Special Meeting of Council – March 2, 2026

0h 19.19m good morning everyone my name is Marianne Meed Ward May
0h 19.26m of the City of Burlington and I’d like to call to order this special meeting of Burlington City Council for Monday March 2nd 2026 I’ll Now read a safety notice for those 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 the exit symbol once you’ve evacuated the building please Gather in Civic Square outside of City Hall all Now read a land acknowledgment Burlington as we know it today is rich in history and modern traditions of many First Nations and the maytee from the anishinaabeg to the Howden ishoni and the mati our lands spanning from Lake Ontario to the Niagara escarpment are steeped in indigenous history the territory is mutually covered by the dish with one spoon wampum belt Covenant and agreement between the Iroquois Confederacy the Ojibwe and other Allied Nations to peaceably share and care for
0h 20.26m the resources around the Great Lakes We would like to acknowledge that the land on which We Gather is part of the treaty land and territory of the mississaugas of the credit
0h 20.43m I’d like to ask all those willing and able to now please stand for the singing of O Canada
0h 20.76m Oh Canada our home and native land true patriot love
0h 22.25m participants attending virtually to use headphones make sure your words can be captured accurately and everyone to speak slowly to ensure that the digital technology can capture what you’re saying
0h 22.48m we do have rules of engagement in Council meetings we ask everyone to please be respectful While others are speaking and listen as you would want to be listened to by way of introduction of our members our first order of business for today’s meeting is to conduct a role call I’ll now turn it to the city clerk who will take attendance of members present and confirm
0h 22.87m thank you Mary ward council Goldberg president constant Council Nissan here
0h 22.96m president councilman councilman Sylvania mayor Meed Ward president Council does have Corum
0h 23.09m excellent staff joining today are our CAO Kurt Benson our city clerk Mike Duran Clark’s assistant Debbie hardyke and other stuff will be introduced as their items are discussed
0h 23.29m turning now to agenda management our meeting is scheduled today until noon to reconvene at 1 p.m. till 4:30 should that be necessary in the event that we need to go past noon does anyone require a hard stop
0h 24.21m 46.1 of the procedure bylaw 59 2024 to allow late registered delegations to speak
0h 24.35m counselor Kearns thank you very much under the approval of the agenda I’ve received some requests from the community to pull it the regular item related to the development charges up sooner
0h 24.56m okay so we’ll get to that in a minute we’re just floating on the waving of procedure first and then I’ll come back to you and we’ll deal with that agenda management item
0h 24.72m so on the motion to waive section 46.1 of the procedure biological allow a late registered delegation to speak I will turn it to the clerk for the recorded vote
0h 24.91m Council Galbraith support comes to Kearns support Council Nissan support Council support benea support 7 in favor and that does carry now to councilor Kearns you had a request to reorder items go ahead thank you very much I’d like to see if we could pull item n options for the temporary elimination of development charges dgmo 326 to the beginning of the regular items
0h 25.41m is there a secondary for that
0h 25.5m cancer Nissan
0h 25.55m Okay so we’ve had a request to move that item up
0h 25.61m any questions or comments
0h 25.69m okay
0h 25.7m turn it to the clerk for the recorded vote on that
0h 25.75m Council Galbraith
0h 25.77m support Council Kearns support Council Nissan support counselor stolti support councilman support councilman support mayor Meed Ward support seven in favor
0h 25.95m and that does carry are there any other
0h 26m questions on the agenda
0h 26.09m okay I will note that per the procedure by law that allows emotion to be withdrawn before it is tabled for discussion and a vote that the motion arising from committee with respect to the development charges freeze has been withdrawn by myself the Mover and canvas those who supported it as well so that item is no longer on the floor for today’s meeting that means the underlying staff report is what will come forward during discussion of that item
0h 26.64m all right seeing no more questions I do have a motion to approve the special Council agenda for Monday March 2nd move by councilor Sherman seconded by counselor Galbraith an alternate to the clerk for the recorded vote on the approval of the agenda
0h 26.88m Council Galbraith support councilor Kearns support Council Nissan support Council
0h 26.99m Council he’s absent councilman Sportster Pennsylvania support mayor Meed Ward support six in favor and that does carry turning now to Declarations of Interest are there any declaration Declarations of interest in the items before us
