other questions or comments? Okay, seeing none, over to you for the recorded vote. >> Council Greath, >> support. >> Councelor Karns, >> support.

01:37:33

Council Nissan, >> support. >> Councelor Sulty, >> support. >> Councelor Charman support. >> Councelor Benia, >> do you not support Mayor Mard >> support? >> Six in favor, one against. >> That does carry. Turning now to item J, the amendment to Burlington housing community improvement plan.

01:37:47
Councelor Karns, you pulled that. Do you have a question? >> Two questions. Thank you. Um I’m going to start with my first one and it’s going to help with the second. So my first question is this. So we recently received additional funding of $2,112,000 from CHC um half funding housing accelerator fund.

01:38:06
Um the report DGM3526 which is on page eight identifies the temporary program funding uh which is about $5 million. And I’m wondering from staff this 2 million plus that we have just received should that be rolled into this temporary program or is there a different plan for that funding? >> Who wants to take that? Okay, Jamie Tier is coming up to answer that question.

01:38:39
Welcome to the podium. >> Uh thank you through the chair, to the counselor. Uh the number that you see in your report has already rolled that number and it was in anticipation of that. Uh, I just received an update this morning on our total budget and it’s it’s roughly that number. >> Really? >> Correct.

01:39:08

So, we put it in the report before we had the money. >> Well, we’ve we’ve had the money. We just had to wait for the announcement. It’s through CMHC. We’ve known about this for some time. Apoll is just there was a we had to wait for CMHC to uh to make their formal announcement before we could make our announcement but the numbers rolled in.

01:39:34

I’m going to move to my second question. Thank you Jamie. Um and it is a finance question. So my understanding is that the uh adjustments that were made to the um program were really to use up the balance of the half funding remaining. And my question was going to be around how these are audited and reported back to council so that we don’t surpass the amount of money which I thought was 5 million plus two but apparently it’s just five because we won’t receive another update per the report um on the uptake of the temporary programs until 2027. So, how do we monitor the deployment of these funds to ensure that we don’t surpass what the temporary funding program looks like, which means we wouldn’t have to tap into or touch any of the other financing tools, which I won’t list. Um, but especially not the tax base. >> Who wants to take that?

01:40:35

Through the mayor to the counselor. >> Okay. Um the planning staff have set up a tracking system to monitor the intake of applications and as part of that tracking system will also be the requested allocation and ultimately what allocation is awarded to that individual to ensure exactly what you said.

01:40:53
We do not overcommit in terms of awarding the grants to individual developments or individual applicants. And as I previously indicated, we will also be monitoring the progress of those applicants in terms of advancing their projects. And if it’s the opinion of staff they are not advancing or they indicate they are not going to be advancing, we will then cancel that allocation and assign it to the next uh applicant on the list that we have.

01:41:19
And that is the system that we put in with the grants for the ARU program to make sure that when we were assigning those grants to the ARU program, we did not overs subscribe in terms of who was awarded grants to install an ARU within their dwelling and that we’ll be coordinating that review or monitoring that review with our finance colleagues.

01:41:40
But it’s primarily going to be within the planning group. We have a dedicated staff person who is responsible for monitoring and tracking all of the housing accelerator fund expenditures both on the ARU program as well as the CIP program. But we do anticipate that the demand will exceed the amount of funds that are available.

01:41:56
But once that but we will be monitoring on a regular basis and reporting back to committee and council with um the success of the program. Thank you. I I’ll go back into Q because I’ve lost track of my uh numbers of of followup, but I’ll go back into Q. >> There are no other questions on the board. >> Thank you.

01:42:16
So, just to understand a little bit better. So, staff recommend returning to council with information about uptake on the temporary programs at the earliest opportunity in 2027. So based on this report page eight, it sounds like we won’t see anything until then, which is almost a full year away. What can we see from finance uh in terms of of the uptake and the and the ongoing depletion of this fund? So first of all, I’m surprised that the money that we just got was already included. I didn’t realize that.

01:42:51
And I think having a almost like a rolling balance is something that should be a financial indicator we should be monitoring to insulate against any overexpendures. We need to know who has eyes on this at all times. >> Go ahead. Uh CEO Benson. >> Great. Thank you, Mayor. Um through to the counselor.

