Committee of the Whole – February 9, 2026

Transcript:
(02:12) Doo doo doo doo doo. Good morning everybody.
(20:15) My name is Calvin Galbreth. I would like to call to order the committee of the whole meeting for Monday, February the 9th, 2026. Uh Burlington as we know it today is rich in history and modern traditions of many First Nations and the Matei. From the Anesnab to the Hodenoshi and the Matei, our land spanning from Lake Ontario to the Niagara Scarman are steeped in indigenous history.
(20:38) The territory is mutually covered by the dish with one spoon wampam belt covenant, an agreement between the Irakqua Confederacy, the Ajiway, and the other allied nations to peaceibly share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. We acknowledge that the land on which we gather is part of the treaty lands and territory of the Missosagas of the Credit.
(20:57) I will now read a safety notice for those present in council chambers. In the event of an emergency, please evacuate the council chambers by the nearest exit staircase, which is located through the doorway marked with an exit symbol. Once you have evacuated the building, please gather in civic square outside in minus 23° weather of city hall.
(21:20) All city of Burlington committee and council meetings are live webcasted and archived on the city’s website. Today’s meeting is being captioned digitally through our agenda management software. I will remind everyone to slow down and speak clearly so your words can be captured by the software. I would also ask everyone attending virtually to please use appropriate microphones so your words can be captured accurately by the software.
(21:44) We do have rules of engagement at committee meetings. We ask everyone to please be respectful while others are speaking and listen and as you would want to be listened to. A reminder to committee members to adhere to the procedure bylaw and limit your questions to two at a time. Further, a member may ask a question only for the purpose of obtaining facts relevant to the matter under discussion and necessary for a clear understanding.
(22:09) All questions will be stated succinctly and will not be used as a means of making statements or assertions. We are not making decisions at this meeting, only recommendations that will go to city council for final consideration on February the 17th, 2026. The public is welcome to see when the final decision-m happens by attending the meeting either in person or watching the live stream.
(22:33) Delegates are welcome to register to speak at council meeting. By way of introduction of our members, our first order of business for today’s meeting is to conduct a roll call. I will now turn it over to the clerk who will take attendance of members present and confirm quorum. >> Thank you. Councelor Karns has sent her regrets.
(22:52) Councelor Nissan >> here. >> Councelor Stolty >> present. >> Councelor Charman >> here. >> Councelor Bentovena >> present. >> Mayor me >> present. >> Councelor Galbra >> present. >> We have quorum. Staff joining us today are uh acting chief administrative officer Jacqueline Johnson, committee clerk Suzanne Gillies, and other staff will be introduced as their agenda agenda item is discussed.
(23:20) The schedule for today’s meeting, we will take short breaks midm morning and afternoon and lunch from 12 to 1:00 p.m. We will go into close session at 1:00 p.m. today. The meeting is scheduled until 4:30 p.m. and will continue tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. for the statutory public meeting. Are there any requests for changes to the agenda today? Seeing none, I will ask uh for a member of committee to move uh the approval of the agenda.
(23:51) Councelor Stoalty. Thank you. Uh all those in favor? Any opposed? And that carries. Are there any declarations of pecuniary interest with the agenda today? I have one uh for item 9.4 uh in the confidential uh appendix. Um so I’m going to declare an interest on that uh due to uh properties close uh to mine. Any presentations? We have no presentations but we’ll go directly to uh delegations today.
(24:30) A reminder to delegates that their items will be discussed in the order of the approved agenda which uh may be later today or tomorrow. You may remain in the chambers or if you choose to leave you can watch the meeting live stream online. The link to the live stream is available at burlington.ca/meings. All public attendees must maintain order and not engage in any behavior that may be considered disruptive.
(24:57) Each delegate will have 10 minutes to provide their comments. We’ll be using the time clock in council chambers to keep track of your time, which you will be able to view at the podium on your screen if attending remotely. Once you are done, please remain to answer any questions committee members may have for you. I will remind committee members that your questions should be for clarification only.
(25:20) We have eight registered delegations for today’s meeting and we will start uh number one with Mike Collins Williams. West End Homebuilders Association is joining us virtually to speak regarding options for the temporary elimination of development charges. DGM-03-26. Do we have Michael here? Yeah, >> welcome, Mike.
(25:54) Uh, whenever you’re ready, you have 10 minutes. >> Good morning, members of the committee, mayor, and city staff. Just want to confirm that you can all hear me. >> Yep. >> Thank you. My name is Mike Collins Williams, and I’m the CEO of the West End Homebuilders Association. We represent more than 300 member companies across Hamilton, Burlington, and Grimby, including builders, developers, renovators, and the professional services that support residential construction.
(26:21) I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you today, not just as an industry representative, but as someone who lives and works in this region and sees firsthand the consequences of the decisions made around this table. For months now, I’ve been sharing what I can only describe as the tragic state of the residential construction industry.
(26:38) And the honest truth is, it keeps getting worse. In my 25 years in this field, I’ve never seen conditions like this. Not during the 2008 financial crisis. Not ever. Uh, in fact, it’s not been this bad since the early 1990s. And by many measures, this downturn may even be more severe. Today, I’m here to strongly urge you to approve option A in the staff report before you, the temporary, and I do emphasize the word temporary, 2-year elimination of residential development charges.
(27:09) This is not an ideological ask. It’s a pragmatic, timelimited intervention to stabilize a housing pipeline that is on the verge of collapse. The new home market in Burlington and throughout the Golden Horseshoe is not experiencing a slowdown or a soft patch. We are in a full-blown crisis, one that threatens Burlington’s housing objectives, its future tax base, and the livelihoods of thousands of families.
(27:34) In the Hamilton Census metropolitan area, which includes Burlington, residential construction contributed more than $4.6 billion in investment value in 2024 and supported over 21,000 well-paying jobs, generating roughly 1.6 billion in wages. These are skilled trades people, planners, engineers, suppliers, people who depend on a functioning housing pipeline.
(28:00) And that pipeline is running dry. Across Ontario, the Altus Group now projects the loss of approximately 100,000 residential construction related jobs over the next 5 years if current conditions continue without decisive government intervention. Projects are being paused, delayed indefinitely, or canceled outright.
(28:21) Why? because the math no longer works. Today, the cost of building a new home exceeds what the market can support. In many cases, the cost to construct a new unit is higher than the resale price of a comparable home. Developers cannot advance new projects at a loss. Lenders will not finance projects that are underwater on day one, and workers cannot stay employed in projects that never break ground.
(28:45) The sales data for the third quarter uh included in the staff report before you is already alarming, but the full year numbers are actually even worse. In Burlington, new home sales collapsed from 213 units in 2022 to just 17 units in 2025. That’s over a 90% decline. In the condominium market specifically, only four units were sold in all of 2025.
(29:14) And yes, that differs from the staff report in front of you that says 12 units were sold between the first and third quarter as a number of those sold units in the staff report were in a project that has since been cancelled. Those so in practical terms, the new housing market in Burlington is essentially dead. A market this frozen cannot support new supply.
(29:34) It cannot support jobs and it can certainly cannot support Burlington’s housing pledge which the city is expected to meet by 2031 just 5 years away. Under current economic conditions, Burlington cannot meet its housing objectives. Not because of a lack of interest or ambition, but because project viability is fundamentally broken.
(29:55) Development charges when layered on top of escalating construction costs, labor costs, materials, and financing pressures have become a decisive barrier to getting projects out of the ground. As staff rightly note in the report, quote, “Without action, it will likely mean development charges will not be collected given market conditions.
(30:13) ” End quote. WHB agrees. Without bold intervention, development will not proceed and DC will not revenue will not materialize anyway. The good news is that Burlington does have tools available. Recent changes under Bill 17, the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, explicitly gave municipalities the flexibility to temporarily reduce or eliminate development charges without requiring a new background study.
(30:40) The province has enabled municipalities to act quickly. This is not a permanent policy change. It is a 2-year targeted response to extraordinary conditions. Other municipalities have stepped forward. Hamilton reduced DCs by 20%. Missaga cut DCs by 50% and eliminated them entirely for larger and rental units. Peele region has implemented a major DC deferral and grant program and Bon rolled back DCs to 2018 levels.
(31:07) Burlington now has the opportunity to lead, not follow. There’s been a discussion I’ve heard about the potential cost of a DC elimination, but in the current market that framing misses the point. If projects don’t proceed, DCS are not collected. Full stop. More importantly, the city foregoes the long-term economic benefits of growth, including property value assessment uh uplift.
(31:34) You forego future revenue that comes back each and every year. Take the Paradigm project by the Molina Group by the Burlington GO station for example. Prior to the development of that site, it generated less than $40,000 per year in property taxes. Post development, the three completed towers exceed $1.5 million in property tax revenue annually.
(31:58) That number is going to jump again in a couple years substantially when the two towers under construction right now are completed. That is the kind of long-term revenue that funds infrastructure, services, and community amenities, and it only exists if projects are built. Let me end where I began. This is not a normal moment.
(32:18) This is not business as usual. We’re facing a structural breakdown in project viability that threatens Burlington’s housing supply, its economic resilience, and thousands of middle class jobs. A temporary elimination of residential development charges is a strategic, responsible, and urgently needed measure. It will help stabilize the pipeline, unlock stalled projects, protect jobs, and send a clear signal that Burlington is serious about meeting this moment.
(32:45) WHB stands ready to work along the city to advocate for provincial and federal support needed to complement this approach. In fact, I’m currently deputing remotely from the Canadian Homebuilders Association’s office in Ottawa, where about a 100 industry executives from coast to coast are fanning out across Parliament Hill today and tomorrow for meetings with cabinet ministers and members of parliament to advocate for growth related infrastructure for municipalities as well as GST relief.
(33:12) We respectfully urge you to support option A and help put Burlington back on the path toward growth, affordability, and long-term economic stability. Thank you for your time this morning. >> Thanks, Mike. Um, stick around for a few questions. Your first coming from Mayor Me Ward. >> Thank you, Chair.
(33:35) Uh, thank you, Mike, for being here and for being in Ottawa as well. a question around um the the additional lost revenue. You uh if if no projects are being applied for, we lose out on the building permit fees as well. Is that and and can you give us a sense of what that is for a larger I don’t know if it’s prrated by project.
(33:57) I expect it is. Yeah, the the the staff report has an estimated uh cost on the two years for one six from 16.7 million to 41.3 million which which I find difficult given that there’s very little moving forward now. Uh and likely uh if nothing changes virtually nothing moving forward the next year or two.
(34:21) Um, I don’t have the building permit fees in front of me, but those are um intended to be cost recovery uh to support um the buildings branch at the city of Burlington. Um, you know, those fees are are substantial, but they’re not as substantial as as the development charges. Uh, and then there are a host of other um fees as well for new buildings, but it’s in the city of Burlington.
(34:46) uh the development charges at the municipal level are are the substantial one that um the city would be collecting. >> Okay. And while you’re in Ottawa, one of the uh one of the conversations really since DC’s was put uh in the spotlight by uh proincially first and then the federal government. They made a commitment to make us whole for any reductions that they imposed and I would hope uh anything that we voluntarily did.
(35:15) So um will you join with us in uh and especially since you’re there now in advocating to the government that any municipality including us that reduces DCS for a period that that is uh paid back by upper levels of government consistent with the pledge that they gave us. >> Absolutely. um part of the purpose of um myself and a number of my colleagues being here in Ottawa today.
(35:38) It’s sort of a a Parliament Hill lobby day. And there’s um a couple items, GST being the big one. And the second item uh that’s at the top of the list is that the current um federal government did make a commitment during the election campaign to fund uh 50% reductions in development charges.
(35:56) And for better or for worse, we have not heard a lot about that since the election campaign. Uh so we’re here from the industry to uh remind governments of that campaign commitment uh and put some solid numbers in front of them um as well as the examples like the city of Burlington that are getting ahead of the federal government and demonstrating leadership by um potentially taking action now.
(36:17) So that will be a very strong message to the federal governments. Um you did reference the provincial governments. Um myself and others in the industry have had conversations um with the provincial government around the building faster fund no longer working in current conditions. Um virtually no municipalities are meeting those targets.
(36:36) Yet the government does have uh money set aside for the building faster fund and it would be a far better use of those funds to pivot and to backfill um some of those development charges reductions so that for municipalities that take leadership positions they’re getting that financial support from an existing fund with money that’s sitting there.
(36:55) That’s >> great. Thank you. Next question is uh from councelor Bentovenia. >> Thank you chair and uh thank you uh Mike for the uh for your delegation. I appreciate it. Um you brought up some interesting points um from a development standpoint and from the developer standpoint. I want to look at the bigger picture that is affected as well as not only you know the homes and the units but the the effects of us not doing something whatever that may be uh the downside of not only um uh supporting the developers but things like jobs in
(37:46) the industry um the trades uh the business people that provide materials uh um any other business related in in including the 444 municipalities in Ontario that all have planners and people that work engineers that that actually do a lot of work behind the scenes. Um do we have do you see a reduction in in in that aspect of the big picture? Yes, councelor.
(38:23) I mean, that’s that’s significantly what this is all about. Um, very self I’m very self-aware that nobody’s going to shed a tear for any um developers that are in financial uh difficulty, but it’s really about their employees, the subtrades and the extended supply chains. Um, the new housing industry across Ontario is actually the largest industry uh in the province in terms of jobs uh larger than uh the automotive sector.
(38:48) In fact, um you know, the automotive sector is very much in a couple communities with large plants. Um we’re spread out from Windsor to Ottawa and from Niagara to Thunder Bay in every community. And I think what makes this industry special is that it really is about local jobs and local labors.
(39:08) You can’t export um housing construction to a plant in Mexico or China. These are um these are structures whether it’s low-rise or high-rise that are assembled onsite by skilled trades uh ranging from plumbers to carpenters um concrete forming etc. Uh and then you have the longer supply chains many of which are again local businesses.
(39:30) Um, Kieran Air is a large HVAC company uh located in Burlington and its major customer base is uh across uh southern Ontario um doing HVAC systems for housing. Um you have the furniture supply chains. Uh you have all of the appliances um going into new housing. Um so it’s it’s there’s the on-site direct jobs that you think of the construction workers and then counselors you mentioned there are planners, engineers, architects.
(40:02) Um this does have quite a it supports quite a lot of employment as well in the uh in the financial sector whether it’s uh mortgage brokers um the banks the mortgages themselves. So, um, for better or for worse, the tentacles of the industry, uh, reach far and wide, and a lot of those impacts are affecting local jobs.
(40:22) Um, I don’t have a specific estimate in Burlington, but in 2025, the estimate is that 2,000 jobs were lost in Hamilton because of the slowing uh, sector. Um, and despite what you see in the headlines, you know, um, every job is is a concern, but in Hamilton there’s about 750 people employed at Stelco. So already twice the number of jobs have been lost in residential construction as the total employment at Stelco and uh Burlington is certainly not immune to that as as things slow down.
(40:51) >> Thank you very much for that. That’s very helpful. Appreciate it. >> Councelor Stoalty is next. >> Thanks chair. Thanks for being here Mike. Always a good conversation. Uh my question to you is what would you estimate to be the proportion of building costs related to land value? And my question is specific to that if the city of Burlington were in a position to navigate with the provincial or federal government to access provincial or federal lands.
(41:21) Do you think that the building community would be open to negotiating and and coordinating housing builds if the land were not having to be factored into the value of building at this point? >> Um yes, I mean certainly I mean that’s part of the proposition with the new um um entity um Building Canada. Um in terms of the land value um we often look for partnerships be it provincial, federal or local.
(41:52) Um to answer your specific question on the land value, it really ranges depending on the sites um sort of a rule of thumb might be anywhere from 20 to 30% and it can be even higher than that um when you get into some more urban centers um thinking downtown Toronto, Vancouver, etc. But um the land value is significant.
(42:12) Um and if there are partnerships to be had where um that component can be reduced um you know that’s how a lot of the nonprofit and affordable housing projects are able to move forward is through those kinds of partnerships. Um there also public private partnerships where you may have a mix of market or um affordable housing.
(42:34) A good example is the M zo that was just issued for Jamesville and downtown Hamilton. Um there’s a component of affordable housing in that there’s a component of nonprofit housing and there’s a component of um market housing and and part of the affordability is built in through the land being contributed by the city of Hamilton. >> So thank you and just for clarity um I appreciate that and that yes you’re right a lot of the uh nonprofit organizations work under that model.
(42:58) Do you think that the for-profit building community might be more open at this point to getting creative and coming forward to partner given the nature of the industry at this point? >> Anything that will help save jobs is something that the industry is open to having conversations about. >> I’d love to hear that. Thank you.
(43:16) Councelor Charman is next. >> Thank you very much. Uh thank you very much for being with us. Mike, listen. I was just looking at the unemployment numbers for Ontario and I see that in uh that in fact there was 7.9% for December 2025 uh but and 7.5 in December 2024. Um but so when do you expect that the projects that people are working on in the industry right now you know will are they almost all all gone or are they been gone for last 6 months or when do you expect the big impact in terms of uh job loss will will take effect
(43:53) >> it’s a pipeline I think the job losses started showing up in the early part of 2025 and and will potentially accelerate. Um there is some low-rise activity that is continuing on. Um not much on the high-rise side. Things have just fallen off a cliff. Um but a high-rise building, depending on the size of it, could take 2, 3, 4, 5 years to build.
(44:16) So, you know, I often say that as you drive on the Gardener Expressway into downtown Toronto, yes, you do still see some skylines, sorry, some cranes on the skyline. Um you know, those 50 and 60s story buildings take years and years to build. Um, but that’s an economic indicator of yesterday’s economy.
(44:34) Those units sold in 2021 and 2022 eventually got under construction, and it’s a 5-year build. As those cranes are coming down, those crews are not being redeployed. They’re they’re getting laid off and losing their jobs. So, in terms of the numbers showing up, counselor, it it comes in spats as it’s it’s not like an assembly uh plant at Stellantis where suddenly, you know, 1,000 or 2,000 people um get a layoff notice in one day.
(45:07) Uh in our industry, it’s um you know, a project completing and 20 people not getting redeployed. it’s the um kitchen renovation that uh doesn’t get done or or in you know it’s three or four people. Um so it’s the planning firm that has 15 people that are employed and work slowing down so they drop off the two youngest people. So the numbers are showing up but it’s it’s a slow drip that is accelerating.