0h 27.3m seeing none we have no presentation we turn now to our delegations and a reminder to delegates that the items other than the one we reordered will be discussed in the order of the approved agenda you may have of course remain in council chambers if he choose to leave you can watch the meeting online and the link to the live stream is available on Burlington dot CA slash meetings all public attendees must maintain order and not engage in any behavior that made me considered disruptive
0h 27.85m so each delegate will have five minutes to provide their comments we’ll be using the time clock in council chambers to keep track of your time you can see it from the floor and on the table for those of you in person and on screen for any virtual delegates
0h 28.1m once you’re done please remain to answer any questions that members may have for you and I will remind committee members that questions should be for clarification only and not for the purpose of making statements so today all of our delegations are in person we have nine including the one that was just added so first up is David Barker to speak regarding options for the temporary elimination of development charges go ahead oh sorry Kelvin go ahead my apologies I need to declare an interest on item 12.1 the motion to approve the confidential minutes I thought we had dealt with the item entirely at the last meeting but there’s minutes to approve so I just need to declare an interest on those minutes okay that’s
0h 28.9m been slur
0h 28.93m all right
0h 28.98m now
0h 29m back to you again David whenever you are set up and ready to go we’ll get the time clock started thank you for joining this morning thank you
0h 29.14m according to Google AI there are five other Ontario municipalities considering or which have implemented a temporary reduction or elimination of development charges they are the three municipalities in peel region which has introduced a 50% reduction Hamilton is proposing a 20% reduction
0h 29.45m Vaughn has approved a reduction of up to 47%
0h 29.51m there are 444 municipalities in the province of Ontario
0h 29.58m six including Burlington represents just 1.35% of the 444 or 20% of the 29 municipalities will populations of 100,000
0h 29.77m note none of the other five is considering a 100% elimination of DC’s as is before the council
0h 29.93m the Ontario big mayor’s group The obcm
0h 29.99m consists of 29 Mayors representing municipalities with a population exceeding 100,000
0h 30.08m is personally the chairperson of the opcm
0h 30.15m I would also there to today’s Council discussion on this matter to speak to the following points
0h 30.24m no other obesity is considering or has information a temporary elimination of DC’s
0h 30.36m why is Burlington so out of step with the other 28
0h 30.43m the obcm as a group taken a position on the temporary reduction or elimination of DCs specifically
0h 30.55m is it as a group endorsing the implementation of a temporary reduction or elimination of DCs if so is it recommending its members adopt a particular plan structure
0h 30.73m or if the obcm is not either endorsing or recommending to its members it’s temporary reduction elimination of DC’s why is that
0h 30.87m is the obcm lobbying both provincial and federal governments seeking guarantees to cover any loss of Revenue to municipalities should any implemented a temporary reduction or elimination of DCs
0h 31.1m we’re in discussing this matter later in this meeting please also bear in mind
0h 31.17m the province has already provided developers with a deferral payment of DC’s until project occupancy mean the city has to fund upfront interest free to the developer the cost of to install services and what we paid the DC’s on Project completion
0h 31.48m the industry is now lobbying the official government to mandate the payment of the already deferred DC’s to his friend over a five year term interest-free
0h 31.65m that means it would be the cities that is in effect providing another interest-free loan to Developers
0h 31.76m further I don’t believe
0h 31.8m Council has the authority to waive or reduce the regional or educational portions of DC’s
0h 31.92m their portions I believe total 77% of the DCs
0h 31.98m the city’s portion is 23%
0h 32.02m what practical impact would the elimination of only 23% of DC’s have
0h 32.12m no matter where the funds may come from is not discount responsibility to bail out an industry or business that is provincial or federal responsibility
0h 32.29m I also wonder if Council has a mandate to be able to do this
0h 32.37m I urge all members of council to vote against all the Motions on today’s agenda in this regard and I asked members of council to introduce and pass another motion one which says a city will not reduce or eliminate DC’s without a prior guarantee of full provincial funding