01:43:12
I I I think fundamentally um we will only provide those exemptions uh that is budgeted for and approved by council. I think you have to have confidence in staff that that is uh a threshold for us. Um um what Commissioner Robisho has put forward is that there are going to be enhanced monitoring uh activities. Um if there is an opportunity that we’re getting uh a significant uptake and we’re approaching that threshold of our budget uh well before our normal report back in 2027, we absolutely will come forward uh with an interimm update to council to let you know um you know how we’re doing um how that gap is closing on on the on the budget and and in addition what we propose to do if anything. um regarding that pressure. So, um I’m I’m I’m hoping that council has the confidence uh in

01:44:11
staff that we are um you know following council’s direction and our our our bylaws and provisions uh to the tea, especially as it relates to the fiscal accountability that we have with this file. Um and we certainly will uh bring forward any interimm updates if we do have uh information that suggests we’re closing the gap or depleting that budget perhaps at a quicker rate than uh than what we anticipate. Thank you.

01:44:38

Thank you. So just to follow up, if I look at the recommendation, it’s asking to approve the recommendation for implementation and funding found in this report related to 2026 and direction for 2027. Might it be helpful to include with quarterly reports to council in that section? Because I think what we would want to see is a snapshot of number of units approved in Q uh meeting the threshold to receive this funding, federal funding, balance of remaining funds and funds spent. Um might that be might that be possible with quarterly reports if you amended that fourth paragraph? Yeah, through you, Mayor. Um the direction certainly isn’t necessary. I think um staff have heard the feedback from members of council. I think uh providing greater transparency on on the the status uh is something that you know we appreciate as staff is uh of of great

01:45:38
interest to council and and and we will come back with uh an interimm update. Thank you. >> Okay. Okay. So, I’m going to go um place a an amendment to that fourth paragraph because many of us will not be here in 2027. So, I think we’d like to keep this on the books with quarterly updates to council.

01:45:56
So, um do I need to type this? I’m going to look for a seconder because it’s pretty simple. All I would be looking to do is change that fourth paragraph after 2027 to with quarterly reports to council. And that is it. with quarterly reports to council for words and I’ll look for a seconder before that goes on the screen. >> I don’t see Oh, councelor Charman.

01:46:18
Okay, we have a seconder that is on the floor. Does anyone uh wish to pause and get that typed or we all good? We know what that’s okay. Not seeing any movement on that. So, I will ask if there are any comments on the amendment. Seeing none, I’ll turn it to the clerk for the recorded vote on the amendment.

01:46:44
Is that a comment? Go ahead. >> Just procedure. Could we get the language on the screen before we vote? >> You do want it there. Okay, Debbie. Um >> maybe we need a little >> pause uh for a moment. Why don’t we take a fivem minute break? It is 11. Uh we’ll get it on the screen and then we’ll come back.

01:47:02
Is five enough for folks? Six actually. If we come back at 5 after 11. Okay, good. Uh let’s recess till 5 after 11. Thanks everyone. All right, folks. We are back and we are

01:53:34
on item J, the amendment to Burlington Housing Community Improvement Plan. We do have an amendment to the recommendation moved by councelor Curran, seconded by councelor Stoalty to add quarterly reports to council to the directions. any I’m sorry, what did I say? Uh, let’s fix that to councelor Charmin.

01:54:06

Fairness. >> Okay. >> Yes. There we go. Thank you. Uh, thank you, Debbie. We want to get everything correct. Okay. Any final questions of staff first so we know how to set the board. Okay, seeing none, any final comments? >> Seeing none, I’ll ask for the vote. Go ahead. >> Councelor Greath, >> support.

01:54:29
Councelor Karns, >> support. >> Councelor Nissan, >> support. >> Councelor Stoalty, >> support. >> Councelor Charman, >> support. >> Councelor Bentoia, >> support. >> Mayor Midboard, >> support. >> Seven in favor. >> That does carry. Now moving to the main motion as amended. Are there any final questions so we know how to set the board? Seeing none, any comments? Seeing none, over to you, clerk.

01:54:54

Thank you very much. Councelor Gol >> support. >> Councelor Karns, >> support. >> Councelor Nissan, >> support. >> Councelor Stoalty, >> support. >> Councelor Charman, >> support. >> Councelor Bentania, >> support. >> Mayor Maidward, >> support. >> That’s seven in favor. >> That does carry.