(45:34) Uh but it’s not one big press release or one announcement where suddenly there are a few thousand people laid off. um from an assembly plant. >> Good. Thank you. My second question is with respect to the uh your comment and I know it to be true uh that the cost to produce is is greater than the price available but the big bump in the in price in the last uh 10 years where prices have basically tripled on homes um doesn’t actually coincide with the cost increases which didn’t take really the big bump was until co um where it
(46:08) everything seemed to double um given if that if correct me if I’m I’m wrong on that point. The question is what’s going to cause those costs to go down because they have to match market in order for us to have sales. >> So there’s a few things to bring the cost down and and I don’t think the price just doubled over CO.
(46:27) I I think it accelerated then. We certainly were seeing a run up in prices the previous uh decade especially in the high-rise sector. If you look at, you know, once we got through the 2008 2009 financial crisis in in 2010 through 2020 up until COVID hit, um there was pretty steady uh price increases that were beyond the rate of inflation and that’s where we saw the big spike in in development charges.
(46:53) I think across the GTA on average they’re up um around 220 230%. Um, councelor, you asked about um other contributing factors to prices and and how we get them down. Um, development charges are one piece of the puzzle and frankly it’s the most significant piece of puzzle that um those around the council chambers today have control over.
(47:16) Um PST uh sort of the provincial share of the HST is a major component. The federal GST is a major component and um we’re certainly working with the provincial and federal governments for relief there. Uh and then there’s a number of components on our side of the ledger. Um we are seeing labor costs starting to come down. Um that’s a reflection of uh layoffs in the sector.
(47:35) There are more competitive bids coming in. People are um getting extremely competitive for the limited amount of jobs available. So on one hand that’s a good sign because that will reduce the cost to build. On the other hand, it’s the sign of a strained labor market where, you know, for the people that are remaining employed, their income is going to be lower because they are pricing more competitively.
(47:58) So, that’s a bit of a double-edged sword. On the materials side, some material costs have come down from the peak of CO. They certainly haven’t come down um below that peak. Um and even though the industry is slowing down, um some material costs are a little more localized whereas others like lumber are based on a North American markets.
(48:21) Um so it’s it’s a bit of um a mixed bag in terms of some of the material cost. But um those things combined with potential tax decreases, potential reductions in labor, um some of the financing costs coming down as the Bank of Canada has reduced things, we are on a project potential trajectory where we really can hopefully get cost down and prices down over the next um year or two.
(48:44) >> Great. Thank you very much. >> Next is Councelor Nissan. >> Thank you. Yeah, that was a that was really insightful. Appreciate it. U Mike thanks for being here as well. Um the uh the question of ground oriented development versus highrises. I’d be curious to know uh and read some reports but haven’t uh done a rigorous analysis of uh where the where the market is uh softest uh and where things might still be going well because we’ve heard from developers that are still interested in town houses and detached homes in
(49:21) Burlington. So, um, could you, uh, provide some analysis of that, uh, in comparative light? >> Yeah, the the high-rise market is dead than dead, and frankly, I’m not terribly optimistic it’s it’s going to come back, um, in a strong way, uh, even with decisive action. I I think the, um, the kinds of activity that we were seeing, you know, 5 to 10 years ago, um, might might simply not come back.
(49:50) Um although there is obviously the hope that uh some of the key sites in Burlington along the the GO station, the GO corridors will um will move forward in the coming years. Um specific to the low-rise side, um that market is very weak, but it’s showing more signs of life than the high-rise market.
(50:12) Um not a whole lot in Burlington right now. We’re starting to see some sales move in some of the more affordable communities. I would say really at the GTA or even the golden horseshoe periphery. Um there are no investors left in the market. So it’s it’s really a flight to affordability. Um so there are some sites that have been very competitively priced.
(50:34) Um you know out in Niagara region, out in Paris, Woodstock, Shelburn that are starting to move. Uh, and frankly those are at a more competitive price point than we’d ever be able to reach in Burlington just because of land costs. Um, I’m trying to be optimistic. So some signs of life in those market areas may lend themselves to Burlington eventually coming back.
(51:00) Um, fingers crossed the spring or in the fall. Um, especially if the province or federal government make a major move on PST. Um, I think one of the challenges in Burlington counselor is that there is not a whole lot of low-rise land available. Um, Burlington doesn’t have green fields available like Paris, Ontario or Shelburn or or Niagara on the Lake.
(51:23) So, um, yes, there is some interest in some low-rise in in Burlington, but these are sort of um smaller sites, which while great, they’re not going to have the heavy lift in terms of unit counts. >> Yeah, we just we don’t have a lot of room for it. I get it. Um just uh what you what are you hearing? You’re in Ottawa.
(51:40) So what are you hearing from colleagues across the country about the Canadian housing market uh which I understand is actually when you go outside of the GTA and I think you go outside of the greater Vancouver area is actually uh poised for um for a moderate recovery in 2026. And it’s really the GTA that’s been uh bloated that’s that’s now struggling to recover.
(52:05) Is that is that a fair assessment? >> That’s a very fair assessment. Canada doesn’t really have a single housing market. It’s a series of different regional markets. Um so the GTA and I’d expand that to the greater golden horseshoe. All of southern Ontario is in a pretty tough spot. Um all of the municipalities in Ontario sort of have the same legislative framework and in Ontario certainly borne the brunt of um the tariffs and consumer confidence in in some job losses in other sectors.
(52:31) And then if people aren’t confident they’re not going to buy a home or make their own single largest purchase. The only area in Ontario that’s a little different. Um Ottawa’s always been a bit different. It’s a government town. So it’s not as exposed to job losses in other sectors. So generally Ottawa never has the the peaks when the market’s hot, but it also doesn’t tend to have as deep val uh valleys when the market’s slow.
(52:55) That’s not to say Ottawa is hot. It’s just um not in the same position as as the rest of us sort of in the golden horseshoe and the GTA. Um Vancouver in the lower mainland has certainly significantly slowed, maybe not as badly as the GTA, but they’re not in a great spot. And that contrast completely with Alberta.
(53:17) Um Calgary and Edmonton in 2025 are going to have all-time records uh in the number of housing starts there. Um the population of Ontario is around 14 15 million. Alberta, I believe, is around 6 million. So, Alberta is less than half the population of Ontario and housing starts in 2025. Didn’t quite eclipse Ontario, but they were pretty close.
(53:41) Um, so that’s a reflection of a lot of young people, frankly, have been leaving Ontario for opportunities out west the last number of years. Um, a development charge on a single detached house in Calgary is $22,000. um that’s a fraction of what it is anywhere in the GTA. Um and just the housing costs there are much more affordable.
(54:02) So um I often say nobody moves to Edmonton because they want might enjoy minus 40. It’s lower housing costs and better job opportunities. Um >> thank you. >> They’re starting to slow down a bit in sales, but yeah, it’s night and day the difference between Edmond, sorry, Alberta and Ontario. >> Thank you. I’m just going to jump in here for the first time.
(54:26) Um, yeah, thanks for that, Mike. I, you know, quick story. My son came home yesterday. He’s in the electrical industry and told me he’s moving to Alberta. So, I uh I understand that uh jobs are thinner here and uh more available there. So, um, my only question is, uh, if we, uh, if we make this decision today, uh, and, uh, put a 2-year temporary freeze on development charges, will that ignite some local projects, uh, within Burlington, and if so, do you any idea how many would would start? >> I’m going to temper my enthusiasm.
(55:03) Um, if Burlington makes this move, this is a big deal. This is the first municipality that would go to 100% reduction. Um, but the DCs are layered with other taxes. So, the hope is that there is leadership from all three levels of government and in the coming months. Burlington makes the big first step forward.
(55:23) uh Burlington demonstrates leadership and and hopefully the province and federal government uh follow suits and the combined impact of the Burlington development charges reduction along with hopefully um significant reductions in the GST and PST applying to all home buyers. You know, that that increases the reduction if it’s just Burlington.
(55:46) Um the single detached is around $21,000 and depending on the number of bedrooms in um an apartment, it’s it’s 11 to 12,000, but if combined with other levels of government, that could be up to $100,000 reduction, and that would significantly move the market and get things moving again. Uh in terms of local projects, um two years is a great window.
(56:09) It depends sort of on the trigger point on on the high-rise side. If you started construction tomorrow on a 20story building, it’s not going to be completed in two years. Um so it’s critical that um it’s based on the project starting um on a building permit and ensuring construction is actually happening.
(56:27) I don’t think we want to have any kind of um incentive through the city of Burlington that somebody just sits on because that’s not what this is about. This is about saving jobs, not somebody sitting on uh an approval or a long-term incentive. Um the hope would be that a couple projects in the go station areas get going and then um to um the previous councelor uh Nissan’s questions, I think that there are a couple um low-rise town home projects, etc.
(56:57) that this would hopefully help um move from pipeline to permit. >> Great. Uh thank you, Mike. I do not see any further questions and uh so you’ll be returned to the delegate room and good luck with your work in uh Ottawa. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. >> Okay. Uh next we have Travis Nolan from National Homes.
(57:23) He will be joining us virtually regarding options for the temporary elimination of development charges DGM-03-26. Travis, welcome. Uh, you have 10 minutes whenever you’re ready. >> Good morning, chair and members of committee. Can you hear me? Okay. >> Yep, you’re good. >> Great. I’m Travis Nolan. I’m VP of development and national homes.
(57:51) We’ve been an active home builder in the city of Burlington for almost a decade. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to item 12.3 regarding the proposed options for development for temporary elimination of development charges. I want to start off by commending council’s proactive step taken in 2024 when city council unanimously endorsed a reduction in Burlington’s development charge bylaw.
(58:17) Unfortunately, the housing market has significantly worsened since that time. The latest 2025 data from Building Industry Land Development notes that there were only 3,247 new single family home sales across the entire GTA in 2025, down from 37% in 2024. Condominium apartment sales were even more severely impacted with just 2,67 units sold, a 54% decline from 2024.
(58:51) More alarming data from Altus Group in December 2025 notes that there were only 240 new home sales across the region, which is 82% below the 10-year average. Based on the status of the current housing market, we request the council revise the motion to direct staff to implement option A, which is a temporary 2-year development charge exemption for all residential unit types.
(59:20) Option A is the most effective and comprehensive response available to support the housing indust industry. It applies the exemption across all residential forms including single detached homes, town houses, apartment condo, and purpose-built rental buildings. While we recognize that the proposed exemption applies only to the city’s portion of development charges, we also respectfully ask city council to consider and advocate for a similar coordinated exemption at the region of Halton for units within the Burlington’s built boundary.
(59:59) In closing, we respectfully request the council modify the current motion and direct staff to implement option A, a temporary two-year development charge exemption for all residential development. Thank you very much for your time. I’d be happy to answer any questions. >> Thanks, Travis. You have a question coming from the mayor.
(1:00:22) >> Thanks very much uh for being here. Uh would you advise that we also advocate to the province around the education DCs which um on a single family I’ve just got the chart in front of me uh is 10 about 10 $11,000 for for both levels. So there’s the regional DCs which are about between 50 and 80 per unit, 21,000 for city DCs and 10 for education DCs.
(1:00:52) We would strongly advocate for that to occur. Uh we feel that given the current market and the number of people who are sitting on the sidelines at this time that when you combine the numbers together that can often make a down it can often result in a down payment of a new home.
(1:01:16) So, by doing that and knowing that that cost is not going to be applied at closing uh when when a person occupies a home, that’s a significant savings. I can tell you anecdotally right now uh we’re still in the midst of trying to sell inventory on a few of our properties and every purchaser is asking uh to ensure that development charges are either exempt or capped prior to sale uh including on any uh launches of future phases.
(1:01:52) So people are very aware of these costs. Many purchasers are sitting on the sidelines because of what Mike had said previously. Uh they’re waiting for the the federal government and the provincial government to step in and provide relief on HST GST as well. So we feel that uh there’s there’s uh you know the industry is in dire need.
(1:02:15) That’s why I’m here today speaking to you. Any reliefs that we can find will automatically go towards reducing either the sale price of uh a new home or some projects will convert to purpose-built rental projects and that savings will be applied to the bottom line and delivering that more affordable housing.
(1:02:38) >> Okay. And then uh just in terms of how uh a DC credit would be communicated to the buyer, how it would be calculated, there’s real interest of course in the community and making sure that that is passed through to the individual purchasing it uh rather than being a credit to the uh the developer directly.
(1:02:58) So how how does it work now? How do you um uh price it and how do people understand what they’re paying? You you mentioned that the DCs anyways don’t become payable till closing, but that’s that can be a uh do you let folks know in advance? And is that a surprise for folks when they uh when they go to their final close? >> Buyers are extremely savvy and they ask questions about every clause, everything, and their lawyers do as well.
(1:03:29) uh the agreements to purchase and sale generally that are put out there by builders uh allow them to pass the the development charge costs on to the purchaser. Uh that’s that’s extremely normal practice and as part of that process we provide receipts of when we pay development charges how much interest is charged to the purchasers. we have to illustrate uh in a very transparent manner uh how we are you know relaying these these charges to purchasers because they’re very savvy and they’re asking and as I mentioned before if you’re looking to sell a new
(1:04:09) home most purchasers today are striking those clauses in their agreements of purchase and sale and saying I either want my development charges exempt or I want my DC’s capped to a certain dollar amount and so the developer takes the risk on any interest calculations or or um any any exposure from that front and it has to be built into the purchase price.
(1:04:38) with some of the other municipalities that are rolling out uh these exemption programs. Uh they are in the process right now of developing policies as well as agreements to enter into with developers and uh to ensure that um that that you know that cost reduction is passed on to purchasers as part of their process. >> Excellent. Thank you.
(1:05:06) Uh, councelor Charman is next. >> Thank you very much. Appreciate you being here, Travis. The question now you got going through my mind is whether or not Burlington is a rather uh different market from many because our land is so expensive because we are basically built out and that property values are escalated versus perhaps other communities where there’s plenty of property and plenty of green field opportunity.
(1:05:32) uh and whether in fact um the market prices which are more defined in other markets than Burlington uh will therefore um see any reaction in Burlington as a result of you know us taking away DC charges. In other words, what is the influence of other markets versus Burlington’s prices and how much will it affect us? um the experience anecdotally that I’m seeing in the market is is sort of somewhat different from what um I had heard from the previous delegate.
(1:06:06) So, uh, in areas outside of the GTA, many of these these locations are not going to sell and they are, you know, largely at a standstill unless they’re extremely well priced like 30 to 40% below uh, sales pricing from, you know, 3 or 4 years ago. uh and so the margins on those projects are would be extremely extremely tight and the circumstances are very few and far between.
(1:06:39) um in in the Burlington market, I think there are opportunities or developers sitting on the sidelines where in some cases um depending on the size and location uh of the project, they you know with these kinds of reliefs coming nearly $100,000 per unit. That’s a significant number. That’s millions of dollars on on the bottom line of the project that you don’t have to cash flow from, you know, from building permit issuance until uh, you know, occupancies.
(1:07:19) Uh, and if you don’t have to cash flow that cost at all in the proforma, that’s a huge that’s going to be a huge impact to the project. Uh I think there are some projects in Burlington that have the opportunity if this occurs to pivot also to purpose-built rental. So I think any opportunities to do this, I would strongly encourage staff to do this on a temporary basis because we’re in crisis mode right now.
(1:07:46) Um, and these projects will, if some of them do advance, they will keep staff at the city busy also, as well as, to be candid, people that are working on our side of the business because there are job losses going on. I want to be very clear on that. It may be quietly happening and slowly happening, but if you have a project completing and there’s a hundred people working on that and they’re not moving into the next phase, then those 100 people are having a hard time finding to the next job.
(1:08:22) >> And thank you for that point because I it raises raises a question in my mind with respect to recovery. If we do not take steps to try to try to stimulate the market and people lose their jobs and that presumably be on both the uh in the industry and possibly even within city hall um that that could create a a significant adjustment for for the making the recovery even take longer.
(1:08:46) Is that do you agree? Is that what you’re saying? >> Yes. This is we are in fullblown crisis mode. I’ve been doing this for over 25 years. I’ve never seen this before. I have peers that work through the 1990 recession and they say some of them say this is as bad or worse. So, and that 2026 will worsen uh even more drastically than 2025.
(1:09:14) >> I share your concerns. Thank you, Travis. >> Thank you, Travis. I don’t see any further questions. So, you will now be returned to the uh the waiting room. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh next we have Victoria Mortaliti uh building industry and land development association is joining us in person to speak regarding options for the temporary elimination of development charges DGM03-26.
(1:09:45) Victoria, you have 10 minutes whenever you’re ready. >> Yeah, there you go. >> There we go. Um so good morning, Mayor Me Ward, chair and members of committee. My name is Victoria Mariliti and I am here on behalf of the building industry and land development association or better known as build.
(1:10:03) We are here this morning in support of item 12.3 options for the temporary elimination of development charges and specifically to urge committee to move forward with option A which is the 2-year temporary elimination um of residential development charges. Joining me in the audience today is Jason Sheldon, a familiar face for the city of Burlington um as well as build.
(1:10:24) He’s the executive vice president of land with the Remington Group. Jason is a past chair of build and currently a Halton regional adviser for the Halton Forum here. Um he’s available with me today to address any questions I may not be able to answer and I hope committee would give him the opportunity should I not be able to answer um to provide him um that opportunity.
(1:10:44) I would like to begin um by acknowledging the comprehensive analysis undertaken by city staff in preparation of this report. Our industry understands that decisions related to the elimination or reduction of development charges are complex and carry significant financial implications for municipalities. For that reason, we also want to recognize the mayor and committee for demonstrating leadership by continuing this important and timely conversation.
(1:11:08) Today, Burlington has 44,947 units in the development pipeline across various stages. This includes pre-application, OOLT appeals, planning review, those waiting for site plan application, or waiting for planning approval. When we exclude units in pre-application and appeals, that still represents over 200,000 or sorry, 20,000 units that in a normal market would be expected to move forward and reach the finish line.
(1:11:34) But we are not in a normal market. The housing market across the GTA is now effectively at a standstill. And projects that would typically proceed are no longer financially viable. and without intervention, many will remain stalled. By implementing a temporary elimination of development charges, Burlington has the opportunity to take a concrete and immediate step to stimulate development within its own jurisdiction.
(1:11:57) This action sends a clear signal that the city that the city is proactively supporting housing delivery and helping unlock unlock projects that would have otherwise remain stalled. At the same time, we are looking to the federal and provincial governments to support Burlington in this initiative, ensuring that local efforts are reinforced by broader financial and policy support when requested.