0h 32.7m there are 15 of Correspondence on the item noted in the gender
0h 32.78m together with nine in person delegations
0h 32.83m all this we are any engagement or notification from the city
0h 32.91m so finally I urge all members of council to not be resident death
0h 33.04m thank you very much I’m just looking to the board to see if there are questions
0h 33.15m I did counter Nissan go ahead yeah thank you Mary so on again the hand up there thank you David for your delegation and just want to confirm if we were made whole if you know financial documents were signed would you be fine with us know removing the DC’s even got money from the federal government it’s not cities job it’s not
0h 33.52m the building taxpayers job to pay out any industry
0h 33.58m so if there was no bail out if it was the provincial government that decided to pay the DC’s are you okay with that
0h 33.71m if the opposite of like actually just a flow through yeah absolutely okay thank you
0h 33.83m cancer currents thank you very much for being here through the mayor a question of clarity if DC elimination with appropriate flanks requirements tie back to policy objectives were to be used as a tool but the municipality would still be made whole and it could help us achieve affordable housing or on I use that word very Loosely there’s a lot of different definitions there would that be something that could be understood by residents as a helpful tool so could you say if development charge if we waived development charges but we had a proper control plan in place you know it has to be within a certain time it has to be in certain types of housing Etc proper reporting properly agreements and we were made whole by the federal or the provincial governments there was no tax parent impact locally would you
0h 34.83m identify that as a tool that could be used to help with housing I think the same as saying that if we made whole by the French government with it but I totally against the city or taxpayers burying any costs whatsoever thank you David
0h 35.13m counter salty thank you thanks David so
0h 35.25m your last two or three words were very appropriate about not being resident deaf
0h 35.38m I’m asking a question that I don’t know the answer to and I wish I did but I’m going to ask it anyway do you feel over the last was three weeks ago today that this all kind of came to a head do you feel as though there’s been a significant amount of public meetings conversations advocacy delay I love decisions and so on that helps to reassure you that we are not completely resident deaf
0h 35.74m Community where I am in Ward 2 cancer help something on Saturday
0h 35.82m that was great but I don’t think there’s been any engagement from the city or prior knowledge I don’t know how this is all got other than on chat forums where people have been up in arms because it’s been know what do you think about it resistance you know give us your feet back what what believe that has been
0h 36.12m true in the last between committee and council is difficult to nail that down from a formal City perspective there was there’s been multiple I also held a two-hour event on Saturday regards to Residents coming out to speak so I think there’s been a lot of effort
0h 36.37m you know as far as trying to engage in the ways that we could during the last three weeks but I just put words in your mouth mouth but has there been opportunities to get information and give feedback
0h 36.57m since February 17th yes good for every 17th there was
0h 36.63m total silence here okay thank you
0h 36.72m that’s great I do have a question for you David thanks for being here so we have learned a lot of things in the last few weeks and and one of them is the difference between a change to the DC by law versus a community Improvement plan which allows you to touch certain conditions we could consider using Federal housing accelerator fund dollars that if we don’t use them we lose them to incentivize certain types of housing for example missing middle which we still have some targets to meet so would you be open to that kind of an approach on this using the federal dollars
0h 37.41m my first Wonder would be would be somewhere else more appropriate to be spending this money
0h 37.55m and
0h 37.59m does as I said does the city have the ability to waive the regional and also the educational portion of the DC’s I understand they don’t we don’t have that so we’re going to talk about 23% of the DC’s
0h 37.88m okay we’re in the the
0h 37.92m w e h
0h 37.98m country PA whatever when he spoke here on purpose of 17th
0h 38.05m he said the removal of the DCS would be about 11,000 different on the 6000 home Pondo
0h 38.21m that’s 100% of the DC’s 23%
0h 38.26m is only 200300
0h 38.3m why we even doing this