01:55:06
Moving now to the confidential Halton. Oh no, we did that already. Okay, we are done our consent agenda, I think. No, >> item K. >> All right. Uh, item K. We’ll get that up on the board. Yes, the zoning bylaw amendment for 10228 and 1030 water down. Uh, councelor Golrath will not be casting a vote on that item.

01:55:32
Any questions? Any comments? Over you clerk for the recorded vote. >> Thank you very much. Councelor Calbreth has declared a conflict. Councelor Karns >> support. >> Councelor Nissan >> support. >> Councelor Stalty >> support. >> Councelor Charman >> support. >> Councelor Bentania >> support. >> Mayor Maidward >> support.

01:55:55

That’s six in favor. >> And that does carry. Turning to the pipeline to permit committee. There were two uh verbal updates from staff. Any questions? Any comments? Seeing none, turning to the clerk for the recorded vote. >> Councelor Greath, >> support. >> Councelor Karns, >> support. >> Councelor Nissan, >> support.

01:56:18

Councelor Stoalty, >> support. >> Councelor Sherman, >> support. >> Councelor Bentania, >> support. >> Mayor Midwart, >> support. >> Seven in favor. >> That does carry. Turning to the motion to approve the standing committee minutes. Moved by councelor Galbreth, seconded by councelor Nissan to confirm the minutes of the following meetings of committee.

01:56:36
The committee of the whole meeting minutes of May 11 and 12 and the pipeline to permit committee meeting minutes of May 14. All those in favor, show of hands. Any opposed? Seeing none, that does carry. We have no urgent business. We have no confidential items. We do have a motion to confirm the confidential minutes of the committee of the whole meeting for May 11.

01:56:59
Moved by councelor Bentovenia, seconded by councelor Stolty. All those in favor? Any opposed? Seeing none, that does carry. We have no rise and report. Uh we do have motions from members. So I am now going to pass the gavl to deputy mayor Angelo Bentania as I am seconding the next motion. Over to you. Thank you, mayor.

01:57:23
Uh, so the uh next motion is um motion memorand regarding extension of designation deadline of registry listed heritage properties ADM-3-26. It is moved by councelor Stolte, seconded by Mayor me Ward. Councelor Stolte, would you like to speak on the motion? >> I would. Thank you. Thank you. uh acting chair. I want to start first off by thanking very much uh Khloe Brster and Marsha Marshia Paley.

01:57:58
Khloe is our as we all know our lead uh heritage planner from the city and Marshia Paley who delegated earlier is the chair of the Burlington Heritage Advisory Committee. This was very much a collaborative effort. Um I’m not going to go through the actual motion. We can all see it there. But I do want to speak to the reason.

01:58:14
Um, Burlington’s heritage is a link to the legacy of our municipality’s past and that of the province of this country. Our built cultural and natural heritage is what we continue to cherish today and must ensure we’re able to provide for future generations. An important part of good planning, heritage, conservation contributes to a complete community, economic prosperity, and a sense of place.

01:58:35
These are sources of enjoyment, education, history, homes, and values to be commemorated and celebrated. a provincial interest. The conservation of heritage resources identified in the planning act and in the provincial planning statement PPS 2024. Cultural heritage resources are considered irreplaceable and valuable assets that must be protected and managed as part of planning for future growth of policies found in official plans to assist the city.

01:58:57
Heritage Burlington is the city’s heritage advisory committee, one of a number of proincially legislated advisory committees made up of volunteers from the community with a variety of backgrounds and always an interest in heritage. One of the significant impacts of the amendments in bill 23, the more homes built faster act, which received royal ascent in November 20 November 28, 2022, is that non-desated heritage properties can only be listed on the municipal heritage registry for 2 years, then must be removed for a period of 5 years. Many properties are located throughout the city, and now all listed properties are subject to this new time limit limitation. A request was put forward to extend the deadline to January 1st, 2030. However, it was only extended to January 1st, 2027. If the council of the municipality does not give any notice to of intention to designate the property under the Ontario Heritage Act, councils are legislated to remove the property from the registry and cannot list again for a period of 5 years. At this point, Burlington could see a loss of approximately 150 listed community value properties.