(1:12:17) Council is already aware of the scale of the challenge before us, and the data reinforces it. Across the GTA, and specifically in Burlington, historic figures show a dramatic decline in new home sales between 2021 versus 2025. Low-rise sales have fallen approximately 84% while high-rise sales, which represent Burlington’s primary housing form, have declined approximately 94%.
(1:12:41) We cannot allow this to become the norm. Some municipalities across the GTA have started taking similar steps, but Burlington has the opportunity to be a leader, not just locally, but in conversations with federal and provincial governments by demonstrating that the city is willing to step up step up, take action, and keep Burlington open for business.
(1:13:01) Our members who build in Burlington want to continue to build in Burlington. They want the opportunity to sharpen their pencils, revisit their performers, speak to their lenders, and determine whether this measure can help move projects across the finish line. And to be clear, the elimination of development charges will not move every project forward.
(1:13:19) Development charges are only one part of a broader set of market challenges, including weakened consumer confidence, escalating construction material costs, and broader economic pressures that are largely outside of municipal control. But this program can give some projects a chance, and right now even that matters.
(1:13:36) Council has also received correspondence and deputation requests from a number of build members, some of whom are here today, whether it be virtually or in person, all united in their support for the temporary elimination of development charges for residential development. Build also stands with our partner association, the West End Homebuilders Association, who you have already heard from today.
(1:13:54) I do hope we can all leave here today knowing that we’ve taken a meaningful step. One that sends a clear signal to the housing market, to senior levels of government, and to future residents that Burlington is serious about getting homes built. Build members are proud to be your partners in building vibrant communities where people can live and work.
(1:14:11) And thank you for your leadership at this critical time and for setting an example that encourages other municipalities and governments to follow. Thank you. >> Thanks, Victoria. You have a question coming first from councelor Nissan. >> Thank you Victoria very much. Thanks for coming in. >> Thank you. >> Good to see you.
(1:14:29) Thanks for coming in person. It never hurts. >> And um thank you for a representing your members here today. The the question that I have is have you has build uh advocated to the provincial government to um to flow money to municipalities to so that we so that these uh important infrastructure growth related infrastructure projects will still get uh built and so that our communities are whole.
(1:15:01) um and how what was the what’s the result of that advocacy because uh clearly they haven’t done anything about it yet. >> So advocacy is still ongoing. Um we are actively at the provincial and federal levels. Um my colleagues are are there advocating for for what you are saying. Um infrastructure funding is needed to keep municipalities whole to keep infrastructure in the ground and to keep projects going.
(1:15:22) So those projects are are I’m sorry those conversations are ongoing. any any results because we’ve had federal budgets, we’ve had Ontario um uh Ontario bills on uh on building that didn’t include any any funding. So any any results? I saw that there was like a letter sent to Peele. So um anything concrete yet? >> So So the province is working working towards um solutions.
(1:15:52) I I don’t have any concrete um response for you right now, but but those conversations are ongoing and and we are working towards solutions at all levels. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Victoria. I don’t see any other questions for you today. >> Thank you. Uh next up we have Carmina Tupe uh from Trinity Point Developments uh joining us in person to speak regarding the options of temporary elimination of development charges.
(1:16:25) Carmina whenever you’re ready. >> Uh there it’s on now. >> Okay. Hi, good morning Mayor Mid Ward, chair and members of the committee. My name is Carmina Tupe and I’m here on behalf of Trinity Point Developments. We are division of the Green Park Group of Companies as well as the developers of Akamore Dwelling Corporation, the residential redevelopment project located at 2072 Lakeshore Road, just over there at the football.
(1:16:52) In response to item 12.3 on the agenda, we are here to express our strong support for a temporary elimination of the city residential development charges for a 2-year period, particularly the option that would apply broadly to all residential developments. Like many others, our projects at our project at 2072 Lakeshore is facing significant market challenges.
(1:17:15) Although we received a fairly quick official plan approval and zoning approval in September of 2025, thanks to the collaborative and efficient process led by the planning team, the project is unfortunately at the drawing boards as a result of escalating costs, high financing rates, and just the complete exit of pre-construction sales.
(1:17:35) We are well on our way to submitting an SPA or site plan application before the start of this year before having to hit the brakes. All options on what will work for the future of the site is currently being looked at, including senior housing, purpose-built familysiz rental units, and with that, all incentives and ways to reduce costs are being considered.
(1:17:54) Temporary relief from the development charges would play a meaningful meaning meaningful role in those decisions and applying it to all residential projects would allow for greater flexibility. We recognize and respect the important role development charges play in funding infrastructure.
(1:18:11) However, in the current market uh many projects are simply unable to proceed as you’ve heard from uh other industry colleagues today. And in these cases, development charges are not deferred. they are just never realized because the projects do not advance to construction or occupancy. And although staff uh have noted that the city’s DCs do account for only 25% of the toilet DC’s payable, every dollar counts for us.
(1:18:36) And um I can say to you it is affecting how we engage our consultants and uh you know the ongoing work that goes and it has a rippling effect. adopting DC’s would demonstrate Burlington’s leadership in responding to the h housing crisis and hopefully inspire other levels of government to take bolder steps and we do encourage uh the city to continue to work with the region as well as other provincial governments uh the provincial government as federal government uh to match their efforts.
(1:19:05) Um it would also reinforce a strong partnership between the industry and the city and working towards a shared housing growth and objectives. We encourage council to support meaningful and broadly accessible uh development charge relief, including consideration of the two-year elimination option to ensure projects like ours can proceed and contribute to Burlington’s housing supply.
(1:19:27) We will do all that we can to ensure that the Acmore dwelling project will contribute to the continued evolution of the Lakeshore corridor through meaningful intensification, highquality urban design, and new housing opportunities within the established waterfront area. Thank you for your time and consideration and we really hope you are uh going to support our requests.
(1:19:49) >> Thanks Carmenina. You have a first question coming to you from councelor Nissan. >> Hi counselor. >> Hi. Thank you for uh for coming in today and uh in for your delegation uh through the chair. Um you you are speaking specifically to one project or are there >> we do have other projects. We have lowrise projects at Milcraftoft and Dundas. They are currently being built.
(1:20:10) they are not fully sold. Uh so there is some inventory there. Um but I am speaking specifically to this project which has hit the brakes and is uh has been affected by the economic conditions. >> So for mil for the Milcraftoft project uh at Dundas um I guess you hit the I believe it’s an 80% threshold >> for sales to be able to begin building.
(1:20:33) Is that uh is that correct? And you you were able to do that. Why were you able? >> We did not hit 80%. uh we just felt strongly in delivering those familysiz units there and wanted to believe that with them being built it would attract attention and um it is sort of a trickling sales that are happening at that site.
(1:20:52) >> Okay, I have a couple more questions. Is that okay or? >> Yeah, go ahead. Okay. So, um with respect to your uh building um by the lake uh in the it’s the one in the football the 23story uh building that was approved by uh council. If we uh do option A, are you going to be able to go ahead quickly and and and build that 23story building? >> It definitely would help with the perform.
(1:21:23) Um right now as a condominion site, uh it’s not that feasible. Um, but having a $11,000 savings on each unit there would be of of great help. >> Yes. >> Is it uh I I guess I can at least do one more chair uh through the chair. Is that the uh you mentioned some affordability and all that, but it is right by the lake.
(1:21:45) So, will that be uh also have a lot of luxury units that maybe that would help your your proforma as well? >> Again, we’re looking at all options on what to do with the site. We’re looking at seniors housing, affordable purpose for fair rental. As you know, the site was uh proposed to have almost 80% family size units, two to three bedrooms, um which does come at a higher cost.
(1:22:05) Um but we do think it’s something that would be suit the site well and then and contribute to the area. >> Just last question, chair, if we don’t do the uh option A, then this building may not get built for a long time. Is that fair to say? It would mean we are do looking at many other options on what to do with it.
(1:22:24) One of them may be having to let the site go. Um but um again we ask for the most flexibility when it comes to development charge relief. Uh if you do choose to go with another option, it does mean we’ll take some time to review how that incentive will work for the site and what we can build on it. As you know, it’s a pretty unique site. It’s quite small.
(1:22:45) It’s trapezoid in space. So there’s not a lot that we can do there. Um, and we’re we’re quite constrained. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Uh, councelor Charman with a question now. >> Thank you very much. I really appreciated the conversation so far. I mean, it’s it’s it’s helpful. Um, now you’ve got me thinking about when that land was purchased by your company.
(1:23:04) >> Can you tell us that? >> It was before my time with Trinity Point, but I believe it was purchased in 2020 or 2019. So, it was a different time. So market prices were pretty high in those days and not so much now. >> No. >> Thank you. >> I see no further questions. So thank you for your delegation today. >> Thank you very much.
(1:23:33) Okay. Um, next we have Adam Vickers from RG R MRG Live is joining in person to speak regarding the 2026 Lakeshore Music and Arts Festival event overview CCS-01-26. >> Um, you have a presentation, Adam, so if you want to just let us know uh when you want to change slides, uh, we can do that for you. >> Awesome. Thank you.
(1:24:00) >> Thanks, Adam. Um, Lakeshore Music and Arts Festival. Um, I want to give you a bit of an understanding of who we are and what we do. Um, before we get into the details of the festival, uh, if I can have the next slide. Um, MRG Live uh, is a leading independent North American concert and entertainment production company.
(1:24:24) Founded in 2008, MRG Live has grown to become Canada’s largest independent concert and entertainment promotion company. We produce a thousand events annually, entertaining four million attendees in 2025, servicing EMRG’s nine owned, operated program venues, and producing concerts across Canada, the US with recent expansion into the UK and Australia.
(1:24:46) MRG Live’s mission is to be the leading partner for connecting talent to their audiences, focusing on developing and growing artists and markets while never forgetting the importance of the fan experience. Next slide please. Our work emerg Live is experienced in producing concerts, large-scale community festivals, gallas, award shows, and corporate events.
(1:25:12) ERGI’s extensive list of community and municipal events include the Catsano Street Party, Concord New Year’s Eve at Canada Place, Richmond Children and Arts Festival, and the multi-awwardwinning Fusion Festival. To give you some context of the size and scale of these events, Catso Street Party happens in one day in July.
(1:25:32) We get the street at 5:00 a.m. and we close down 10 blocks of a major street in the Kitslano neighborhood of Vancouver. We build seven stages, six beer gardens. We have 60 acts that perform throughout the course of the one day. And we have 175,000 people that come out to support Fusion Festival, which we win multiple awards for every year.
(1:26:02) Um, we build 60 mobile kitchens and have representatives from 60 different countries come and cook their native food. On top of that, there’s a music festival, there’s a children’s section, um there is a midway, and it’s it’s a pretty impressive feat for what we do. Our team has produced 60 major community festivals in BC over the past 25 years.
(1:26:27) Next slide, please. I didn’t think I was going to be this nervous. It’s kind of nerve-wracking. >> No, no, no, no. I’m good. I’m good. I just I need to get that out. Everybody’s laughing now, so I’m fine. Um, festival overview. Okay, so we are very, very proud to present uh the concept for Lakeshore Music and Arts Festival, which will be a free 2-day outdoor music and arts experience taking place Father’s Day weekend, June 20th and 21st um in Burlington’s iconic Spencer Smith Park. Also extending along Brandt Street
(1:27:02) and activating Burlington’s downtown core, Lakeshore will spotlight the best in Canadian music while celebrating local arts, culture, and most importantly, community. Lakes Shore is designed as a vibrant multi-stage event which will feature nationally celebrated Canadian artists alongside emerging artists and talent from Burlington’s backyard.
(1:27:24) complemented by engaging family-friendly programming, food trucks, beverage gardens, and we still have a few things to figure out. 2026 will be our jumping off point. Given that we’re new and working on a relatively tight timeline, we want to keep some of the same elements of past events that have proven successful while looking to the future to find new ways to grow Lakeshore Music and Arts Festival year after year.
(1:27:49) Our focus this year is on building community partnerships. That means having conversations with key stakeholders, creating strong relationships with local suppliers, engaging existing partnerships, and exploring new ones, working to understand what the people of Burlington and the Halton region want, and building trust within the community.
(1:28:08) Our objective in 2026 is our only objective in 2026 is to deliver a great yet sustainable festival experience for this community. With its prime waterfront setting, broad audience appeal, and strong cultural mandate, the Lakeshore Music and Arts Festival is positioned to become one of Ontario’s premier outdoor music events for years to come.
(1:28:32) Next slide, please. So, festival elements. Um the main stage which will be located at the east end of Spencer Smith Park uh will feature prominent Canadian acts and talent talented emerging artists keeping attendees entertained from start to finish. The secondary stage located located at the west end of Spencer Smith Park.
(1:28:57) The stage will combine notable Canadian programming along with a diverse lineup of performers. We’re exploring uh different performance mediums uh like dance. Brandt Street Stage located at Brandon James just outside of City Hall. Uh the stage will feature acoustic style bands from the Burlington area in the GTA. Um much like previous events, we’ll be looking through the local talent base to program that stage.
(1:29:24) Uh next slide, please. Uh the Brandt Street Festival. So transforming Brandt Street into pedestrian paradise where attendees can shop local artisan booths, Brandt Street merchants, eat local fair and enjoy a patio while taking in amazing local music and most importantly supporting local business.
(1:29:45) The family zone which will be located next to the playground in Spencer Smith Park will include face painting painting, bubble bubble artists, bouncy castles, arts and crafts and entertainment for kids of all ages. Beverage garden uh strategically placed within the park. Festival goers can take a minute to enjoy a beverage while listening to music, enjoying the view, or taking a moment to laugh with friends.
(1:30:08) Food trucks, which are very popular around here. Uh Lakes Shore will feature the region’s best food trucks, allowing festival goers to refuel or just indulge in anything from crowd-pleasing comfort food to global flavors and sweet treats. There’s something for everyone, uh every craving and dietary preference.
(1:30:25) Next slide, please. Oh, next one. There we go. Um, our programming is uh our obviously we want to we listen to the survey that was put out in the fall and uh the responses that were given by the people of Burlington and Canadian talent was something that was very very high on their list.
(1:30:53) So for the main stage, um we’re we’ve started headliner conversations back in December, uh right after MRG was announced as the provider. Um and we’re looking first to bands that were discovered and developed in Burlington or the Halton region. Um we would like to showcase the talent that is that is unique to this region and uh hopefully we can bring some people home.
(1:31:16) Um, emerging Canadian talent. As concert promoters, we this is what we do best. Uh, we find the best of emerging Canadian talent and give them a platform to grow and reach new audiences. Local musicians. So, uh, we do this with some of our other festivals. We open up a music submission section of the website where local bands can can submit.
(1:31:40) So, for Catalana, which I spoke to earlier, we get 6 to 700 submissions a year. um which we narrow down to the 60 bands that play. And so we want to give everybody even if you’ve never released a song, uh you can send in your information and still get a chance to play in our lineup. It’s very talent based. And then local performing arts groups, uh we’re working very hard um to build strong ties with the arts community here in Burlington and local arts organizations.
(1:32:11) For the timeline, next slide. uh February uh we have decided on our branding. Um our website and socials will launch this week. Uh vendor submissions will open and music submissions that I just spoke to will open as well. Uh in March, we’ll be announcing the public save the date. Uh we’ll be continuing with community engagement and having key conversations with stakeholders and our VIP tickets will go on sale.
(1:32:43) April, we’ll finalize our site layout, uh, confirm all vendors, and complete all of our programming. May we’ll announce our lineup. Uh, we’ll start a marketing and PR campaign around that uh, lineup announcement, and we’ll finalize public safety planning. In June, we’ll have an ongoing marketing campaign, festival execution, and on June 20th and 21st, we will create some magic.
(1:33:11) Next slide. Questions. >> Okay. Thank you, Adam. Um, some questions. The first coming from Mayor Me Ward. >> Thank you, chair, and thank you so much for being here. This is very exciting. Uh so in terms of the acts uh the Canadian is does that mean there will be no performance that are not Canadian on the stage or some might be there uh in other capacity just not headliners or the local acts? >> We are uh for 2026 we are focusing on only Canadian talent >> only Canadian. Okay. Uh good to know.
(1:33:50) And then um the the the previous festival had quite a contingent of volunteer help and of course support from businesses and it would really was a community uh community event. So uh what is your plan with respect to engaging or are you engaging volunteers? Are you working uh I’m pretty sure you’re working with the local businesses and I see our BIA here and some of our local uh restaurant a great local restaurant here uh today.
(1:34:19) um tell us how you’re going to uh weave that into your plans. >> So, we’ve uh started conversations with uh the BDBA, BPAC, um the Art Gallery, uh Chamber of Commerce, uh the Legion, the Rotary. >> Awesome. Um, and we’ve I’ve by the amazing city staff that I’ve been working with, I’ve been put in touch with people that were involved in the Sound of Music.
(1:34:48) And um, we are we understand that we’re stepping into some very big shoes and 2026 is all about us proving ourselves. Um so we’ve engaged personnel that were involved in past festivals and um one in particular uh was very intertwined with the volunteer base and we’re hoping to tap into that. We also like to hire a local crew which we’re in the process of doing um that will be our boots on the ground here and you know giving jobs to the community.
(1:35:20) I know that a lot of um past festival employment was volunteer- based. Um we’re looking to obviously engage volunteers but create jobs uh whether they be temporary or uh sustainable here in Burlington. >> That’s great. And could I just do a quick followup? So, will you be doing a sort of a public call out for volunteers at all? Is there a way that we can assist in spreading the word? >> Absolutely. Yes.
(1:35:50) Yeah, as part of the uh music submissions, vendor submissions being open, we’ll have a a volunteer form on our website um that people can sign up to be a volunteer and then we’ll al obviously we’ll be um leaning on some of our our local contacts to reach out to their their contacts as well. >> Great. Okay, thank you. >> Next question is from councelor Bentovena.
(1:36:14) >> Thank you, chair, and uh thank you, Adam, for being here. Uh pretty impressive information on that delegation. Um uh thank you for that. Um that’s where I’m going with my question. So obviously this is a fairly large organization from what I gather. You’re across the country. Um, how are you going to sort of manage I’m just curious the different and I’m assuming some of these events in across the country are overlap in terms of time and and whatnot.
(1:36:51) Uh, what’s the process of monitoring what happens, how it happens, the success of it? Uh, how do you measure that? >> Um, attendance. um would be one of our biggest measurables for this. Um obviously financial sustainability would be another measurable that we looking at and then you know a postevent evaluation with the key stakeholders of Burlington and the community partners that we’ve engaged. Um we we do a lot of festivals.