0h 38.33m for that apart from the fact we shouldn’t be doing shouldn’t be doing it at all it’s not our responsibility it’s a federal yeah sorry the question was around using the federal dollars but but you’ve answered that which is helpful so would you advise the city if we do anything to be advocating to the region and education DC’s are provincial matter to match what we’re doing
0h 38.77m well I thought hopefully you can answer this is not the big city mayor group not lobbying already
0h 38.94m I’m speaking specifically about Halton region and the regional disease and the education is
0h 39.06m irrelevant yeah the big group like the big city mayor’s group so if they’re not lobbying then why we’ve been talking about it yeah I’m sorry I think you’ve misunderstood my question I wasn’t asking about advocacy on behalf to the province I was asking if you fell that this Council which also sits at the Regional Council table should be matching whatever we do here at the regional DC level
0h 39.5m and then education would be separate that would be advocacy to the province so would you only fully funded by the government yeah okay thank you very much that that clarified you go ahead
0h 39.73m thank you thank you for being here I just want to clarify settle we all heard correctly so you’re okay if we don’t spend tax money and its provincial or federal money
0h 39.94m as long as it’s not tax money and you also mentioned that you wanted
0h 40.02m some sort of Engagement along the line to make sure that I guess the funds are used properly
0h 40.13m I’m engagement from the city
0h 40.18m my point was there has been no engagements up until February 17th when had the last council meeting and
0h 40.31m no surveys know come and talk to us or give us your thoughts I think you can tell from the forums
0h 40.43m that there are a lot of people very upset about this and yet they found out about it without any information coming from the city
0h 40.6m my question was if all is okay in terms of funding
0h 40.7m and the public has an opportunity to engage moving forward
0h 40.79m are you okay with that if it’s funded 100% by April federal government
0h 40.88m I’m not for the community plan whatever the money we already have from the federal government being used I think that probably better place for it to be spent
0h 41.05m ritual help
0h 41.1m property taxpayers better than
0h 41.14m money going towards the building industry
0h 41.26m the time comes yeah moving forward
0h 41.29m thank you thank you
0h 41.33m send David councilman go ahead thank you I really appreciate what you’re saying I think everybody’s on an agreement that we don’t want to use Municipal property tax when it comes to have funds you said if it can be used somewhere else
0h 41.56m I said are there more appropriate places where it could be spent better spent rather than supporting an industry we don’t support restaurants when they’re in trouble so why are we supporting the building industry gotcha thank you very much that sounded like I got it right with respect to the use of the funds if it actually would nothing to do with helping the industry giving them money but actually help the buyer get a lower price
0h 41.96m would that be helpful
0h 42.03m it’s the same thing I mean we will talk about positioning gentleman charges
0h 42.13m the gentleman from the lobbying Association
0h 42.19m didn’t talk about reducing his 8% profit margin which she very proudly put out there in his figures
0h 42.29m shouldn’t be showing something in yeah thank you I will I will ask that question of the development of the of the represents of when he speaks I think a good point thank you okay thank you counselor stolte go ahead
0h 42.5m thank you so pointy David as we’ve gone around the circle and asked questions and heard your answers am I correct am I understanding that you are satisfied that the original motion has been taken off the table and that we’re back now to discussing what staff put forward as a recommendation which is to put it back to staff in regards to any kind of funding the have funding or funding from upper-level Government funding and let them take a look at what different programs may or may not be available to best utilize the funds that we have access to to make sure we reach our housing goals are you comfortable with where it’s come back to for discussion today not really my position as I said is I think I should emotion
0h 43.18m saying we will not reduce or eliminate DC’s and this is a guarantee of federal provincial funding
0h 43.32m I think that comes first there’s no point in staff going running around if we’re not going to get funding from the government
0h 43.42m we just wasted time and effort so if we get a guarantee then go to staff and awesome to come up with various planes so the conversation about DC’s needs alternate upper level Government funding the conversation about our existing housing accelerator fund we’re going to ask staff to look at different options as to how to best utilize that
0h 43.75m Seth reference would be
0h 43.79m doesn’t have anything to do with