01:59:57
Since January 1st, 2023, municipal staff and members of Heritage Burlington have been very hard at work. They’ve reviewed the merit municipal heritage register. They’ve researched the heritage value and interest of listed non-desated properties. They’ve reviewed and researched the heritage value and interest of non-listed properties.

02:00:13
Contacted owners and taken all steps to require all steps to designate such properties if applicable. Even with these efforts and additional work being done in 2026 on another 10 listed properties, the constraints of the upcoming municipal election. Uh this means that all between election day and the end of the term of council, this means that all the majority of remaining listed properties will not be designated by January 1st, 2027.

02:00:35
Uh my time is cutting short here. So I’ll just conclude by saying this request is thus being made to extend the deadline for an additional 3 years to ensure sufficient funding and time and to ensure that staff and volunteer resources are available to protect the municipality’s built and car cultural heritage in collaboration with property owners.

02:00:52
And again, I want to thank all the hard work done um by the heritage advisory committee on this. >> Thank you, councelor, for for that. And second, u mayor me. Go ahead. >> Thank you so much, chair, and I certainly echo uh what councelor Stolty has shared and the thanks to staff and our incredible uh heritage advisory committee for all of the work that they have done.

02:01:16
the um you know I think the reality is that we have been really trying hard as have other municipalities to honor the intent of the legislation that the province has put forward uh which I think we’re generally supportive of that there should be at you know a decision made that that property shouldn’t linger on the registry indefinitely and at some point there’s value in making that decision about whether something is worth protecting or not.

02:01:45
And uh now that we you know we agree with that, but we can’t do it all in uh in one well 2-year period, especially as noted when there’s an election coming up. And we uh don’t want to risk the properties that we have. We want to be able to evaluate them, and not every property that gets reviewed is worthy of designation.

02:02:06
And we’ve certainly released a few from the list uh that were that simply didn’t meet the standard and protected those that did. So, um, this is really important to be able to extend the dead deadline. I’m hopeful that the province will see the work that many municipalities have done. Uh, we have, uh, designated or reviewed more properties, I think, in the last two years than we did in um, the last 16 that I’ve been around here.

02:02:34
I would venture to say that the work uh, has been really accelerated. So, I hope they see that as a gesture of good faith and uh that we are very committed to seeing this through and our our certainly our teams are and I I thought it was absolutely um astonishing to hear how many other properties there are in the whole province.

02:02:56
This is really a provincial matter that when you we talk about tens of thousands of properties that simply can’t be reviewed in the time frame uh that are potentially at risk. This is Ontario’s heritage at risk and by definition that’s Canada’s heritage at risk. So I I hope they will listen and extend the deadline and we’re certainly willing to keep doing that hard work and accelerate the review.

02:03:19
Thank you chair. >> Thank you mayor. Uh questions or comments? Oh councelor Nissen. >> Just a comment uh uh Angelo councelor Benia. Thank you. Uh so uh I I agree with all the previous statements. first of all fully on board here and uh I hope that they they will support it. I just want to comment that I uh am concerned that they won’t because frankly the system was not broken when they tried to quote unquote fix it and I think they’ve actually they’re actually making the province is making the system much worse and putting the pressure on us. I think the pressure was the intention to lead to heritage qualifying properties not getting the designation that they deserved. So, uh uh that being said, they did extend it once. So, maybe they’re two-minded on this. Uh maybe there are different factors involved. Uh but, uh you know, changing uh the Heritage

02:04:18
um legislation, the Heritage Act to require two uh two, um two qualities in order to two qualifying qualities in order to be registered. That was wrong. Um it’s heritage if it has one criteria. criteria and that should be it. Uh and now putting this pressure on us is totally uh totally wrong as well.

02:04:39
Um the prior system with the reg with the register made perfect sense. Now we have to spend our taxpayer money to rush uh to uh evaluate properties that otherwise would have only been evaluated if they were looking to uh demolish the property. Doesn’t that make a lot of sense? Um, now we’re having to do this in advance and it’s causing some um friction uh in the community.

02:05:07
Totally unnecessary. Uh, but uh here we are. And uh it’s great that it that we’re asking for this to be extended. Thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. Anyone else? I don’t see anything on the board. I want to thank councelor Stolte, mayor meard for bringing this forward. Um, I’m told we don’t have to read the resolution, so it’s there for uh anyone.