(1:37:25) I’m not going to deny that. But we have a incredibly strong team that’s growing every day. Um and uh each each division of our company has their their streak that they stay on and um I have full confidence that that it will all come together. >> Thank you for that. Uh my second question has to do with vendors.
(1:37:48) >> Yep. >> Now I know I can speak for myself and I know I’ve had conversations with with the mayor. We’ve received numerous calls from various mentors that you will probably you know get a hold of as well. >> How how will you work with them to give them the confidence that they should be working with you based on things like you know maybe not have been paid.
(1:38:23) um you know their owed funds and so on. Um how do you >> suppliers >> look at handling that? >> Ah okay, gotcha. Um we have most of the suppliers that we work with nationally have offices in the area. >> Um so a lot of the the uh site supplies um waste management, trucking um that we have very very close relationships with in the west.
(1:38:53) uh they also have branches in the east. So, we’re going to be utilizing all of our connections and resources as far as our relationships with them to uh to engage. Um then we’ll als we’re also having conversations with local suppliers for technical pieces and um MRG has a um we’ve grown a very strong reputation in production and uh we always pay our bills and we always make sure that everybody’s taken care of and that um we we very much value um doing what we do with kindness and integrity.
(1:39:37) Um, because we’re entertaining people at the end of the day and there should be nothing negative about that. >> Thank you very much. I appreciate it. >> Um, Mayor Meard is next. Uh, sorry, I have a go ahead >> few questions for my first time. Um, thanks for the delegation today. Uh great to hear that you are engaging with the downtown uh business improvement area.
(1:40:07) Um as you know they represent the businesses that are throughout the downtown that you are going to be so intertwined with with the festival. So a couple of questions on their behalf. Um do you support a funding model that will provide businesses with Burlington addresses a discounted rate um as a vendor at the proposed marketplace? >> Yes.
(1:40:31) So, we’re in current conversations with the BDBA around how that would be structured. Um, I my hope is that we can uh figure out a scenario where members of the BDBA would be invited free of charge um for space in in the market festival. Um obviously when we depending on where those conversations go um we would the brickandmortar businesses would have first right of refusal for the space in front and then um any other members of the BDBA or downtown businesses that are downtown would get a discounted rate and then we would fill in the rest of the spots with artisan
(1:41:10) and commercial vendors. Um there we figured there’s about so from Lakeshore on Brandt to James and then uh Pine and Elgen we figure we can put roughly about 130 booth spaces within that uh footprint depending on you know temporary patio extensions and and other structures that’ll be going in. Um but we we figured that we can probably put about 130 which would you know make it a very vibrant um street festival? Okay, thanks for that.
(1:41:47) Uh second question along the same lines. Will the bricks and mortar businesses captured within the pedestrianized portion of Brand Street uh which is the site of the marketplace? I think they were you just talking about uh be permitted to utilize the public space in front of their business? Correct. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay.
(1:42:04) >> So, we would provide um up to 10 uh 10 by 20 footprint. If they decided that they wanted to expand beyond that, there would be an additional charge for space. Um but yes, the brick and mortar businesses would be allocated a 10 x20 spot for your charge. >> Okay. Thanks for that, Adam. I’ll pass you over to the mayor for the next question.
(1:42:29) >> Uh it’s really helpful information. Uh my first question is around the um the application for the local acts. >> I think it’s open. I I bucked into somebody on the weekend who said they did or were going to apply. So it is it open and uh what’s been the response? How many folks have applied for that? >> It is not open yet.
(1:42:49) >> It’s not open yet. Okay. >> We do have uh >> they’re very keen to get their submission >> specifically for Lakeshore Music and Arts. The link isn’t open. We as a company have a growing database of artists both you know in BC and Ontario. Um so we have a general submissions uh link that is open year round for artists.
(1:43:14) >> So they may have submitted to that. Uh they may have you know gone a different route if they have an agent or a or a manager or something that’s that’s you know gone directly to one of our buyers. Um but the music the music submissions link along with the vendor links and volunteer link will be open this week.
(1:43:31) >> Okay, that’s great. And then um I notice uh at the moment that there’s no parade component and that is how um uh over 40 years ago that’s how the Sound of Music started actually. It was a marching band parade and uh I don’t know if the muster is the right word, but they would gather in the park and and stand and march uh there and that’s really how the Son of Music started.
(1:43:58) So uh I’m I’m very um uh passionate about the parade and just wondering if you are open to I guess why isn’t it there? Are you are you open to considering that as a component on the uh Saturday morning? That that’s usually when it would launch. Yes, we’ve had conversations with um um city contacts and and we’ve gone down this path and I’ve been asked this question.
(1:44:21) Um there’s a there’s a couple different reasons we didn’t include it in the initial proposal. Um one was the financial side of it. We didn’t understand enough of what it took financially to put the parade on. Um and I I I’ve come to learn that um past versions were free of charge to the participants and there’s uh with that there’s a lot of associated cost to actually do it.
(1:44:51) Street closures um you know uh crew planning. So for 2026 given our timeline um it was important to us to deliver on what we could deliver on well. And so, not to say that we couldn’t do a parade, but it’s not uh it’s not something that we have a ton of experience doing. And so, um but we’re always open to the conversations.
(1:45:20) And uh even when we did the initial proposal, my you know there was there was a couple of pieces in there that was we we did it that way for this year um just so we could deliver a high quality event. Uh and then we would we would be open to exploring them for other years. Um I know that the parade is very important.
(1:45:44) So the other piece of that is that the sound of music was based on the parade. Um the sound of music was its own event. >> We are looking to separate ourselves from them and create something new. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Not to say that it’s off the table. >> That good to know. I’ll ask some questions of staff when we get there.
(1:46:05) Thanks. >> Um I have a final question for you from the DBDA. Oh, >> councelor Charman snuck in there with a question. >> Well, you know, I I was just thinking about the mayor’s questions about the um Bison Teen Tour Band. Uh would the Prominard be available on the Saturday morning if the Teen Tour Band wanted to walk down there, march down there? So again, this is not something that uh has been confirmed or but my when we first started having these discussions, my uh first idea was to have the marching band um on Saturday come through the site up
(1:46:56) onto the stage and do a performance as part of the festival. Um, I love drum lines. Anything where I can get a bunch of drums in one place. I I I think it’s such a cool Um, I had the pleasure of seeing them at the can Santa Claus Day parade. I think that it would be an amazing addition to the event.
(1:47:20) Um, and I know how important they are to the local community. >> Yeah. No, actually wasn’t my question. My question was actually much more practical. >> Will the prominard be vacant? Will that face space be open on Saturday morning? >> So if there was an opportunity to have the team tour pan march down there, it could be done. >> Correct. >> That’s all I need to know.
(1:47:36) >> You could also ask staff that question when it’s their turn. >> I’m here. >> Uh thank you. And then my final question. Um uh the MRG brief includes uh a notation uh about additional on-site experiences will include a curated food truck zone offering diverse cuisine options and family-friendly beverage gardens.
(1:48:01) So is it your intention that uh the food truck zone be located in the confines of Spencer Smith Park only? >> Um yes. um seeing I I don’t want to take away from any of the the there’s so many great restaurants in the downtown core that are part of the BDBA. Um unless there was a conversation where we felt the need to subsidize um and put additional food trucks in there so that there was more options and people could get something to eat a little quicker.
(1:48:38) uh we’d be open to that, but as of right now, I wouldn’t want to step on toes of local business. >> Just encourage you to keep the dialogue up with them. There’s they’re right behind you in the room. Happy to do an introduction if you haven’t met the >> No, we’ve uh we we’re well acquainted. >> Uh thanks, Adam. I do not see any further questions for you today.
(1:48:57) So, thanks for your delegation. >> Thank you. >> Okay. um going to suggest a bio break now. So we’ll take a maybe a 6 minute break and come back at uh 5 minutes after 11. Thank you. Okay, welcome back everyone. Um, our
(1:57:51) next speaker, our next delegate is Amy Schner from the Burlington Green Environmental Association. Uh, joining us in person today. Welcome Amy. You know the drill. you >> just got to put your mic on there. >> Yep, it’s on. >> On. >> Sorry, we do it, too. Yeah, >> no worries. >> Uh, whenever you’re ready. Thanks, Amy.
(1:58:12) >> Okay. I was going to say good morning. Is it morning still? It is. Okay. Good morning, Mayor um me Ward, chair, members of committee, city staff, and the Burlington community. On behalf of Burlington Green, thank you so very much for this opportunity to provide feedback on the city’s latest climate plan.
(1:58:32) It’s important. I will be using the 10 minutes. Just a warning. I’m joined today by two young Burlington team members. It’s their first time in city hall. Um they have the most at stake when it comes to climate action and ensuring a livable future. I felt it was important for them to witness firsthand civic engagement and local advocacy in action on an issue that is top of mind for them and hopefully for all of us.
(1:58:59) And respectful of your time, I did connect in advance with Jesse from the Bay Area Climate Change Council on which I also serve. Uh just for some light coordination to avoid duplication of comment. And while we didn’t have a chance to share each other’s notes, um generally speaking, I’m going to reserve my comments to focus more broad strokes on um context and process in relation to this report.
(1:59:23) And Jesse is going to speak more specifically to some elements of the plan itself. So, first I want to begin by congratulating city staff um particularly Lauren and Fuller for producing such an excellent comprehensive and thoughtful plan. This work matters and it shows. I couldn’t find any missing actions actually. Um the plan reflects significant effort and it’s encouraging to see both city and community progress on climate action.
(1:59:52) Since the last update, scientists have warned us for decades about climate change and its capacity to devastate people and nature. Again, most recently, scientists have warned that global warming is accelerating beyond previous projections that the planet could hit very, very dangerous temperature levels by the year 2050.
(2:00:16) That’s just 24 years from now. This should alarm all of us and compel urgent action at every level of government. At the same time, we cannot wait for all levels of government to align perfectly before acting. Cities must continue to lead on climate because they can and because they must.
(2:00:36) As this climate plan states, municipal governments are on the front lines of climate action, implementing policies that affect daily life of Burlingtononians. Given the urgency of the moment, we need to critically examine whether the plan’s 2050 net zero target is in fact achievable as currently framed and whether it should be accelerated or not.
(2:01:00) As some other municipalities are now doing in response to this science, Toronto’s target is sooner than ours than Burlington’s. It’s net zero communitywide emissions by 2040. And Hamilton is examining this as well. At a minimum, Burlington’s plan should include clear interim milestones, something like uh you know um certain percentage reduction by 2030 and then deep uh reductions by 2035 etc.
(2:01:28) along with uh KPIs that prioritize the GHG um uh reductions and clearly track progress towards that specific target. Even if the city retains a 2050 target, the question remains, is it achievable without foundational changes in how the city embeds, governs, and resources climate action? And this is where I just want to provide five uh areas of comment.
(2:01:58) First, climate and the environment must be explicitly embedded in the city’s vision and mission. While environmental language appears in the draft horizon 2050 uh vision, uh this moment demands clarity. Climate change is an exessential crisis. It is not separate from community well-being or the economy. It underpins both.
(2:02:20) Environment is currently missing from the mission statement in the draft plan and we strongly encourage that it be included. If climate is not clearly reflected in the vision, it becomes optional in practice. Second, climate action must be fully integrated across all city departments. It cannot sit only with transportation, forestry, and sustainability teams.
(2:02:43) Every department, planning, procurement, parks, events should apply a climate and equity lens from the outset of every report, policy, investment, and business case upfront, not after the fact. And I couldn’t help but sitting here today in this discussion about development charges. That was actually the very first topic Burlington Green spoke on back in 2007.
(2:03:03) Um, and looking at that, what would that look like? That conversation through a climate lens. I noticed on the agenda the discussion about the new um, festival down at the waterfront, which is really exciting. And on the report under environment, that strategic alignment was left unchecked. And certainly when we’re looking at massive festivals coming to the city of Burlington, we know that there’s opportunity for GHG reductions.
(2:03:26) There’s lots of emissions, there’s traffic, there’s waste. Those things should be a part of every uh RFP process here at uh city hall. Burlington to Green has long advocated for consistent triple bottom line approach. So environmental impacts are never optional and social impacts, especially on vulnerable populations, are always considered.
(2:03:47) So we recommend adopting this approach consistently and as soon as possible. Third, capacity. A plan without the resources to implement is simply just a document. Plans don’t reduce emissions. People and bud budgets do. If climate action is truly a priority, it must be resourced accordingly. This includes staffing, funding, and accountability.
(2:04:09) When the city declared a climate emergency in 2019, the declaration directed council and staff to quote, “Increase the priority of the fight against climate change and apply climate lens to city plans and actions, including the council’s strategic work plan and future budgets. So we do see an opportunity for greater transparency, accountability, and public understanding by more clearly and distinctly presenting the city’s investments in climate action uh line item in the budget.
(2:04:42) The climate plan outlines an ambitious list of actions. Some are already moving forward through strong partnerships with community stakeholders, including Burlington Greens work at the community level. However, there just isn’t sufficient capacity within city hall to implement implement all of these actions at the scale and the pace that science is telling us is required.
(2:05:04) Fourth, we strongly agree with the plan that all levels of government must work together. While factoring the many serious environmental setback setbacks of the provincial context, this cannot be a reason for pausing or slowing of action. On the contrary, these challenges demand fiercer municipal advocacy.
(2:05:27) We must push for supportive legislation and reliable funding while doubling down on municipalled climate action. Finally, all hands on deck. The city cannot do this alone. Community climate action is essential and Burlington is proud to serve as city’s primary partner for community environmental engagement. Through our work, we hear growing frustration, confusion, and eco anxiety, particularly among youth.
(2:05:55) People want to act, but they feel overwhelmed and discouraged by a belief that climate in action is not due to a lack of knowledge or solutions, but a lack of political will with real and escalating consequences. At its core, people are feeling a widening gap between words and action. Governments declare climate emergencies, set distant net zero targets, release plan plans, and yet emissions continue approvals for highcarbon projects move forward and timelines keep slipping.
(2:06:26) So there’s two relatively straightforward actions that could help. First, merge the city’s three primary climate related plans into a single clear user-friendly climate action plan that is consistently promoted and signals that we’re all in this together. And second, climate leadership in Burlington should be visible and easy to find.
(2:06:47) Currently, climate change, surprisingly, is not mentioned on the city website homepage or its primary navigation. While this may seem minor, visibility signals priority. Climate action should be front and center alongside the city’s other strategic pillars. So to summarize, Burlington Green recommends that the city revisit the potentially and potentially accelerate the net zero target and prioritize actions with KPIs with the greatest emissions impact.
(2:07:18) Secondly, embed climate action into the city’s vision and mission. Third, ensure cross departmental accountability. Fourth, resource climate change action accountability or appropriately. Fifth, continue strong advocacy to senior governments and improve public access to a clear unified climate action plan.
(2:07:43) The updated plan provides the essential foundation. But in the face of a climate crisis already affecting our city, what matters now is timely action at the necessary scale and supported by the resources to deliver the results that science calls for. Burlington Green looks forward to continuing to support the city’s efforts on this.
(2:08:02) Thank you very much. 14 seconds. Come on. 12 minutes Monday. >> Uh thank you for your delegation, Amy. Uh you have a first time question coming to you from councelor Nissan. >> Hi Amy. I I first of all I want to thank you for coming in and speaking to the item. So it’s going to highlight it and I’ll I’ll be speaking to it shortly as well.
(2:08:24) um you noticed that uh there is an element in that plan around upper levels of government um because and I believe your comments are really around community emissions versus corporate uh emissions after all that’s the goal is to lower emissions in the community but uh do you see any given that a lot of our emissions are related to uh transportation it’s the number one emitter in Burlington because of the highways do you see any role for the city in reducing the emissions of the cars that are coming onto to our
(2:08:54) highways or should we be focusing on other areas like for example home retrofits? >> Great question and I don’t want to steal Jesse’s thunder because I know she’s going to be speaking specifically to transportation and buildings. But in short, absolutely yes. There is a role for the province to take.
(2:09:11) Um if we do not move the needle on those two areas, including incoming traffic, we will simply not meet the target. Um and so for example, the proposed highway by the province is not going to be a solution to support Burlington’s um ability. It’s just going to add more cars to the road and you’re going to go backwards here at the municipal level.
(2:09:30) So that’s an example of advocacy. Um, at the same time, speaking of buildings, because that’s our other largest contributor of GHGs, there are levers within city hall that can happen while advocating to the province to um unhampring the municipality’s ability to be more rigorous in uh applying sustainable development standards.
(2:09:55) for example, things like um fast-tracking permit applications that um check a certain number of boxes in the city’s sustainable guidelines. Um better promoting and having those upfront conversations with developers. So, yeah, there’s things for sure it has to be all governments come together, but again, given this current, I will be frank provincial government and the fact that you’ve got so many permits in the pipeline, you can’t wait for the province to change its mindset on that.
(2:10:22) The city needs to take that strong leaderships and make sure it’s front and center before any of those permits come out that this is the type of Burlington that we expect to grow where climate is a priority. >> Thank you Amy. >> You’re welcome. >> Thanks Amy. I do not see any further questions for you.
(2:10:41) So thanks for your delegation. >> Thank you very much. Next we have uh Jesse Elders from the Bay Area Climate Change Council also joining in person to speak regarding the Burlington Climate Action Plan uh taking action to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions PWS-01-26. Welcome Jesse. >> Hi, thank you so much for having me.
(2:11:04) So yeah, good morning everyone. I’m Jesse Elders and I manage the Bay Area Climate Change Council which is a collaborative effort between the cities of Hamilton, Burlington, and Mohawk College to catalyze climate action across the Bay Area. We bring together a diverse range of community members from across the region to establish and implement clear pathways to net zero.
(2:11:28) We just heard from uh Amy Schneur with Burlington Green. Uh Burlington Green is a founding member of the Bay Area Climate Change Council and our organizations work very closely together and with the mun municipality to ensure that we find efficient, effective ways to implement the climate action plans within the city of Burlington.
(2:11:49) Uh none of us are alone as we tackle the significant uh effort needed to advance climate action. Amy and I as as she mentioned coordinated to allow her to speak first which I think may mean she has drawn the short I have she has drawn the short straw because I get to just say that everything she said was great and I can I can repeat it.