0h 43.83m giving allowing the development industry off the hook and paying Edge very much charges maybe there’s somewhere better suspended yeah I don’t know okay thank you cancer currents
0h 44.03m I think very much through the mayor and so because the conversation about Regional development charges has been raised I wanted to share something with you and ask you if you already knew this so the region has a nine billion dollar 10 year Capital plan of which 5.8 billion is growth related so development charges will pay at the regional table for 5.8 billion dollars of regional infrastructure if the city were to go and try to Advocate to the region for development charge elimination that would be some of the money that would come out of that 9.8 billion that would have to be absorbed by something else another funding source if it is not funded by provincial federal or a housing Grant like the housing accelerator fund where might you think that would get funded from if that advocacy is successful
0h 44.96m I don’t know the taxpayers I don’t know
0h 45.01m okay
0h 45.03m is there anywhere else I don’t know yeah is there anywhere else good good answer thanks
0h 45.14m I don’t see any more questions thank you so much
0h 45.2m Jim Barnett you are next to speak regarding options for the temporary elimination of development charges DGM 326
0h 45.51m would you like to sit or would you prefer to stand you’ll be okay okay
0h 45.63m good morning everyone
0h 45.67m the mayor’s program will still continue to instructions against any form of demonstration during the meeting
0h 45.78m is it because most of the demonstrations would be against position of counsel and maybe embarrassing
0h 45.9m it sounds like Donald J Trump signing an executive order limiting descent
0h 45.99m open dialogue freedom of expression and freedom of assembly are the Cornerstone of democracy
0h 46.12m eliminating these freedoms are limited on Democracy just need to be Revisited
0h 46.24m my last delegation was on the problems that I saw in the budget
0h 46.32m I pointed out the salary increases were double that being granted in the private sector
0h 46.41m and the table tax increases were more than double the inflation in the general economy
0h 46.52m added to this was the inclusion of the educational level to make the increases appear less than was actually taking place some of which would make it appear to presentation
0h 46.75m the budget passed was only Council currents
0h 46.81m saying we can do better and voting against it
0h 46.87m I hope citizens remember this when they cast their belts and the meaningful elections in the fall
0h 46.99m I’m just made the castle has been able to find a way
0h 47.05m to provide pool time for people outside of Burlington
0h 47.11m before looking after the needs his people of Burlington
0h 47.17m who were the primary contributors for pool construction and operations
0h 47.29m some of you were partying the boom booth in downtown Burlington as a Transportation Hub has led to dramatic change in planning for Burlington
0h 47.51m that the vast majority do not like and has been a major contributor to the transportation gridlock and what was our Fair City
0h 47.7m now it appears that some of you believe that the removal of development charges are good for the people of Burlington
0h 47.83m in fact the only beneficiaries of The Proposal of land speculators but girls suppliers and contractors
0h 47.97m it would be beneficial if we knew from this group contribute to the council members election campaigns
0h 48.1m it would be helpful and it had to transparency if we knew who were lobbying council members in favor of this policy
0h 48.25m should the city lawyers be looking into this
0h 48.33m eliminating development charges from new construction overdose the selling price of the housing currently constructed
0h 48.46m the current homeowners paid for the development charges when will now lose that investment
0h 48.58m just not seem fair to me
0h 48.64m what it does is to make it easier for land speculators to maximize their profits on their speculation
0h 48.76m this is dot the business City should be
0h 48.83m I have paid for development charges on three houses in Burlington
0h 48.9m now some of you want me to pay for the development charges for complete strangers that’s totally unfair
0h 49.03m I suggest that the forecast for housing needs to be
0h 49.09m the needs are in error
0h 49.15m colleges and universities such dramatically cutting back
0h 49.22m the Trump meddling in the economy is slowing GDP growth
0h 49.29m it is a houseful thinks that they can go forward like nothing has changed
0h 49.37m there too many signs that many things have changed and consulate obligation to play for a more difficult future
0h 49.53m one of the main cause of housing is property taxes
0h 49.59m Council says they want to encourage affordable housing
0h 49.66m but the same time they’re increasing taxes at record levels