02:05:33
So, back to the clerk who will take a recorded vote. >> Councelor Golreth, >> support. >> Councelor Karns, >> support. >> Councelor Nissan, >> support. >> Councelor Stoalty, >> support. >> Councelor Charman, >> do not support. >> Councelor Mavanaia, >> support. >> And Mayor Midward, >> support. >> That’s six in favor, one against.

02:05:56
Okay, I will now pass the gavl back to Mayor Mard. Continue sharing the meeting. Go ahead. >> Thank you so much, Angelo. We have five council information packages, April 24, May 1st, 8, 15, and 22. And if there’s any items a counselor wishes to be brought forward and referred to committee, let the office of the clerk know before the standing committee agenda deadline, which is tomorrow at noon for the next committee cycle.

02:06:24
Motion to receive and file information items has been moved by councelor Charman, seconded by councelor Greath. All those in favor? Show of hands. Any opposed? Seeing none, that does carry. Are there any notices of motion? Seeing none, I have a motion to approve the bylaws and then we will take them in two parts.

02:06:44
The um as you see the one on water down has been pulled out. So, the first uh motion is the the balance of the bylaws. That’s been moved by councelor Karn, seconded by councelor Nissan to enact bylaw um the bylaw to impose rates and fees, the bylaw for debentures for Walker’s Line, the bylaw under the uh building code and demolition, the affordable rental housing community improvement plan bylaw, and the um there’s two there for that one. All right.

02:07:15
Uh all those in favor clerk uh recorded vote go ahead. >> Uh councelor Gre >> support. >> Councelor Karns >> support. >> Councelor Nissan >> support. >> Councelor Stoalty >> support. >> Councelor Charman >> support. >> Councelor Bentania >> support. >> Mayor Midward >> support. >> That’s seven in favor. >> That does carry.

02:07:35
And turning to the last bylaw on Waterown Road that councelor Golrath will not be voting on. Go ahead clerk for the recorded vote. >> Thank you very much. Councelor Gre does has declared an interest on this item. Councelor Karns >> support. >> Councelor Nissan >> support. >> Councelor Stoalty >> support. >> Councelor Charman >> support.

02:07:52

Councelor Bentania >> support. >> Mayor me Ward >> support. >> That is six in favor. >> And that does carry. Turning now to the confirmatory bylaw moved by councelor Galbra. Seconded by councelor Nissan to enact and pass bylaw 33 2026 to confirm the proceedings of council at our meeting May 26 being read a first, second, and third time.

02:08:10
Over to the clerk for the recorded vote. Council Greath >> support. >> Councelor Karns >> support. >> Councelor Nissan >> support. >> Councelor Stoalty >> support. >> Councelor Charman >> support. >> Councelor Bentmania >> support. >> Mayor Mard >> support. >> Seven in favor. >> That does carry. Turning now to statements by members and councelor Stolty you are first and three minutes each. Go ahead.

02:08:34

Thank you mayor. Just a couple of comments. Um starting out with the last Saturday of the month is coming up which means it’s again time for the W 4 coffee chat. As always, I’m hosting this event at the hub at Burlington Center and everyone’s welcome. So, please mark your calendar for this Saturday, May 30th, from 10 till noon.

02:08:49
I’ll have the coffee ready and look forward to hearing your questions and your feedback. I’d like to talk about the 2026 Herton Women and Business Breakfast, which is happening on June 4th at the Holiday and Conference Center. This event’s theme is unfiltered innovation and promises a dynamic conversation regarding uh tech and the power of being proactive.

02:09:07
So, you can contact the organizers at innovationfactory.ca CA for more details. I’d like to give a shout out to our amazing recreation staff for providing creative ways for the community to connect. I’d like to highlight the youth belongs sessions happening at Tanley Woods every Friday evening from

02:09:23
7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Come out for a free swim and community room activities with ping pong and music and basketball in the gym. I’d like to mention that Port Nelson United Church are excited to be partnered with P Flag Halton and Grace United Church to host a free Pride family fun fair on Saturday, June 13th from

02:09:39
1 to 4 p.m. at Rosland Park. The event includes a show by hands-on exotics, a bouncy castle, and fun activities. And finally, a fun event that’s a regular in word for is music bingo back at Nickelbrook Brewing Company every Wednesday night. All you need is a set of beers and the ability to have a good time.