(2:12:12) Um but but jokes aside uh we really we we did coordinate in advance to use your time well. And so in addition to the brief comments that I’ll make, I wanted to echo support for what uh Amy has just said, noting in particular the importance of funding in the years ahead to implement the actions laid out within the climate action plan and uh and also her points about governance uh the importance of embedding climate and equity in all aspects of the city’s work.
(2:12:41) To the extent that it’s not clear already, let me state that the Bay Area Climate Change Council supports the climate action plan and endorses the actions set out within it. The plan is science-based, appropriately focusing on the largest sources of emissions in the city of Burlington. The plan provides clear and unambiguous direction on the priority actions that we need to take both within the city and in the community to achieve our goals of net zero in the future.
(2:13:12) As a result of this clarity, the plan creates a strong foundation for collaboration in its implementation. The Bay Area Climate Change Council is a committed partner here to support the implementation of the plan, not just its adoption. In fact, the Bay Area collaboration on climate change is what led to the development of the greenhouse gas emissions inventory and forecasting upon which the the existing climate action plan and also the one before you today is built.
(2:13:45) We see a continued role for ourselves in uh we see a continued role for ourselves in tracking progress and refining the pathways to reach net zero to ensure that our collective efforts succeed and in bringing together the range of stakeholders and rights holders needed to implement the plan. In terms of what we are doing today to support the implementation, first we’re applying for funding to support uh sub theme 13 uh which is to evaluate options to advance lowcarbon new development through the city’s sustainable building and development
(2:14:19) guidelines or through other means. And we’re also starting an energy working group that can assist with the city’s planned community energy systems assessment under subthe 16. So in short, we support the climate action plan and we’re here to help implement it. We live in a time when climate when action on climate is under threat.
(2:14:44) And that means that we need to stay strong, focused, and committed more than ever. Strong local leadership on climate can inspire and unlock action elsewhere. I’m recently back to this role after taking a parental leave with my first child. That’s important for for two reasons aside from explaining the the bags under my eyes today.
(2:15:12) But the first and I think perhaps most obvious is that it’s made me understand much more viscerally how critical it is that we get this right and that all of us do what is within our power to ensure that the generations that come after us thrive. But second, I’m returning to a leadership role after some time away and having the opportunity to reflect on what leadership really means.
(2:15:40) Leadership is a factor both of what we can directly control and also what we can influence. Municipalities indirectly influence up to 50% of the emissions within our community through things like land use planning, building approvals, and transportation system design. That is a significant degree of influence over our community emissions.
(2:16:10) The climate action plan shows leadership by focusing not only on what the city can directly control, but also what it can influence to achieve meaningful, measurable, and significant emissions reductions within our community. Now, of course, we cannot do this alone. We need coordinated action from all members of our community and also from actors and governments beyond our municipal borders.
(2:16:37) It’s my belief that if we collectively continue to take clear committed steps on climate locally, then we can influence the much needed investments and enabling legislation to support our work from the provincial and federal governments. And we’re not just setting aspirations. Climate action also brings immediate and tangible co- benefits for our communities, including cost avoidance through stronger infrastructure to manage climate events like flooding, improved air quality to support our health, and economic development dollars through
(2:17:15) green jobs and local energy generation. So, in short, let’s double down on our efforts and get to work together. Thank you so much for your time today and obviously happy to take any questions. >> Thank you Jesse. Uh first question you have is coming from councelor Nissan >> through the chair. Thank you.
(2:17:35) Thank you Jesse. Welcome back. It’s great to see you again and uh >> with respect to the two largest matters of emissions I think an important uh taking for granted that this uh plan will be approved and we will continue to work hard and work with you. Uh so I don’t have questions about that cuz I really hope that that is the case uh and and frankly expect it.
(2:18:00) So uh with respect to your comments about influence influencing higher levels of government influencing up to 50% of emissions our two largest sources of emissions as noted are transportation and home energy. So um and uh the home energy is at a very high you know it’s a lot lot of homes that need to be retrofitted.
(2:18:21) the transportation number one problem are the highways that cut through Burlington. So um beyond advocacy uh do you have any concrete recommendations um or will you be reaching out particularly think about the highways and the transportation like we have an idea when it comes to the homes but I’m a little styied about what we do with all these cars is it do you have any any thoughts about that? >> Sure. Uh yes. So absolutely.
(2:18:48) So it’s an important question and like I say it’s it’s uh tackling this is not something that we can do alone. Uh we it’s important that all levels of government take the necessary steps to act on climate. Um so with respect to transportation I think uh and again about the role of leadership I tend to think it’s really helpful to divide uh at least my thinking into what can we directly control and where can we have influence.
(2:19:16) And so direct control really is a lot of what you’re seeing in the climate action plan itself and how it intersects with something like the integrated mobility plan. the city does have a lot of control about how cars move within the municipal border and that you know whether I think that actually does have an influence beyond our borders because uh it changes how people can move within the city when they’re here and that can influence choice around whether you take a car or a train or a bike, right? Um, so what’s within our control are things
(2:19:53) like the integrated mobility plan and the and the and the strategy set out in the climate action plan to manage how people move within the city. Uh there’s there’s obviously a role for advocacy around uh policy at other levels of government and I think uh we have some incredible advocacy groups here within the city that uh that do that work and the Bay Area Climate Change Council is here to support that.
(2:20:18) uh we we take a collaborative effort. So we’re always trying to look to see where our members are already doing works and make sure that we can support that and get behind them um where we can. So I think you’re right there there is an opportunity for advocacy at other levels of government on transportation but also on buildings.
(2:20:35) So, if I can also just say one thing that we’ve been looking at fairly actively in collaboration with some community partners in the previous few months is uh there’s there’s a lot of provincial funding for new this is technical but new demand side management programs that could help um change how we use energy in our buildings and there’s some funding that’s been announced but not yet assigned for things like how to improve the energy efficiency of new construction.
(2:21:02) So that’s an example where there’s a pocket of money available outside of our m, you know, outside of our municipality that we could help to try to direct to advance local goals like lowcarbon new development. Um, so that’s another example of an opportunity for advocacy and where I think we can all play a collective effort to achieve that goal.
(2:21:22) >> Thank you very much. >> Uh, next question is from councelor Charman. >> Great to see you Jesse. Thank you for coming and congratulations. >> Thank you. >> The um the question that’s going through my mind firstly I I agree completely with your disc your comments around housing uh buildings and energy consumption. So that’s great.
(2:21:44) Um when it comes to transportation uh though I I wonder to what degree we’ve actually assessed the notion the change in innovate in not in innovation but technology and the degree to which we see um you know the the the even the services that people want may not be achieved by a traditional transportation system.
(2:22:06) for, you know, when when somebody wants to get an electric scooter, it’s because it gets them from where they are to where they want to be and they they can’t they don’t want to walk 400 meters to a bus stop. Um, for example, and then you get cars, uh, and I and I’m pleased to see that the federal government is is moving to electric cars and electrification, but that also gets you into things like agentic AI and the opportunities.
(2:22:31) So do you think we could do more in terms of understanding uh where technology is leading um rather than just continuing the same old strategy and thinking around transportation? >> Well, I think you know I’m I mean I think I personally am interested in the advancements in in technology and innovation and how that can support our climate goals.
(2:22:54) Uh at the same time I think the truth is we actually know what we need to do already. There are some really there are proven technologies that can help us to achieve our goals today. And so it’s always I think it’s always good to be looking to the next iteration, but we know that EVs are a great solution uh and are something that we’re all actively investing in supporting and accelerating their adoption within our communities.
(2:23:18) So I think it’s really exciting to think about where technology is going to go and how that can help us down the road. and we have great technology today uh that we’re we’re seeking to implement within our communities. >> Thank you for that. I I guess my question is in the context of having many years ahead of us and this being a plan for the future and I just I don’t see it in there >> in terms of uh yeah thinking about being being able to adapt and embed >> changing technologies as they become available. So I think well maybe on that
(2:23:50) one of the things that I was really happy to see in the in the climate action plan is the commitment to or the recommendation which I I hope will uh will be accepted to do a fairly detailed review of the emissions analysis and forecasting for the next iteration of of the climate action plan. And that’s important because what it does is it it says, “Hey, here’s where we are at as a community.
(2:24:16) here’s where we need to go and let’s make sure that our pathways are clear and achievable and it’s I think it’s I think it’s in that the pathways are they clear and achievable technology can have a significant impact on which pathway is going to be the most efficient and the most effective and so in doing that review and evaluation of the pathways that’s a really critical and important time to look at new and emerging technologies to make sure that we’ve got the best possible pathway forward.
(2:24:48) So I think um yeah at least in my in my view that will be a great opportunity for the city to do that work and ensure that future and emerging technologies are prop properly embedded uh in our climate action plan. >> I agree. Thank you. >> Thank you Jesse. I don’t see any further questions for you today. So thanks for your dele delegation.
(2:25:09) >> Thank you so much. Next up, we have Jim Thompson joining us in person today to speak regarding the amendments to council code of good governance and council staff relations policy co-4-26. Welcome, Jim. >> Hi. Okay. Um, I summarized this on a note. I’m going to make some additions to it as I go through, but basically this amend this proposed amendments overlooks the fact that both of these policies are out of date.
(2:25:49) They haven’t been reviewed since 2022. They were the staff relations policy was supposed to be reviewed in February of 2022 and the code of good governance was supposed to be reviewed in October of 2022. Uh in addition, the integrity commissioner report of June 2023 uh included the following. As part of our responsibilities as integrity integrity commissioner, we have suggested that the city of Burlington’s code of good governance be updated on the basis that the document lacks several best practicees provisions and contains no explanations,
(2:26:28) examples, or other commentary to assist the reader. We are encouraged that progress will be made under collaboration with the executive director of community relations and engagement. We encourage council to consider updating its code to a more robust version with better policy guidance to serve members of council and the public.
(2:26:52) Council has not acted on this uh advice. I would also like to point out that these policies are supposed to be um the okay, it’s the city clerk that is responsible for maintaining these policies up to date. And this this didn’t happen under the clerk two two clerks ago. It didn’t happen under the last clerk. and the new clerk is just in position.
(2:27:27) So, it’s time for staff to actually direct them to get the policies onto some sort of schedule for update because at this point in time, more than 50% of the corporate policies listed on the city website are past their review by date. It’s not just the clerks. Finance has policies that are out of date.
(2:27:51) I don’t know who else, but there are lots of policies that are out ofdate. Some of these policies have been under review for more than five years. This is a systemic failure of governance. Council should be able to rely on staff to bring these things forward at the appropriate time, but it’s not happening and council isn’t checking that their policies are being kept up to date.
(2:28:19) So suggesting minor reviews to these policies as amendments just doesn’t cut it. What that needs to happen for these policies is to have proper reviews of the policies and there’s a fundamental disconnect that needs to be fixed in that council needs to have a mechanism for ensuring that these policies are being updated in a timely manner as most of them claim to be stated in their policies that they need to be up to date.
(2:28:52) So this needs to happen and it needs to happen over a period of time because you can’t fix it all at once. You can’t review all the corporate policies this year. So there needs to be some sort of plan to have these brought up in a um scheduled manner so that it the the deficit is fixed over a period of time. With regards to the integrity commissioner portion of the motion, um it’s suggested that you need staff needs to be included in the code of good governance.
(2:29:30) But the actual um code of good governance only applies to council. Issues with staff are dealt with in house and that any appeal is to the ombbudsman not to the integrity commissioner. This is a fundamental um principle that of how you make complaints and it’s not being dealt with with this haphazard meth method of changing policies when we feel we need to not reviewing them properly and doing it in a thoughtful manner.
(2:30:06) Um so that concludes my presentation. If there are any questions, I’ll be happy to answer them. >> Thank you, Jim. You have a question coming from councelor Nissan. >> Hi, Jim. Uh, thank you for the delegation. Uh, I uh I’m going to have a motion circulating that actually touches on a lot of your aspects.
(2:30:27) So, um, but I wanted to make sure I I’ve got it. Um, so, uh, it’s not necessarily that you you’ve noted at least one issue of of staff, um, a direction to staff inside the the code. So, well done there. Um, otherwise, it’s not necessarily an issue with the with what’s coming forward so much as uh there’s broader reviews that need to occur of the code of good governance and uh, council staff uh, policies.
(2:31:01) Am I missing any? Uh, and of course, you’ve also noted that there’s a lot of policies that are simply out of date and we need a process for that. So, fair fair point. >> I’m going to say there’s one policy in there that I don’t think has been reviewed since 2012. >> There are a couple of policies that predate these count predate the 2018 election.
(2:31:21) These should have been routinely brought forward by a staff to council, >> but council needs to take responsibility for not governing staff. Fundamentally, when the clerk doesn’t do the job of bringing the stuff to council for review, council should be picking up on that. It shouldn’t take two years before somebody says, “Oh, we need to make a change to this policy.
(2:31:48) ” The policy should be reviewed. I’m going to say the code of good governance the mechanism for um the mechanism described for going to the integrity commissioner isn’t what happens the whole policy it doesn’t h hasn’t isn’t being followed it was changed somewhere along the way or it’s just not being followed >> okay >> um and it it’s not just that when I when I last look there are 77 policies on website.
(2:32:22) 44 of them were past the review by date. Some of them have been under review for years. >> Thank you. Thank you, Jim. And uh I would uh appreciate hearing back from you after committee to see if the work of of our committee has improved um improve the motion in your in your opinion. >> Okay. >> Uh just one second, one last question. It’s a relatively easy one.
(2:32:46) Have you seen or reviewed the region’s updated code of conduct for council? >> Uh, no I haven’t. And I I’m going to say it. Um, the province is looking at implementing a whole set of um procedures or they’re they’re looking at changing the code of conduct procedure, but that doesn’t mean to say the city shouldn’t have theirs up to date.
(2:33:10) There’s going to be a change from the province at some point. It was delayed because of the last election. Um, and I don’t keep up with the region. I have enough enough trouble trying to keep track of everything that happens in the city. >> All right, stop taking words out of my mouth. Thank you, Jim. Appreciate it.
(2:33:28) >> Uh, next question is from councelor Charman. >> So, I want to thank you for coming here and I certainly agree with your comment about the staff piece of it, which has to be changed today. There’s no doubt about that. Um, we’ll talk, you’ll hear more about that later as we get into the item.
(2:33:46) Um, with respect to the the bylaws and the all the other things that should be connected corrected and reviewed by staff, I don’t know that you would have seen and whether it’s public the list of of staff directions we write constant constantly and how few of them ever see the light of day. Did are you aware that we are to that we have a lot of backup on in terms of many of the things that council has said we want? >> Yes.
(2:34:13) And I’m going to say that I’m also aware that you requested a quarterly report on them and you didn’t do anything when you didn’t get it. You you weren’t getting quarterly reports for quite a while on the staff directions that were out of date. And this happens because because you’ve had such a changeover in your senior management and city clerks.
(2:34:38) there there is a failure of continuity. Um, one of one of the classics was your hotel on the lake. There was a staff direction to have it reviewed. It didn’t happen because it it fell between two councils. And this is this is a problem of staff. Uh, but c also council council doesn’t keep track by itself.
(2:35:10) it relies on staff and if staff doesn’t bring something forward um it’s as if it doesn’t exist. Good. So we agree on that. Thank you. Um the second question is with respect to um impact of of macro changes like co uh but also government Ontario regulations that cause things to change that kind of upheave or create an upheaval of the way in which we operate and in fact is the matter in front of us today.
(2:35:39) Um do you have any comments on on how we deal with that? you you generally tend to deal with stuff that the province mandates when when the province mandates it and it’s hard to deal with that any other way. But the ca the follow through effects of things like when you change the job titles of the city managers doesn’t doesn’t get c doesn’t get carried through because there’s no system systemic way of doing it.
(2:36:10) you’re when you don’t review your um council staff relations, the manager titles that are in that that relations policy aren’t the ones that are in effect now. And similarly in a lot of your procedures, the person responsible may be a different designated person. These things need to be reviewed to be kept up to date.
(2:36:39) And council is a is the governing body and you’re not doing your job when you’re not getting these things reviewed time in a timely manner. It’s >> tough to argue. Thank you. >> Thanks, Jim. I do not see any further questions for you. Thanks for your delegation today. Okay. Um, moving on. Uh, we’ll start with the consent agenda.
(2:37:09) We only have 10 minutes, but, uh, we’ll we’ll get through some of this. Um, sorry, mamm board, you have a question. Oh, you going to pull? Um, there’s six items on the agenda today. Uh, 7.1 is the 2026 Lakeshore Music and Arts Festival. Uh, event overview, CCS-01-26. Item 72, 2026 Halton Court Services Business Plan and Budget, LLS-06-26.
(2:37:37) Item 73, Burlington Climate Action Plan, taking action to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions, PWS01-26. 74 is the Reserve Fund request to strengthen municipal resilience, PWS0226. And item 75 is the heritage conservation agreement for 461 Elizabeth Street, the Knox Presbyterian Church, DGM-09-26. And item 7.
(2:38:08) 6, heritage conservation agreement for 2411 Lakeshore Road, DGM-10-26. A reminder that if you are just commenting on a consent item, there is no need to pull it. All members will be given the opportunity to comment prior to the committee vote. Any items pulled will be discussed at the beginning of their respective sections of the agenda.
(2:38:28) Does anyone have questions? I want to pull an item from the consent agenda. Mayor me Ward. >> Thank you, Chair. I’d like to pull item 7.1. I’m happy to move the balance uh that isn’t pulled. I see councelor Charman’s hand is up, but I’ll I’ll move whatever else doesn’t get pulled as well. Thanks. >> Okay.
(2:38:49) I uh Councelor Charman, >> thank you very much. I’d like to pull item 7.3. May I have a question on that item too? And I will second all the rest if we need to do that. >> Okay. Items 7.1 and 73 have been pulled and uh thank you for moving the rest of the agenda. Uh Mayor Me Ward uh before calling uh the vote to approve the consent agenda, would any member like to comment on an item? >> Mayor Meard.
(2:39:20) >> Thank you. Just a few uh comments uh with respect to the Halton court services. I’m always interested to get this uh report. Uh it is an example of uh collaboration and cooperation with area municipalities and the region. We deliver the service on their behalf through anou which is uh a great model. Um it is quite uh staggering to see the number of uh cases something like 60,000 coming uh and and the backlog that continues to exist.
(2:39:53) It’s actually great to see that the province has now uh after a lot of uh pressure uh filled a number of of the justice of the peace appointments which helps to clear out that backlog. But, you know, a serious amount of work remains to be done and I just want to thank all of our staff uh working under those circumstances and continuing to advocate for this.