0h 49.74m cannot have it both ways
0h 49.8m it is particularly hard on the Lord 25% of the income families who are forced to hard lifestyle decisions including going to food banks
0h 50.01m in my opinion you need to spend more time concentrating on needs
0h 50.09m canceling or at least delaying wants until economic conditions improved
0h 50.17m the same time you can cut back on the proliferation of newsletters and photo ops that look more like electioneering and communication
0h 50.33m life is about choices I bought my first house on cosburn Crescent
0h 50.42m for the next two years there was no going on vacation since we had to furnish the house by drapes do the last keeping
0h 50.54m paves the driveway
0h 50.58m it’s time for Castle to start making some tough choices
0h 50.65m it’s time you are out of time Jim could you have can you wrap up
0h 50.73m well I was asked to give some suggestions and you’ve changed okay cancer just hold on a sec we can we can address this just give me a second Council team okay thank you thank you for giving me the floor for a minute it was brought to my attention since we bumped this item and other items to the special council meeting that there was a lot of community confusion around whether it was a committee meeting a council meeting where the agendas were at so there was a request to give consideration to allow people if you extra minute so is that something that would be beneficial and I would need to get a boat from let’s not okay so we’re request for additional two minutes just because of the this community not miscommunication but lack of clarity around how this meeting was taking place okay that’s been moved by counselor stolte seconded by counselor Kearns that we add two minutes back for you to complete your delegation
0h 51.62m all in favor is that require a recorded vote just a hand vote okay all in favor
0h 51.72m any opposed seeing none that does carry go ahead Jim thank you very much
0h 51.82m time to cut back on the size of the municipal government
0h 51.89m the farmers are there for growth could be downsized and their catering to wants could be eliminated
0h 52.02m it’s time for Council to start listening and dialoguing with the delegates such as linen Crosby Gary Scobee Tom Muir David Barker Joe gaten and Jim Thompson to name but a few
0h 52.26m I offer three suggestions
0h 52.3m our population is aging we need to spend more time and money in this area the forestry programs can be delayed
0h 52.43m secondly one of the committee of the whole meetings should be moved the evening say the third Monday of the month at that meeting a topic can be brought forward and dialogue would take place
0h 52.63m it’s time for Castle to get more involved with the people with more transparency
0h 52.74m last time for coffee to treat citizens Lake customers he would keep them out of the doo doo they’re in today
0h 52.89m to conclude are some suggestions for affordable housing
0h 52.97m tiny houses should have been part of the Bateman project
0h 53.04m number two basement apartments with lower fees and restrictions was faster processing
0h 53.17m remove the GST on two or more bedroom units renting for under 2000 dollars to US
0h 53.28m and lastly remove the GST on housing under 500,000 dollars per unit
0h 53.4m thank you so much for your time
0h 53.45m thank you very much Jim I’m not seeing any questions for you so we appreciate you bringing your feedback to us today
0h 53.6m I’ll Now call up the next delegate that Sean Campbell to speak regarding options for the temporary elimination of development charges we’ll just give everyone a minute to get
0h 53.76m settled
0h 53.97m welcome Sean you will have
0h 54.05m to seven minutes if you need it to be fair to all delicate whenever you’re ready to get started go ahead and there may be questions thank you and good morning for a longing to be here today
0h 54.28m and Mary Ann thank you very much for reaching out to me last night after having a brief introduction in conversation to what we talked about after you mentioned seeing me on the delegates list I’m our first time caller long time listener here
0h 54.55m just going off of what you said this morning about backing off on your on your on the on the amendment my question is now number one I think it’s still relevant to ask my same question that I posed to you last night as to what is your why and that you you feel that the the need for to suppress DC’s was necessary I also posed the same question of counselor Sherman and counselor Galbraith as I believe that both you are also in support of Mary Ann’s position on this topic
0h 55.18m but also
0h 55.27m I also just would like to ask why do you feel that it would benefit the taxpayers of Burlington given the offset of income will likely need to be recovered by other means
0h 55.44m I understand that some feel that it may be the savings may be passed on to the end user but