02:09:56
The fund starts at 7 p.m. and is hosted by comedian Chris Jarby. Thanks, >> Councelor Charman. >> Thank you very much. Uh firstly, I uh start off to support the increase in GO services on the Lakeshore West Rail Corridor. Metroinks is working with the city of Burlington, the town of Oakville to build the grade separation, in other words, the separation of the road from the rail corridor at Bur Burlo Drive.

02:10:21
This work will enhance pedestrian and vehicular safety and will optimize traffic flow. At this rail crossing, Metro Links will need to fully close Burllo Drive between Harvester and Wrath Roads and Prince William Drive and Superior Court in sections from May 22nd to June the 1st. So for any additional questions, please uh reach out to the Ward 5 office.

02:10:42
The Applebee line and upper middle row construction update uh is ongoing but to a less in intrusive manner. Um, all grinding and base ashalt paving work were completed on both Upper Middle Road and Ape Line. This week, the contractor will continue adjusting maintenance hole lids and installing intersection loops along both roads between the hours of 9:00 a.m.

02:11:09
and 3:00 p.m. uh with single lane closures as required, which would help should help with congestion relief. The final um level of ashvalt paving for both Applebe upper middle road and apple line is still anticipated to begin in approximately two weeks. We have a statutory public meeting coming up for the linear Bronty Creek Meadows phase 1 scheduled for June the 9th 2026 at 9:30 a.m.

02:11:36
At this meeting, members of council will consider a recommendation report from the city staff regarding applications from Bronty Creek Meadows. Uh members of the public will have the opportunity to speak at the meeting if desired. For more information, visit the project website. The Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee, BAAC, um and I’m pleased to share the information about the National Accessibility Week, um taking place the last week of May.

02:12:03
The National Accessibility Week is an opportunity to celebrate the valuable contributions of Canadians with disabilities and to recognize efforts to remove barriers to accessibility and inclusion. Residents can take part in a variety of events and initiatives uh being held throughout the week.

02:12:20
Please contact the W 5 office for more detail. Uh the Lions Club walk for dog guides is this Sunday, May the 31st at uh at 10:00 a.m. Um and from guiding their handlers through their daily lives to helping uh getting help when it’s most needed, dog guides play a crucial role in the lives of Canadians with disabilities.

02:12:39
So by supporting Alershot and Bington Lions Club with a donation to the Pet Value work for dogs, you’re enabling Lion Foundation to fulfill their mission to empower Canadians with disabilities to navigate the world with confidence and independence by providing guide dogs at no cost to them. Coffee with council is taking place Thursday, June 25th, 68:00.

02:12:59
Tim Hortons, 5353 Lakeshore. Come along, have coffee with me. Thank you, >> Councelor Nissan. Thank you very much. Yeah, just a couple of items. The I wanted to note the home solar accelerator program launched through the atmospheric uh fund. This is a concier style service designed to help homeowners navigate the solar installation process.

02:13:23
You can go to uh the city blog takeaction burlington.ca to learn more. Uh I do have a note here about police warning public of high pressure roofing and driveway repair scams. There’s been an increase in home repair uh scams targeting Burlington homeowners with individuals going doortodoor offering unsolicited roofing and driveway services using high pressure tactics and claiming urgent repairs are needed.

02:13:48
Victims are often asked for immediate upfront payment and may receive poor quality or incomplete work or no work at all. So, uh, residents are advised to be cautious of these unsolicited offers and you can always report it to HRPS, uh, non-emergency line. Uh, Healthy Planet’s new grand opening in W 3 is Friday, June 5th at 11:30 a.m.

02:14:09
at, uh, 1510 North Service Road. For more information, you can go to healthyplanetcanada.com. Finally, a great annual event. I’m looking forward to uh, being there. The hike for Carpenter Hospice, Saturday, June 6, uh starts at 9:00 a.m. It’s a community walk that brings people together in support of compassionate hospice care.