(2:40:13) Uh I also want to mention the um the reserve fund request around the emergency services. Completely support uh that work being done and thank you uh Robin for bringing that forward. And then finally, the heritage conservation items. It is great to see uh designated properties taking advantage of the grant money that is available to help with the upkeep and I’m also glad to see that staff um will move that into the delegated authority section so that I guess this will be the last time we see these kind of reports although uh I do
(2:40:47) love to see what’s happening out in community. I agree this should be delegated to our staff. we’ve already approved the uh parameters of the program and the funding and uh they should be the ones administering in partnership with our heritage advisory committee. So I just wanted to make those comments and great work uh to all of our staff uh on all of these items.
(2:41:08) >> Uh councelor Nissan with comments. >> Thanks. Uh yes, the uh the second half of the mayor’s comments are exactly what I was thinking and uh and I’m sure we’ll get some reporting through the Heritage uh Heritage Burlington at least. Um, but it’s uh I’m glad it’s being approved that way.
(2:41:26) I want just want to note and appreciate the the two um applicants um who are working within the system and uh Knox Presbyterian as well. It’s a it’s an amazing building and I know there were some concerns in the past about uh designating that building. So, uh, I’m really glad that there’s an application here and hope it gets approved and, uh, hopefully more applications in the future to help, uh, preserve, uh, such a great, uh, building.
(2:41:54) We have a $176,000 in the Heritage Reserve Fund, uh, partially to help with these, uh, grants. So, uh, please apply. Thanks. Seeing no further comments, I will now call the vote on the balance of the consent agenda. Um, all those in favor? Any opposed? And that carries. Um, so now moving into regular items. Um, the corporate and community services items.
(2:42:31) We will now uh go to the first pulled item which is item 7.1. Um, we have time for this item. or do you want to break now? >> She has a Yeah. So, uh this will probably take some time, so we should probably uh we’ll just break now for lunch and come back at 1:00 for closed. Um before we go for lunch, uh in our confidential items, uh can we just list what people want to go into closed for? So, we have uh one, two, three, five items. Item 9.
(2:43:06) 1 is the confidential triannual litigation update report LLS-01-26. Angelo want you want to go in and Paul. Okay. So we’ll go in for that one. 92 is the confidential status report on the contingency reserve. FIN-02-26. Anyone want to go in for that? >> Nope. Uh 9.3 confidential report regarding the Halton District School Board Lands DGM-08-26.
(2:43:36) Yes to that. Item 9.4, real estate matter. Anybody want to go in for that? Yes. Yes. Item 9.5, confidential legal advice regarding Lakeshore Music and Arts Festival. Yes. So, everything except for 92. You got it. >> Okay. >> Uh, we will now take a break and come back at 1. Thanks everyone. Okay, welcome back everybody. Um, the
(3:50:16) committee of the whole is proceeding into close session in accordance with the following provisions under the municipal act pursuant to section 2392E litigation or potential litigation including matters before an administrative tribunals affecting the municipality or local board regarding item 9.1 and pursuant to section 29 2392C a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board regarding items 9.
(3:50:47) 3 and 9.4 and pursuant to section 2392F advice that is subject to solicitor client privilege including communications necessary for the purpose regarding item 9.5. Can I have a mover for the motion please? Mayor meard. Thank you. I will now call the vote. All those in favor? Any opposed? And that carries >> pass Okay, welcome back everybody. Um, we
(6:03:47) will rise and report. Um, in closed session, committee discussed and provided instructions to staff on the following items. 9.1 Confidential triannual litigation update report LLS-0126 9.3 Confidential report regarding Halton District School Board Lands DGM-08-26 9.4 Four, Confidential Real Estate Matter, LLS-05-26.
(6:04:18) 9.5, Confidential Legal Advice Regarding Lakeshore Music and Arts Festival, LLS-10-26. Item 9.2, Confidential Status Report on the Contingency Reserve, December 31st, 2025, FIN2-26 was not discussed in close session, so we will deal with it now. Uh, can I have a mover for the receive of information motion for this report? Mary Ward. Thank you.
(6:04:49) And now I will call the vote call the vote for the receive of information. All those in favor? Any opposed? And that carries. That brings us to the end of the confidential items. And now we will return to our regular agenda. Starting with uh the community and corporate services um item 7.1 which was the pulled item from the consent agenda.
(6:05:19) The 2026 Lakeshore music and arts festival event overview CCS-01-26. I believe you pulled it Ward. Um, I’m sorry. >> Yes, I did pull it. Um, my question is around the uh the parade and the ability for us uh so I I get that MRG does not want to do the parade. Uh and and that’s totally fine. I I think we can keep it clean, but uh there is because they are not eligible for the funding that we set aside, the 150, because they’re a forprofit.
(6:06:05) Um there is a little bit of of of money. We wouldn’t need anywhere near that for a parade. Um, but I’m just wondering if uh if staff could undertake to uh I’m not going to suggest run it, but I think there are a number of community organizations that may be willing to step forward and deliver that for us as a as a partnership or an add-on to the parade.
(6:06:29) Uh, and we’ve got some uh ability to provide some funding for that should a should a partner step forward. So, uh, somebody like Alliance uh has doing been doing great work. Paul, I’m looking at you. Uh, you know, Rotary might might be interested. They do festivals. Even the folks that deliver this, the Santa Claus parade for us, it’s it’s just such a a critical part of our heritage.
(6:06:55) And I did hear the uh the the folks at MRG saying they are trying to brand their own festival. And I absolutely uh get that. And so I’m I’m not asking them uh to to deliver this, but I think it could be a neat add-on. So, uh, what can you tell us about what we could do? And I do have a a motion to try my hand at whether we can get, uh, council to at least explore the options >> through you, chair.
(6:07:22) I’ll start um just by saying that um we do understand that this has been something that um some folks have wanted to see happen and given the shortened timeline for uh this year’s event and the um reduced amount of days for the festival, it isn’t something um as you can see stated from MRG that was something we were going to be a or they were going to be able to deliver.
(6:07:51) Um I would like to have um the director of uh recreation, community and culture, Emily Cotay uh as well as uh manager Kim if she wants to add some uh context around what this would look like and sort of the rationale around why this is something that was not going to be um what did not look feasible anyway for 2026. >> Thanks Jackie um through the chair to the mayor. Thank you for the question.
(6:08:15) Uh to reiterate kind of what Jackie said, uh the runway for a parade is around a year. So that is typically the runway time that it takes to book bands, do all the logistics. So given the short runway to for MRG, that was also kind of why it wasn’t possible for them. Um given a lot of the new factors that are coming in this year as well, um that’s also was part of the discussion.
(6:08:38) And I just also wanted to point council back to the survey that we also did with the community back when we went out for a new provider. We asked folks to highlight themes and things that were imported for them. Parade didn’t show up as one of the items. So, that was surprising to us. So, I just did want to flag that.
(6:08:53) We’re of course at the mercy of council and the community. Um, in terms of if we were to go forward to run something, our preference would be to have a longer runway. So, to look at 2027, that would be our preference. We’ve have had conversations with certain folks already. I mentioned last time we were here around the Burlington Teen Door Band alumni.
(6:09:12) they have um expressed interest in doing something, especially with the next year being a larger anniversary for the band. That said, if uh 2026 is really where we want to head to, we would need in the upwards of 50 to $60,000 to put that together. Um even if we were to look to a service club to do that, there is a large aspect of logistics that would fall on our team.
(6:09:35) um regarding to the road closures, all the planning as well as the uh going back and forth with MRG to make sure that the logistics really fits well with their event plan. Um hoping that answers your question. >> Yeah. And can you uh um kind of walk us through what would be in there because I’m I’m thinking, you know, a couple of grand for pay duty to close the road.
(6:09:57) So, how does it get up to 50 or 60,000? and is there a way to trim those expenses? >> Uh, thank you for the question, mayor, through the chair to you. Um, the 50k is really around all the logistics behind the road closure. It includes vehicle mitigation. Um, it includes uh there’s also honorariums that go out to all the bands. So, that’s a part of that.
(6:10:22) There is staffing cost. There’s police costs. Um, I’ll look to Kim if there’s pieces that I’m missing attached to that. Uh marketing, communications would be the only >> marketing and communication as well. Um that’s been typically the the budget that our prior vendor had worked with as well.
(6:10:41) Um this year too because the actual road closure is still being finalized. So depending on what that road closure looks like, if we’re looking at a completely different parade route, the cost could go up from that as well. >> Okay, I’ll have more questions, but I’ll get back in line. Thank you, >> councelor Bentovena. >> I actually was going to comment on the mayor’s proposal.
(6:11:10) >> Um well, just in questions on the report first. So, we’ll go with councelor Nissan. >> Yeah. Uh just confirm, thank you, sir. Uh just confirming that they are going at with the for-profit model for this year then >> that’s correct counselor. They were exploring a not for-p profofit arm but just due to the runway they weren’t able to make it happen for this year.
(6:11:34) >> So uh it’s the it hasn’t been the door hasn’t been closed for future years. >> That’s correct. >> Okay. Thank you. Sounds great. >> Mayor me Ward. >> Yeah. just around uh I I recall actually taking that survey myself and I don’t think we asked at at all about the parade so it it wouldn’t have come up but I I can tell you that on Jul June whatever it is 18th when we show up and there’s no parade I can guarantee you’re going to hear about it we won’t be able to do about anything about it then so you didn’t ask uh the survey didn’t ask
(6:12:10) at all about the parade so it was just silent on that matter >> correct thank you for the correction yeah we it wasn’t specifically asked Right. Okay. So, we we really don’t have a line of sight in the community unless we were to do another survey and ask them how important that was. Um, and then my next question is around I I was surprised to hear about uh that we pay the bands on Aarium.
(6:12:33) I uh for some reason I always thought uh people had to pay to be afloat in it was like a fun like it was the other way around like a revenue generator not an honorarium. So, um, is there a way to, uh, at least for this year, say, “Hey, anybody that wants to participate and has a band, you’re you’re welcome, but we’re not paying you to be there, and uh, maybe you can contribute to the cost of the if we need them to.
(6:12:57) ” Uh, but I think we’ve got some funding to to close the streets. And I I know that it’s nowhere near 50 grand for for pay duty officers to close a street. That it’s it’s it’d be less than 5,000, I would guess, >> for sure. Thank you, Mayor. uh through the chair. Back to you to earlier earlier question. We absolutely could do a scaled down version.
(6:13:18) Um you know and and what that looks like. We’d have to we have to look at it for sure. Um different definitely the the runway to book bands too is is smaller. So um we’d have to see who’s available for sure. Um but that definitely could be something if if that’s the the will of council and we could look at different funding models for sure.
(6:13:34) >> Terrific. Thank you, >> Councelor Benignya. with the comments now or >> uh what are you commenting on? >> Unless somebody else has other questions. >> Commenting on the report or the mayor’s proposal? She hasn’t put it proposal. >> Okay. She hasn’t put it forward yet. So, I just want to wait until she puts it forward.
(6:14:03) Are you going to put it forward now, Marian? Okay. >> Yeah. So, uh, first of all, thank you to staff for helping with the wording, and I’m not suggesting that you agree. Uh, it’s just always helpful to have some wording in advance. So, we do have that circulated with the clerk. And this is, uh, this is pretty flexible.
(6:14:21) It’s pretty wide open. It’s to explore opportunities for a parade in conjunction with. So, uh, not saying that MRG, uh, needs to run it. They, uh, they’ve made it clear that they don’t have the bandwidth, which is totally fine. There might be a community group that could run it. and uh and we don’t know what the costs are.
(6:14:38) Um I personally don’t think we need to pay honorarium for people to participate. I think we put a call out and say who wants to participate. Um I’ll you know I I I think this is an important part of our uh of our music heritage and history, our marching band uh history and this is an opportunity to showcase it.
(6:15:01) I don’t think it competes with the with the rebranding of Lakeside. I think it can complement and I think there is opportunities. Uh even what Paul suggested to have the you know the teen tour band go down the prominade. Uh but I I think we need to uh provide some direction and uh come to ground. I may be a lone voice here which is fine but I need to speak for what I think the community wants.
(6:15:24) Uh we didn’t ask them. Uh but I do know that anytime there’s a change to parades uh we got it at the Santa Claus parade. uh people feel feel very passionately and they will reach out and ask us to to fix it and to make sure there’s participation and I want to get ahead of this early. Uh if council doesn’t want to go there, that’s that’s totally fine.
(6:15:44) Um uh but I I think it’s really important to to do this. So, uh this is here for council’s consideration. I think it gives you the flexibility you need and and you’ve certainly got some funding you can use as well. >> Okay. Uh, I’ll let councelor Benavvenu go because he’s been so eager to speak to this. So, I’ll let him go.
(6:16:05) >> I’ll let him go first. >> Thanks. I’m anxious to get uh first of all um I I still want to talk say that MRG uh with his debate with his delegation did an absolutely incredible job. I don’t know about you guys, but I got a little excited about some of the things that that he was proposing and and the Brand Street scenario uh tree.
(6:16:33) I mean, it was just unbelievable. So, I I I’m concerned about us making some decisions outside of the MRG concept. We did discuss the parade with with him and and he he said he just didn’t know enough about it for the financing side of it. Um he doesn’t have enough time. And I know we we’re talking about someone else doing it, but when someone else does something that I’m doing in the big picture, I don’t want it to to to sort of mix up what I’m doing and what they’re doing um and so on.
(6:17:12) But I look at it from a business standpoint. When you take over a business, it’s a new business. It’s new ideas, new excitement, and a new look. And that’s what we need to evaluate on. And he did say he would look at the following year 2027 of doing something what that may be. you know, his version of a pre whatever uh music festival.
(6:17:44) Uh I’m looking forward to that. If his presentation was exciting, I want to hear his excitement about what he wants to do in 2027. So, I I I have difficulty getting another organization and then the financing is going to be a whole another issue. we’re going to have to, you know, beg and borrow money from staff to say, “Can you eliminate this or can you eliminate that when we could use that favor somewhere else down the road?” Just my opinion.
(6:18:18) Um, I know we all want it to do well. Uh, so do I. And we all have a great ideas, but it’s just uh I just think we look like we got a good operator and I think we should let him run with it. Thank you, >> Councelor Charman. >> Wow. Having had the team tour band come out for the last 14 years on Applebe Line Street Festival, I can tell you, you talk about excitement and professionalism, we have it all in Applebe Line Street Festival.
(6:18:52) Um, so couple that with MRG, who I think are also fabulous and professional and know exactly what they’re doing. Um, that that um, you know, I think I think the possibility the combination could be phenomenal. Um I I kind of take to heart you know the the question of would there be an overlap? Would they feel like we’re interfering with their flexibility and the logistics on the day? Clearly that would have to be a discussion to be had but you know he responded to the question is the prominard going to be used was no
(6:19:24) and and I don’t know about closing roads because I don’t know which part of the prominard would close. So so my question is why not talk about it? Let’s see what we can do. I the question is is the team tour ban taken on the on the Saturday morning. >> Uh through the chair to you counselor. No.
(6:19:46) Um I think we heard Adam this morning indicate that they would love to incorporate the band in some way, shape or form. Um so that’s already underway. Um but I think we’re talking about a little bit more than that with a parade discussion now. Yeah. >> Right. So we party we we’d love to be part of that. So why not just proceed with the uh with the amendment here? the motion.
(6:20:06) Thank you, >> Councelor Nissan. >> Yeah. So, uh do we know uh can we estimate what the approximate attendance of the uh parade is ideally in comparison with the Santa Claus parade? >> Uh through you to counselor through the chair to you. I’m not sure we have those data because we didn’t run the parade and we did that ground level insights last year um in in collaboration with BDT.
(6:20:39) I don’t think we had specific um details around attendance for the parade attached to that. >> I would be uh try to get a feel for that. Um so the the memo or actually I should say and your email said it’s not possible to do it this year. So, is that the case? I mean, if you said it, but go into some more detail about why you couldn’t and what it would take to somehow pull this off.
(6:21:08) >> Uh, through the chair to you, counselor. Um, anything is possible. If you if you asked me last year if we’d be able to find a successful vendor um to deliver a festival here, um, I don’t know if we’d be here, and we are. So, anything is possible for sure. Um I mean certainly when staff are asked about our our best decision um our best recommendation um you know just given the resources and everything else we have going on in June um but we could do it to your question.
(6:21:36) >> Okay. Uh well chair I’m I’m open to exploring it more for 2027 rather than uh trying to make something work for this year. Uh that being said, uh we’re talking about significant amount of funding and I would rather uh at least explore where else that funding could be used in the community um at least on a one-year basis or going forward from there.
(6:22:04) So um there’s a lot of good we can do with that uh with that money. And uh it’s at this time it’s too it’s very challenging to to know because we haven’t surveyed it and we don’t know the numbers um whether this is an event that delivers on a per dollar basis. Um so that’s the challenge but I I would be open to looking into it for future years.
(6:22:26) Seems very hard to pull off for 2026. Um very hard on the staff. So thank you. >> Councelor Stoalty is next. >> Thank you chair. Um, I’m definitely in support of this motion. I would love to hear more about this. This is apparently my day for talking about rumblings in the community and there have absolutely been rumblings of a group of volunteers who may or may not have a space to participate in the Lakeside Music and Arts Festival who would very much like to put their efforts towards maintaining the parade and keeping it from
(6:22:58) disappearing. So, I don’t think it will take a ton of money and I think we have a very engaged community who would like to assist staff and get that going. So, I’d like to hear more about it. >> Just going to add my two cents. Um, I only heard about this parade for the first time last week when the mayor told me about it.
(6:23:20) Uh, wasn’t aware that that we started out as a parade sound of music. So, um, I just I find it challenging to uh to put this together after hearing uh staff for 2026. I I I can definitely support having a look at it for 2027, but uh I’m having a hard time with uh looking at it this year. So, I I think I’m going to pass on it. But uh back to councelor Nissan.
(6:23:47) Yeah, I’m actually wondering uh whether this uh amendment is necessary to uh potentially achieve the goals as noted particularly like councelor Sultty because she’s mentioning that there might be community partners interested. So my question to to you Emily and the team would be if they came forward if a community party came forward with an interest in doing a road closure.