02:14:35
And uh for more information, you can visit the Carpenter Hospice website. Thank you, >> Councelor Gre. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I will be hosting a Ward One dropin session uh tomorrow, Wednesday the 27th at Maple View Mall, 10:30 a.m. till noon. And uh attending the ribbon cutting for the Coptic Egyptian Festival this Saturday, May 30th, uh and a lunchon there.

02:15:00
Uh then we will be I will be attending the FCM conference in Edmonton June 4th to the 7th, which is uh end of next week. Uh, and then the Alershot BIA will be hosting a networking event June 10th from 4:30 till 6:00 pm at the district kitchen uh, in Ward 1. That’s on Plains Road. That’s it for me. Thank you, >> Councelor Karns.

02:15:27
Thank you. The next W 2 community update will be on Tuesday, June 16th at 7 p.m. in room 247 at city hall. Our May meeting was the fastest meeting ever. It was 20 minutes on the three-time emergency alert of high winds and possible tornadoes. So, we made that one very short. A staffled Central Park Cricut public information session will be head held at the Burlington Senior Center on Wednesday, June 3rd from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

02:15:56
You can check out get involved burlington.ca for more information on that. The Lakeshore Music and Arts Festival, formerly Sound of Music, is at Spencer Smith Park on June 20th and 21st. General admission is free, featuring Walk Off the Earth on Saturday and the TRS on Sunday, plus local artisans and food trucks with paid VIP upgrades available for premium viewing and private amenities.

02:16:17
Check out the website. The Burlington Summer Music Parade will take place June 20th at 10 a.m. It’ll kick off from Caroline Street at Drury Lane and route down Berling down Branch Street to Baldwin. The event will feature local marching bands and community entries launching a weekend of live music alongside the Lakes Music and Arts Festival.

02:16:38
I know Councelor Charman mentioned this, but I will also be at the Eldershot and Burlington Lions Club uh pet value walk for dog guides on Sunday, May 31st. Registration is at 10 a.m. with all ages and dogs except my poorly behaved hounds welcome to participate in raising funds for local dog guides. The Burllo Naval Veterans will host their annual D-Day parade and memorial service on June 6th, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

02:17:06
It would be great to see more people out um honoring our veterans. The Naval Ships Memorial Monument at Spencer Smith Park is where it will happen. The significant ceremony honors the 1944 Allied invasion of Normandy with a traditional parade service and wreath laying.

02:17:21
The s 37th annual Moon and June road race and cruise and car show will take place downtown Burlington Sunday June Saturday June 6th 2026. It’s a dual event this year featuring a daytime automobile display followed by an evening charity run with all proceeds going to Children’s Aid Foundation of Halton. Um residents are expressing some concerns about being trapped in the neighborhood for the whole entire day.

02:17:46
So just I will uh continue to work with staff around access in and out. Uh a communication went out to everybody in the downtown uh this week. The BTC 37 mixed martial arts event comes to Burlington Central Arena. Also on the same day, Saturday, June 6th, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., the lineup feature includes a double header of both professional and amateur bouts, offering a full evening of live local sports competition.

02:18:10
Uh, the city of Burlington is hosting concerts of the park. I know some folks have been asking when these start again. Central Park Band shells, Sundays and Wednesdays, uh, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. running June 21st, so end of the month to August 30th. It’s a free series showcasing a diverse range of musical genres kicking off with the Burlington Teen Tour Band.

02:18:32

Councelor Bentovenia. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, just to give everybody a heads up, tonight uh Hall Sports Hall of Fame at the Burlington Golf and Country Club um from 6:00 till 8. It’ll be the class of 2026. Obviously, uh tomorrow from noon till 1:30 uh at Fort on Applebee. I will have a a drop in session for those uh interested in joining me.

02:18:57
And uh on June the 19th from 7 to 8:30, our 7th annual um Apollo live u driveway music series continues and um every two weeks we’ll basically have one for the most of uh for most of the summer. And lastly, on Sunday, uh June the 14th, our annual rural summer social um from 3 till 5, uh it’s a potluck as usual and uh if possible to bring a nonp perishable food item for food for life.

02:19:37
That’s it. Thank you. >> Thanks everyone. Uh lots of great things happening in the community. Just a few more from uh my side of the desk on June 6. a very busy day. There’s also the Burlington Sailing and Boating Club Sail Pass and Blessing of the Boats. Uh so come on down to Lasal Park.

02:19:55
That is at uh 9:45. I know a number of us uh will be there. There is also the uh conservation Halton Gala happening on June 11. You can go on their website and get tickets and look for details of that. the um there’s a BIA uh street fest down on Waterdown Road Street Eids uh food park uh on uh Saturday June 8th 81 13th from uh 12 to 4.

02:20:23
So come on down for that. And finally, for all of the soccer lovers, um there is a uh Canada Netherlands um sorry, Netherlands and Japan FIFA World Cup special showing that our Mondayization Committee, it’ll be tough to know who to cheer for because they’re both our sister cities. Um uh but save the date for uh that match uh for FIFA and there’s lots more details coming up on the city’s uh FIFA activation and watch for that online.

02:20:57
All right, seeing no further statements, a motion to adjurnn has been moved by councelor Charman, seconded by councelor Nissan. All those in favor, show of hands. Any opposed? Seeing none, that does carry. We are adjourned. Until next time. Thanks everyone.

This summary covers the regular meeting of the City of Burlington Council held on May 26, 2026. The meeting was chaired by Mayor Marianne Meed Ward.

Significant Actions and Directives

  • United Way Recognition: City staff were recognized for raising $63,100.81 for the United Way Golden Horseshoe, receiving the “Inspiring Local Love Award” for their community efforts.
  • Heritage Designation Deadline: Council supported a motion to seek provincial approval to extend the heritage designation deadline for listed properties from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2030. The city is taking a leadership role in this request, which affects over 150 properties in Burlington and thousands province-wide.
  • Downtown Parking Petition: A petition with 60 signatures from the downtown business community (BDBA) was received, demanding a new public parking facility by 2030 to support local business vibrancy.
  • Indigenous Advisory Services: Following discussion on the absence of Council at recent indigenous events (e.g., Red Dress Day), staff were directed to ensure Council is proactively informed of significant activities on city property related to truth and reconciliation.
  • Strong Mayor Powers: Council approved guidelines for the use of strong mayor powers. These guidelines are intended to provide additional considerations for transparency and require mayoral directions to staff to be in writing.
  • Housing Community Improvement Plan (CIP): Council approved amendments to the Burlington Housing CIP, including a new directive for staff to provide quarterly reports detailing the number of units approved, federal funding spent, and the remaining budget .
  • Zoning Amendment: Council approved the rezoning of 1022, 1028, and 1030 Waterdown Road (Report DGM36-26) to facilitate development.

Voting Record

ItemMover / SeconderResult
Approval of AgendaBentivegna / Stolte7-0 in favour
April 21 & 28 MinutesSharman / KearnsCarried
Consent Agenda (Balance)7-0 in favour
Indigenous Services (Item C)7-0 in favour
Fiber Optics Provider6-1 in favour
Housing CIP Amendment (Item J)Kearns / Stolte7-0 in favour
Housing CIP Main Motion7-0 in favour
Waterdown Road Rezoning (Item K)6-0 in favour (Galbraith declared conflict)
Pipeline to Permit Updates7-0 in favour
Standing Committee MinutesGalbraith / NissanCarried

Discussion Time Stamps

  • 00:18:34: Call to order and safety notice.
  • 00:20:45: Land acknowledgement and O Canada.
  • 00:23:27: Roll call and confirmation of quorum.
  • 00:25:00: Declaration of pecuniary interest regarding Waterdown Road properties.
  • 00:25:15: Announcements of proclamations and pier lightings for May and June .
  • 00:27:31: United Way campaign award and check presentation .
  • 00:37:31: Approval of previous council minutes.
  • 00:37:57: Delegation by Marcia Paley on heritage designation deadlines.
  • 00:41:46: Presentation of the downtown parking supply petition.
  • 00:48:14: Discussion on indigenous service communications and reconciliation walks .
  • 00:55:48: Debate regarding Strong Mayor powers guidelines and transparency .
  • 01:37:47: Discussion and amendment of the Burlington Housing Community Improvement Plan.
  • 01:55:06: Consideration of the Waterdown Road zoning by-law amendment .
  • 02:10:42: Ward 5 construction update for Appleby Line and Upper Middle Road.
  • 02:20:57: Adjournment motion.


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