(6:24:15) We have a road closure fund and doing a road closure to do a parade. Um you would evaluate that in the context of others and and we have the kinds of um funding envelopes that could contribute to that. So, uh, if we do we need this amendment to allow that and then, you know, they’ll have their own budget and whether it’s the, um, you know, one of the clubs or otherwise, I’m not sure who’s interested, but give them a if they came forward, we could look at that, right? Is there anything like whether we approve this motion or not?
(6:24:49) Um, it’s just whether we do the exploring or whether the community does the exploring with us. I think we need a partner. I don’t think it works without a partner. And uh I like the optimism that there might be one. I haven’t heard it myself, but uh I’d rather let the community try if they want to.
(6:25:05) So would that work potentially? >> Uh through the chair to you, councelor Nissan. Yeah, for sure. I think I read this amendment as us being a little bit more proactive and getting out there and and soliciting interest and seeing if we can find someone. We have heard rumblings, council. um and we’ve heard groups and you know but um so we we would be a little bit more aggressive in in that uh in that approach if this amendment were to go forward.
(6:25:30) >> Okay. Uh I see some hands. Uh as I hear that I will think about whether I might like to um bring that forward as well. Maybe amendment to the amendment. Thank you. >> Uh councelor Benvvena. >> Thank you chair. Um, I guess, you know, we’re talking about the city operating it now. We’re talking maybe a partnership um, opportunity.
(6:25:58) Again, you know, without me saying, which I usually say, we’re getting in the weeds. Um, I’m going to ask staff either way, whether we find a partner who’s going to do this or whether we do it internally, your staff, how much time does it take to to organize something like that? Staff time in terms of even the questions that I if it was me, I I’d have to come to staff say, “Hey, what about this and what about that and what about like like how much staff time we talk here?” Like that we could be doing something more productive. I should say
(6:26:31) that something that is more within our our means. >> Yeah, sure. Through the chair to counselor. Um, for example, I am working on the Santa Claus parade criteria right now with my team for this year. And so you establish criteria, you do call out to the community who wants to be involved, you start gathering all the different groups too, right? So when you look at a parade, it’s not just about everybody joining.
(6:27:01) It’s where can I put dance groups, where can we put a float, where can we do this sequencing in the flow and then the overall safety too, right? So when we look at those pieces, there’s significant time because you do a call out, then you try to understand how much interest there is and how much can we accept.
(6:27:17) We always try to accept everybody. So that’s several hours just even doing the call out and managing all of the different applications that come in. Then you meet with HRPS and everybody else and you start talking about the flow and what flows best together. And then you start talking about the road closures, the mitigation, where police are needed versus where volunteers can be used because not volunteers can’t be used in every position within a parade.
(6:27:43) Um, and so you start going through all those aspects. So it’s resources not just from staff but from our HRPS team as well. Um, as well as our transportation and we also have safeguard as our traffic control company. So, I think there’d just be a lot of logistics involved in trying to meet MRG’s street festival road closure and then where the best route could be.
(6:28:02) Obviously, when you can use an existing route, there’s some efficiency there, but I just can’t confirm that we’d be able to do that. >> Yeah, >> thank you for that. And I just mentioned that because I know what they do for my groups with the live at the Apollo time wise. Uh my second um question we there was a question asked about size of the comparing Santa Claus parade crowd versus the Santa music parade.
(6:28:33) Uh I don’t know about you guys. I’ve been involved in the parade and the question was asked how big is it? So if we’re asking that question that means we haven’t been there. >> So Is it a big crowd? I’ll be honest. I, like I said, I’ve been No, >> we don’t have lineups of people going, you know, whatever. There are people within the organization that are helping.
(6:29:03) Uh, obviously the uh last year we had uh uh old vehicles from different companies, their company. It was an advertising thing more so than anything else for some some organization. So, I’m I’m just cautioning. We have six months before this this organization gets going and we should be helping them do what they want to do. I I I’m going to open my door to say, “Hey, come and see me.
(6:29:32) If you need help from me, I I do anything I can.” So, anyways, again, thank you, >> Council Charman. Well, I I I I had not realized that the team tour band sound abuse parade was anything other than the prominade. What happens if for this year we just did the prominard? No road closures, nothing. They get out of their cars right there at the west end of the park.
(6:30:06) They congregate. a march down the prominard and how much money is all that >> through the chair to councelor Charman. I think what we’re trying to say with with being politically correct as conversations are still happening with MRG because they’ve been running is like something like that is being planned. >> Okay. Thank you. Let’s do that.
(6:30:31) >> Councelor Stalty, >> thank you. I think councelor Sharma’s mind was blown there when we talked there a little bit about the extent of the parade historically. >> Why would you do all that? >> Cuz it’s been done for how many years? A long time. A long time. Okay. Um I guess how I’m feeling though is that I’m just I’m questioning that the conversation is kind of sounding.
(6:30:56) It’s coming across as though there’s a lot of logistics to figure out a parade. But how many years has this parade been operating for? 40 45 years. So the logistics are there. We know exactly what needs to happen, especially if the parade route is the same. So if we have a community group coming forward, it’s about helping them to understand logistics that have been in place for 45 years.
(6:31:20) So I would still like to seriously see if the community groups coming forward have the capacity to fill in 90% of the blanks that will require only 10% of staff’s time to guide them or give them a little booklet as in this is how it’s been done for 45 years. This is what you need to let us know and see if we can make that happen.
(6:31:38) I I and an answer to councelor Nissan’s question, this is by no means data, but having thoroughly enjoyed the Sound of Music parade and the Santa Claus parade for decades, they’re attended similarly, especially given the fact that the Sound of Music parade is usually in what’s considered better weather than the Santa Claus parade.
(6:32:03) >> Mayor Mewart, >> uh, thank you. Yeah, I it’s it is very well attended and uh and and your inboxes will be filling up if it if it doesn’t happen. I can tell you that. Now uh we have actually a lovely picture of um Tekashi Sakamoto in a open air vehicle. They came one year uh our twin city from Midabashi, Japan during sound of music festival and uh that’s one of our legacy uh historical pieces from our twin city relationship.
(6:32:34) They were just uh tickled uh pink to participate in that parade. And uh I I personally think that uh I agree with councelor Stoalty. This we have parade in a box. We have residents that are able to do this. Uh but unless we put some kind of uh call out or proactive, if we just sit back and wait for people to wonder if the city wants to do it, wonder if there’s a possibility, wonder if there’s even money, we can actually be uh more helpful to our residents to say, “Actually, there’s all that.
(6:33:06) So, let’s let’s just see. Here’s a call out, not a not an RFQ or an RFP or any of that stuff.” Uh but I think when you said uh you know in terms of predictability if uh you had thought we would been here with a brand new uh vendor we wouldn’t we wouldn’t be here if if council didn’t push a little to say we think you can do it. We think the community can do it.
(6:33:28) So let’s run a run something up the flag pole so to speak and see what comes back. And uh I I have every confidence just as I did when we asked if there was a new vendor that we’d get one. Uh, I didn’t know it was going to be them, but wow. Uh, I have every confidence that that we’ll land this.
(6:33:46) And, uh, for me it’s do we do a parade or not? Uh, the logistics sort themselves out. If council wants a parade, I think we have to do this direction. If you don’t, that’s okay. Um, I’m going to send all the emails to you because I’m going to say I really tried to keep this alive and uh, and we had money on the table to do it.
(6:34:08) uh you know, t talk to the ones that didn’t support it and uh and we’ll see. I I think we can sort all of this out. Uh honestly, let’s not make it a bigger deal than than uh than it is. We’re good at this and and we can figure it out and I think the community will benefit uh from it. And uh and I think MRG actually when I asked them the question directly, they’re not opposed to this at all.
(6:34:30) They just don’t want it to be part of what they’re doing, which is totally fine. We don’t need them to do it. We got other folks that can do it. uh and they’re already uh looking at potentially uh thinking about it for 2027. We don’t need to direct that today, but we do need to direct it if we want to keep it alive for 2026 and have that continuity.
(6:34:46) So, uh the motion stays and we’ll see uh where the votes are. Thanks, >> Council Nissan. >> Yeah, I have an amendment to the uh to the amendment uh as discussed. So, let’s give it a quick shot here. Just drafted it up, chair, but uh Suzanne has it. So, I’m trying to thread the needle uh and put the community in the driver’s seat and let them come to us because staff are clear that they that it’s not going to get delivered this year, that it’s asking too much and they have other events that they need to deliver as well. So, I don’t think it’s uh it’s
(6:35:19) fair to say that, oh, we could have done it, but we didn’t. uh this this is coming together quite late and uh you know I’m open to 2027 but for 2026 this is what I would suggest and would let staff uh figure out how to communicate this to the community how the best way to do it you know whether it’s a press release or otherwise reach out to groups uh but the idea is to to be available to support a communitydriven parade Oh, so yeah, that would be my amendment.
(6:36:00) I can obviously goes without saying support this, but have a harder time supporting the one that came before it. Thanks. >> Okay. Couple speakers. Uh, Mayor Mewart. >> Yeah, that I’m fine with this. That that was the intent of exploring opportunities. So, it’s just a different way of saying the same thing in in my mind.
(6:36:23) Um, I’m just wanting to clarify that part of this would be making some funding available. Uh, if if they don’t think there’s funding available, we’re not going to get anybody. Um, so do you need additional direction on uh making funding available from the pool that was already set aside for the the Lakeside Festival that is not being drawn upon? >> Uh, thank you, mayor.
(6:36:44) I would suggest we add that in there to say to be funded from the community investment reserve fund. Okay. I will make that further. Uh >> sorry. Yes. >> If you’re good with that, I’m good with that. >> I I’m good with that. Okay. So, we’ll amend the >> uh and it’s not really an amendment to to the amendment, but it’s a it >> that’s okay.
(6:37:06) That’s fine. Thank you so much. Uh, Councelor Benta. >> Okay, just my last word on this. Uh, I I will not be supporting this. Um, again, um, I just see some red flags here because we got Lakeside Music and Art Festival in this motion in this amendment, which means we’re involving them into this program.
(6:37:34) And then we’re wide open uh to be funded. Uh what are we $1,000, $100,000, $200,000? I you know, we should put at least an amount. I’m not going to support either way, but uh that’s pretty open-ended uh community investment fund monies. Uh again, we’re just getting in the weeds and we need I I don’t think that that’s our job here.
(6:38:02) We we got a we have a report and that’s what we’re going to uh discuss. Thank you, >> Councelor Stalty. >> Thank you. I’m actually really pleased to see this amendment. It’s something that I was considering bringing forward if Councelor Nissan had not. I think it exactly words what we’re hoping to do, which is to support a communitydriven parade.
(6:38:21) I think the funding should be available. And to tell you the truth, given what we heard from our delegate this morning from MRG, I think they might actually be quite pleased to know that they’re off the hook for planning future parades cuz I don’t think they’re in the parade business. >> Councelor Nissan. >> Yeah, sorry.
(6:38:39) I just want to clean something up here. Uh hoping everyone would be okay. to remove in conjunction with and uh replace it with at the same time as uh at least. Yeah, because that that’s just better wording. I think it wasn’t that was more my intention. Hopefully that’s all right. Yeah. >> Put it >> at least uh get them h get uh then we don’t really need June necessarily.
(6:39:04) I don’t know how to what extent that’s in stone in public or whatever. So, uh, we could probably remove in June and otherwise it’s Yeah, it’s perfect. Suzanne, just remove in June and then instead it’s at the same time as that was where I was trying to go. Thanks for the uh sausage making support. If you could remove in June as well, just in case it doesn’t I I don’t know if it’s the date set or not.
(6:39:30) So, >> yeah, I don’t know what’s what’s the Saturday of the that weekend. >> Okay. Well, either way, it’s redundant, so we can remove >> I I just have a question for staff. Um would a prayed in any form, any shape or form, uh no matter who’s coming forward or who’s running it, add additional workload to you for um supporting the Sound of Music or the MRG Live uh festival >> uh through you councelor Galbirth.
(6:40:06) Yes, I will. >> Okay. Councelor Stoalty. >> Thank you. Just to clarify that, would it bring any additional work that you haven’t already been doing over the last 45 years? >> Uh through the chair to you, councelor Stolte. I think to clarify, um so even though yes, we have a rinse and repeat, the road closure might have to look different pending on MRG’s vision, which they’re still kind of finalizing.
(6:40:36) So that’s pending. and if if we can just kind of take the plans we had before for road closures and just implement so that’s would be the best case scenario. Uh it’s not just our team it’s transportation and others. So to to answer your question probably not probably to the same amount it’s a little different just because things are a little bit new. Um yeah thank you.
(6:40:59) >> Okay. Uh seeing no further comments, I will now call the vote on the the amendment to the amendment. Um all those in favor? Any opposed? And that carries. Um >> now back to the amendment as amended. Amendment has amendment. Uh all those in favor and any opposed and that carries >> and then the main motion >> and then the main motion as amend as amended.
(6:41:54) You going to put that up on the screen or Okay. Main motion as amended. Uh all those in favor >> receive and file. Any opposed? And that carries. Okay. Um, now moving on to item item 8.1 uh amendment to procedure bylaw 59-2024 to provide clarity on member speaking time and questions LIS-07-26. Are there any questions of staff? There’s a mover.
(6:42:48) >> The staff. >> Okay. No questions. Can somebody move the motion, please? Mayor Made Ward. Thank you. Any comments? >> Sorry. Sorry. I was confused there. >> I know. Sorry. I was still stuck on the other one. >> Do you have comments? >> Point of order. Could I just ask a quick question? >> Sure.
(6:43:11) I’m I was not clear on how the vote went on the last one. I’m not questioning the vote. I just need like pure clarity on So the amendment to the amendment failed. >> No, >> the amendment to the amendment passed. I’m sorry. I was mistaken. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Thank you. Moving on. >> Oh, stop distracting her. >> She was distracting me. >> Okay. Okay. So, we are now on item 8.
(6:43:35) 1 uh the amendment to the procedure bylaw. And we are on questions or comments. Uh I didn’t see any questions, so we’re at comments. Councilor Stoalta, you have a comment? >> I will. Thank you. Um I just want to thank staff. >> Sorry, just can you move it first? >> I’ll move it >> and then comment. >> Thank you.
(6:43:52) I just want to thank staff for the little bit of clarity they provided to this and hopefully it brings clarity to all of us which we have needed over the last uh probably five or six months of committee meet and council meetings. So I look forward to support on that and thank you again to staff. Councelor Bentovena. >> Um I just want to thank staff.
(6:44:13) Um the improvements uh I’ve actually have personally uh been approached by by families uh who uh who’ve appreciated all of these improvements that um have been the uptake has been taken up. Um and um it’s good work and I Hold on. >> We’re talking about the recreation fee. Sorry. Okay. I’m >> I’m on the wrong families approach you by the procedure by law.
(6:44:46) >> Oh, the legislative stuff. Okay. >> I go back, man. Oh, man. Oh, man. >> I don’t see any further comments. So, I’ll now call the vote uh on the following motion to enact a bylaw to amend the procedure bylaw 59-2024 substantially attached as appendix A to the legislative services report LLS-07-26. All those in favor? Any opposed? And that carries.
(6:45:23) Okay. Now, we are at item 8.2, to the recreation fee assistance program improvements 2025 CCS-02-26. Are there any questions of staff? Councelor Nissan. >> Yeah, I just I asked this to be pulled from the CIP really so that particularly I wanted the public to see this uh make sure that they saw it as well as ourselves because it shows some really good uh impacts.
(6:45:48) So I was just going to ask if staff could uh summarize those results in a minute or two and then we go on from there. Thank you. Thanks for that opportunity. Uh through your chair, I’d like to call back up Emily Cotay because she’d be able to speak to that. >> Uh thank you for the opportunity councelor Nissan and uh through the chair back to you.
(6:46:22) Um so my team had been is in charge of our fee assistance program which is really the opportunity for the community to uh provide um to apply for fee assistance which will grant them opportunities to take part in recreation and community and culture opportunities. So over the last couple of years um the team realized that really the pot of money that we had had been underutilized and we know that there’s a greater need in the community.
(6:46:45) So the team took it upon themselves um to look at ways best practices and look at ways to really improve so that we can remove the stigma allow um opportunities for folks to really partake and look at really streamlining the process. And so that’s what you have before you. You’ve seen a huge uptake in 2025 where we had 167 families supported, 310 um individuals supported.
(6:47:10) Um our most prop popular programs were camps, children and youth swimming lessons, recreation swim yearly passes. Um lots of changes have taken place um around having a sliding scale support allowing seasonal allocation so people can have seasonal support. Uh enhanced summer camp usage. In the past we had limits of two weeks of camp for subsidy and now we have the full camp full week full summer um available.
(6:47:36) two-year approval cycle such that folks which is in line with best practices such as folks could um have the opportunity to apply once and and be eligible for two years. So these are some of the changes that we’ve put in place and we’ve seen a really positive uptake from the community. So thank you for bringing it forward. >> Yeah, thank you.
(6:47:53) Do you advertise this in the community centers and and swimming pools and so on? >> Yes, we do. >> Awesome. Thanks. Great job. Great job to the team. Can I have uh Oh, Mary Dward. Okay. You going to move it? I >> was going to move it and speak to it. Yeah, >> sure. Go ahead. >> Okay. Yeah. Uh this this is uh outstanding.
(6:48:19) Thank you actually for um reviewing the program and for providing more people in our community with assistance. That means more people can be included, more kids can learn, and uh we’re doing even more to help with affordability. So, this is a really good news story and uh let’s let’s ceue up a press release so everyone knows that it’s there and can take advantage of it.
(6:48:41) This is uh this is outstanding work. Thank you so much, >> Councelor Bentya. >> Am I on now? >> This is the right item. Yeah. >> Uh I’ll just say briefly, um I’m quite impressed. I I do some uh volunteer work with with Special Olympics and I know some families there have taken advantage over over the last little while and there’s a number of uh two faith groups that I that I’m aware of who uh work with um um a lot of single families uh and so on and so forth and they’ve taken advantage of it.
(6:49:16) They actually advertise it uh in their church, Grace Church in their bulletins. So great work. um it’s something that uh we don’t want to keep it as our bestkept secret. So if we got our newsletters, we can certainly do help promote this kind of uh information. So thank you very much for that. >> Okay.
(6:49:38) I’m now going to call the vote on the following motion. Receive for information community services memo CS-02-26 regarding recreation fee assistance program improvements 2025. All those in favor? Any opposed? And that carries. Moving on to 8.3 motion memorandum regarding the city of Burlington leaving X social media. C AW CO-05-26. Councelor Nissan, would you like to move the motion and speak to it? >> Yeah, sure. Thank you.
(6:50:17) Uh so I’m sure many of you have seen in the news how this platform has uh gone downhill since the uh since the ownership change. Um, I think that uh there’s an opportunity for leadership here by Burlington because I think that any government should be looking to get off this platform and find reasonable alternatives and there are many alternatives whether it’s in that sort of same sort of micro site format or uh through other platforms that have seen uh increases.
(6:50:53) There’s lots of uh new platforms out there or ones that are getting more popular like Substack for example. And by the way, I’m not saying that the other uh platforms are all fantastic and and worthy of support, but X has really gotten beyond the pale uh with how uh its AI can be used uh for basically abusive content um sexist um harassing content, anti-semitic uh views that are just beyond the pale uh from the owner as well.
(6:51:26) So finally my analysis uh would be that it’s very rarely used very very very little actually uh penetration into into the city of Burlington now much less than it used to be often with just one or two likes on their on the posts and I know that there is also the question of sort of views um but a view can be easily manipulated um and uh can often be misleading.
(6:51:54) That being said, this is not a request to get off Twitter um as for council. It’s a request to get a report back as per our procedure bylaw which calls for that um in any in every case of a motion uh memorandum seeking a change in policy. So that’s exactly uh what I’m doing here.
(6:52:13) If uh it’s a two-step, guys, so if if you’re okay with at least getting a report back, that’s all we have to deal with today. And full agenda, move on to the next one. Thank you. Thank you counselor. Any questions for the counselor or staff? May Dwart, >> just a question for staff of whether they uh want to get off X. If not, then no need to send them to do a bunch of work on it.
(6:52:43) >> We have some comm staff in the room. Uh thanks the chair. I’ll I’ll start and then I’ll have our director of communications engagement, Ashley, uh maybe speak more specifically. Um so to the motion, I think we we’re supportive of of looking at um alternative um channels or or platforms. Sorry. We are our concern would be uh at a base level that uh doing jurisdictional scan of the municipalities around us uh all of them have secured the handle uh blue sky handles uh the uptake from um followers has been limited and most
(6:53:31) aren’t actually posting on it. Uh there’s problems across the board with with social media channels on Substack. There was a an article about it a couple days ago about um them hosting um Nazi newsletters, right? So you’re never going to find the right channel. Um so our approach would be a balanced approach which is continue on X while moving our communications uh uh dual function to blue sky uh and seeing how it performs and then comes back with a report to see if it’s worth uh shutting it down entirely. But we we’re we’re
(6:54:02) concerned with the fact that we don’t have um a newspaper here and that most journalism is still occurring on Twitter. It’s fast. It’s quick. um that we feel it would be a disservice to our community uh not using it because it is just the channel that most use for for news. I don’t know if Ashley has anything to say.
(6:54:22) >> Yeah, I would say um it’s definitely something worth looking at this. I appreciate this motion. Um being new to the city, I really appreciate the opportunity to look at what we have uh for our social media platforms. Um what’s being used, what’s getting the most engagement. Um I can I can definitely say that there has been a sharp decrease to Twitter uh across the board.
(6:54:45) That’s that’s coming from or or X now. Um since the acquisition, there has been a decrease in followers and engagement. Um but looking around to you know the municipal scan um around the region, it is the most commonly used. Um, I think a lot of our municipal organizations as well, we’ve we’ve already had staff looking into this, um, beginning the report and understanding who uses it and and how the impacts would happen across different municipal organizations.
(6:55:16) Um, you know, I think it’s I think it’s well worth looking at. Uh, however, I do think that the uh coming back to council for April 13th might be a bit uh short notice. You know, I I’ve seen one municipality get off of X and uh the uptake in other platforms has not been quick and I would be really reluctant to make a full decision in the next two months um while we are engaging on other platforms.
(6:55:43) I would like to see a little bit more engagement using those other platforms before we make a decision whether we will remove ourselves from X. >> Okay. So this this just what you just said actually is a more complete policydriven review of all use of all social media platforms and uptake especially in the absence of but this uh motion exclusively deals with X.
(6:56:07) So uh do we need to modify the motion to have a report back on social media channels and best use of them uh including including X? Um, but cuz it sounds like that that’s where you want to go. Uh, is is looking at if if we’re not there or if we are there, do we we continue and how does that work? >> Thanks to the chair.
(6:56:32) Uh, I think that would be our our preferred option. However, I I think in the absence of a a wholesome um review of all of our social channels and what would be best serving the community, what we would uh recommend would be a little bit more runway to see uh if we do start to um move our activities over strictly from X to Blue Sky or an alternative like Substack or or others uh to actually see how those perform in tandem versus just going off of X completely and then reporting back in, you know, two months to see how how we’re we’re doing. I’d
(6:57:05) like to have more of a data set to say um this is something that we think uh with uh a concerted effort we can get more people to to follow our channel on this on the specific platform. So that would be our recommendation um is even if it was just X giving us a little bit more time than April April. >> So not April what? >> Not April.
(6:57:25) When would you like it? >> I think, you know, I’ve seen um with another municipality getting off of X within a year they have not had the uptake um less than a thousand followers on an alternative platform that they’ve decided. Um, so I would like to see, you know, give it, um, maybe six months to see if we’re getting any uptake on, uh, followers from, you know, actively posting both on Twitter, Blue Sky, Substack, whatever it might be, uh, following that data.
(6:57:56) If we’re starting to see pickup, then I think we can make a good observation. But I don’t think that given other communities having 12 months and not seeing any growth, um I I want to start to see numbers and and some data before we make a a decision. >> Okay. Um I just wanted to clarify like on this motion the report back was April.
(6:58:20) Do is that too soon? Like do you want the report back on this to be like six months from now? So that would be in the fall sometime. >> Yeah. through the chair. That that would be that would be ideal. I mean and just for I mean just for context, we did do a jurisdictional scan. I mean on X still city of G, Halton region, Halton Hills, town of Oakville, town of Milton, city of Hamilton, uh you know, uh city of Kitchener, etc.
(6:58:45) They all have like over 70,000. Um well, Milton has 14.3, but uh they have they have a significant amount of following. You’re looking at about tens tens of thousands of followers. on blue sky comparatively you’re looking at 212 162 261 1111 so it’s a significant drop off so what we’re saying is if the motion is d is supportive of moving our communications off of x entirely we would like to have a little bit more room to report back to actually come up with a wholesome strategy of what that would look like and what the uptake is in between those months um to show how
(6:59:20) many followers we’re gaining per month uh so that we could actively uh make a recommendation so we we can effectively make a recommendation on on if this would be an appropriate um thing to shut down channel to shut down. >> Okay, I’ll I’ll amend the motion. Um if you want me to do that now, I can I can do it now.
(6:59:39) I have some comments or I can get back in line if there’s some questions. I don’t mind waiting. >> Sure. We’ll we’ll we’ll take our next two questions, then we can do that. Councelor Charman, >> thank you very much. Um yeah, I did get an email from somebody who had read this and said, you know, I rely on X for the information coming from the city.
(6:59:59) Um do we make the assumption that all followers of X are bad people? >> Through the chair, um we would not make that assumption. >> Yeah. I guess my question is what do we know about the the people who follow X? I personally can’t be bothered, but that’s me. Uh but I see a lot of politicians putting stuff out there and presumably if you don’t go and this is a question um then you can’t actually offic you can’t offer a positive vision on X unless you put it out there.
(7:00:33) >> Yeah. Through to the chair through the chair to you counselor. Um I would say that there is um quite a bit of uptake still on on on X. Um engagement definitely has decreased. You know, you you aren’t seeing those likes and comments as much as you used to be and that’s across the board. Um but the impressions are still there and I know impressions can um be seen in in different ways, but we’re still getting, you know, a million impressions throughout a year uh or more.
(7:01:03) And same with our our counterparts in other municipalities. Um many politicians and municipalities still rely on X. Um you know in doing our scan of those that use Blue Sky for example, the posting is not frequent and that’s maybe why they’re not getting the engagement. That’s why I would like a little bit of time to you know create engagement on our page uh to see if we are going to get that uptake.
(7:01:30) I I do think that it’s it’s relevant. I think that X has seen a sharp decrease in their usage. Um so it’s worth looking at. It’s definitely worth looking at. It is one of the original platforms uh for social media. Definitely one of our legacy platforms that we use. Um but times change and we need to take a look at at what’s relevant.
(7:01:50) >> Can I just ask a follow-up question please? So with respect to the even the conclusion which says a strategy of leaving the exocial media, you’re really talking about doing something much broader and you’re going to come up with a strategy relative to the needs of the of the of the corporation and the community that we serve um and you will look at all um such um outlets mechanisms.
(7:02:15) Is that correct? >> Yeah, we’ve already begun that work. We’ve started to look uh over the last say five years of where we see increase. Many of our social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram threads, they’re all increasing their their viewership, their impressions, whereas uh X is staying stagnant.
(7:02:35) However, it is still the most followed or of the top followed accounts. So it’s still relevant at this point but I would like to see if we are you know doing a strategy of incorporating data elsewhere whether we see a drop in that engagement as well. >> Yeah. Thank you >> councelor Stoalty. >> Thank you. This is really interesting. Um I too was a big user of Twitter and not a user of X.
(7:03:01) Um I know Twitter used to have the option for polling questions a post with a poll. Does X provide that same opportunity? As I said, not being a user of it, I don’t know. >> I believe there is still a polling option. I would have to take a look and and return with an answer >> because my question is is is by taking time to study whether there’s going to be uptake on blue sky.
(7:03:19) You’re not going to see uptake on blue sky if people still have the opportunity to get their information from X because they will go to what they’re used to and what their habits are. Would it be possible to consider if there is a polling question option on X to poll our X users and say if you were to be given the opportunity by the city to migrate to blue sky would you prefer an alternate way to get your information and say for example we have 80% of ex users saying heck yes I’d get off X if there was another option to get
(7:03:46) my information that may tell us everything we need to know >> through the chair uh thank you for the question there’s a variety of ways that we can pull the community to to if there is an interest. So, absolutely, that’s something that we can consider. Um, my my only it’s not even a it’s not a concern.
(7:04:04) It’s we we have to look at the data once we get it back because I’m not sure how many exus users are also blue sky users. So, but it might encourage them to become blue sky users to your point. Um, so we’re open to to that and we’re live to the the motion. We we know that a lot of disinformation and misinformation is occurring across the board.
(7:04:23) I think right now what we’re saying is um we’re open to exploring but we want to uh balance the perception you know or reality of things that are happening online that are negative sexist all of that racist with also the need to our obligation as city staff to inform uh the public about what’s going on across the organization and updates.
(7:04:45) So that’s why we’re saying we just need a little bit more time and a more more measured approach in order to come back with a plan that might might actually be moving over to Blue Sky, but we’re not there yet. Okay. I think my question is sorry just out of clarity is a real targeted engagement with our ex users. >> Okay.
(7:05:07) Mayor me Ward, did you want to table a amendment? >> Yes. Yes. Thank you. I’m just uh typing it out for for the clerks. Um so um uh two two changes that I’m going to propose. Uh so because what we’re really talking about is a review of social media platforms and and best use. Um uh so first of all modifying the April 13th to I’m going to say Q3 that gives you uh a good amount of time.
(7:05:40) um committee of the whole on best use of social media platforms and the consequences of leaving X could be could be part of that. But I think you’re actually really wanting to review uh all our platforms. Uh and and I’ll say this um the uh some of the worst behavior that I’ve personally experienced has not been on Twitter.
(7:06:03) the uh threat of death that I received if I was uh going to go to a development application. Uh the threat to be set on fire was on Instagram. Uh there was further a completely madeup post. I’m not even going to say what it was because I’m not going to repeat the false absolutely completely madeup post that was uh racist. Had my photo on it.
(7:06:28) Uh that actually generated from an uh we got police involved. We tried to get it off in that was also on Instagram. Tried to get it off Instagram. Got uh Blake involved. Uh to my knowledge, it is still up. It it originated from outside Canada and has thousands and thousands and thousands of likes and shares.
(7:06:50) Um on Facebook, increasingly I am seeing um uh bots, fake uh fake and anonymous um accounts being created for the purpose of misinformation and harassment. Um the uh there is on Facebook now of course because of meta there is no ability to share news articles. So uh I still find it useful. Uh I curate my uh Twitter usage very very carefully block delete uh have my lists uh so I can get actual uh news because you can still you can still get links to news articles there.
(7:07:26) I don’t engage a lot so you wouldn’t know I’m there uh reading things but it is a handy way to get news especially in the absence of um of actual news well newspapers and and hard um hard copies. Uh if you surrender the handle then somebody else could pick it up and impersonate the city. So I I think that’s uh an issue. Some some people hang on to their handle but it doesn’t stop you if you stop engaging on that platform.
(7:07:53) doesn’t stop uh somebody else from pretending to be you and that’s an even worse situation. So uh for me the issue is that social media is um both a very useful platform and uh one of the most toxic, abusive, racist uh discriminatory uh spaces to be, but that cuts across every single platform. Uh I’m not on all of them.
(7:08:17) Uh, but I do think the city needs to be where our community is and try to provide a different way of doing social media. If we’re not there, we’ve left the field to the haters, to the abusers, to the people who will threaten. Um, I’d like us to be there uh to to show how respectful civic discourse and engagement is and provide facts and provide uh real information.
(7:08:39) But I think a review of the um of of all the platforms and how best to use them. Uh for example, do you turn on comments? Do you uh do you have a a policy that you block people who are uh uh abusive? Uh I have commenting guidelines for all my social media. Um and if you violate those comments, you lose your privilege to engage on my feed.
(7:09:04) So there’s ways of doing this, but I think uh most municipalities still are trying to adapt to how best to use the platforms. And um um and you know, I I think that there are there are people that will continue whether we’re on blue sky, I see it there, too. Um I I see uh people will find where where other people are if they want to make mischief.
(7:09:29) So, we have to just be better at that and and try to show um show the world how to do respectful civic discourse. So, no problem getting some information on all of the platforms, but let’s not kid ourselves that uh it’s only on X. It isn’t. Some of the worst offenses are on other platforms. >> Uh councelor Nissan, >> just want to confirm that there’s a motion.
(7:09:58) And what the motion is? Is it has that been sent or is it >> is it what what you is it from is what you’re writing or from there? >> Okay. Uh should there be an and there after platforms or what’s a what’s the deal there? It’s not >> Is that the motion? the amendment to your motion. >> Okay. Uh well uh I don’t agree with a lot of the comments but uh if the motion will also look at the consequences and mitigation strategy of leaving X and I’m okay with that uh because I think we need to look at X also very directly.
(7:10:45) Um and I don’t mind if you need a little more time to do that. That’s not the end of the world. And by the way, my intention with leaving X didn’t mean you give up the handle and let someone take it over. You can hold it in obeyance and hope for better weather. Um so uh so yeah, I I’m okay if it’s if we’re going to also be looking directly at uh directly at X and basically we’ve just created a lot more work for you um through this motion.
(7:11:14) So I wish you well because that’s like five five times the amount of work that my motion was. Um, so, uh, you know, you said it’s worth looking at. So, so let’s look at it. I want to say there, there are other ways to reach journalists. I know journalists still use it. There are other ways to reach them.
(7:11:31) Uh, comparison of blue sky is not the best comparison. It would probably be threads, which you know is achieving close, last I checked about 50% of the users of uh, X. Um, you know, they all suck uh to different extents. So um but uh only one has a has an has the owner that X has only one has had an AI platform that would allow you to do this horrible things related to underage uh children to children I should say uh that would allow you to spoof another person uh and uh undress them you know uh sorry you can’t do that on meta platforms you can’t do that on
(7:12:13) threads uh you can’t do that uh on all the other ones. So, it’s special. It’s specially repugnant. And uh honestly, even if we were getting a 100 likes on everything, I would say get rid of it. I would say I I appreciate that one one person apparently reached out. I didn’t get any negative feedback on this. I quit.
(7:12:37) You know, I I hold it in abance, but I quit. No feedback negative feedback whatsoever. The impressions I think are are fake. Frankly, there’s been a lot of concern that they’re not the real numbers. Uh and that if it’s just fed outwards that they count that as an impression, not actually seen by people on the other side.
(7:12:58) Uh that’s what I’ve seen uh heard about. Um so, uh you know, we could I think we could spend that time have our communication staff spend time on better things. Uh it’s a it’s a bad platform and I I appreciate that others are still using it but uh I think we should provide some leadership and just just get off of this horrible horrible platform.
(7:13:24) So uh look forward to the report back. >> Councelor Charman is next. Yeah, I’m I’m uncomfortable with the last uh piece of it where it says the consequ and the consequences and mitigation strategy of leaving the exocial media platform. I I would prefer to have say the potential because I don’t want it to be a foregone conclusion out of this statement that we’re we’re going to do it.
(7:13:50) Um I I’m just looking at the comparative numbers, you know, in all the social media platforms and and and Twitter is X is significant, much better than Truth Social. Um so I’d just like to add the word potential and the potential consequences, please. We do that. >> Yes, please. >> Good. Okay. Seeing no further comments, the item has been moved. I’m going to call the vote.
(7:14:38) vote on amendment. >> Oh, we are >> to the amendment. >> That’s a friendly. That’s a friendly. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I figured both amenders were being friendly. >> I was pretending. >> Um, yeah. Uh, so Okay, I’ll read it then. Item 8.3 motion memorandum regarding the city of Burlington leaving exocial media CO-0526 direct the director of corporate communications and engagement to report back in Q3 2026 committee of the whole meeting committee of the whole on best use of social media platforms and the potential consequences and mitigation strategy of
(7:15:29) leaving the exocial media platform. Yeah. >> All those in favor? three. >> Uh perhaps I’ll weigh in just just for a moment. The it is a municipal election year and as a result uh we have a different calendar than usual and depending on the uh candidates that are running and the members of this council that are running for election, you could find yourselves in a position not being able to make any decisions at those Q3 meetings.
(7:16:21) And so you may want to reconsider the timing of that >> Q4. Friendly amendment to Q4. >> Yeah. Okay, we’re good. Uh, all those in favor of the Q4, the whole thing. Yes. >> Any opposed? And that carries. >> Okay, that uh brings us to 4:30. Um the balance of the We’re going to recess and uh bring the balance of the items to tomorrow’s agenda.
(7:17:07) Thank you everyone. >> Have a good night. Good job. Thank you.