0h 55.55m unless we have concrete legal
0h 55.63m agreements with the developers I don’t feel that will be the case
0h 55.71m I pose those questions to you and I thank you very much for your time
0h 55.81m okay thank
0h 55.85m you sure that those questions will be answered when we get to the item and folks get to speak about it we don’t do the that here at this point but thanks Sean you do have some questions though for you so counselor currents go ahead
0h 56.09m through the mirror thanks so much for being here and for helping yourself get informed so I guess my question is similar to the first one that I asked is
0h 56.22m if there were to be a program that had strong flanks strong guarantees
0h 56.32m Advanced policy initiatives like missing middle affordable units and was not at an impact to the taxpayers through debt retained savings reserved draws reduced contributions to reserves would you see a way that this could be a tool to help us burst some housing
0h 56.66m with those requirements in place and of course upper level Government funding if we’re using Reserve funds that are
0h 56.8m from the municipality or from from the region no I do not believe that this would be something that we would want to dip into I believe those funds should be used for other for other means that are necessary
0h 57.01m as another delegate also mentioned you know if we were to look at this from a federal or provincial point of view I think that would mitigate some of the impact that we would have locally as individual taxpayers here in this region and in this municipality so I think that that’s the the proper direction to take
0h 57.36m thanks so much for being here
0h 57.4m Council stolte
0h 57.45m Sean so my question to you is given the fact that we have new information presented this morning that that original motion that was put forward has been retracted so it’s basically off the table and we’re back to the staff recommendation and the staff recommendation was very clear to keep it under a CIP program which will put parameters and controls around how the money spent and we’ll look at all the different options as to how to best utilize the funding that we have available to us or future funding to make sure we’re meeting Burlington’s housing needs is that something you’re comfortable with yes but if the three that are on the side of DC’s suppress suppressant if they’re willing to
0h 58.11m look at staff recommendations as an option and walk back with what they feel their original position was I would be very comfortable with that yes thank you
0h 58.3m the cancer Sherman
0h 58.34m thank you very much for being here and appreciate you taking the time to do some digging in advance were you aware that in the the agenda for the February 17th council meeting there was some new information provided by staff the kind of
0h 58.61m change the view of the reports we’ve previously received in the original cow
0h 58.71m agenda that made it quite questionable actually the whole thing I was not aware of that information until this Saturday when I attended Lisa’s event this Saturday right so given that that is behind the removal of the
0h 58.98m of the staff direction do you believe that if we then pass this back to staff and say actually we do want to do that thorough Deep dive is that acceptable to you yes I believe it would be yes thank you very much
0h 59.27m for being here again for your time
0h 59.31m all right we have
0h 59.37m okay
0h 59.4m our next delegate is Sandra Longden from the Cornerstone Association of Realtors to speak to options for the temporary elimination of development charges Sandra kamana and you have seven minutes you can get started whenever you’re ready and there may be questions
0h 59.66m okay can you hear me okay all right
0h 59.7m good morning and happy Monday I’m going to have a slightly different opinion from my fellow delegates today but somewhat of the same parameters as you know my name is Sandra Longden I’m returning to Council on behalf of Cornerstone Association of Realtors and our 7,500 realtor members across various regions including the City of Burlington I am also a resident of Burlington I live in the lovely Orchard neighborhood
1h 0.12m I’m here to share our perspective on the proposed motion we do recognize that the city must balance fiscal response sustainability with the need for housing affordability and exploring a community Improvement plan funded through federal dollars is a practical step towards this objective
1h 0.42m development Chargers are disproportionately passed on to home buyers and renters as an upfront cost and as my previous delegates have mentioned there’s a few municipalities already doing and like implementing development charge exemptions and deferrals for certain types of priority housing
1h 0.72m which has improved Financial feasibility and increase the supply of attainable housing
1h 0.8m increasing supplies the most effective long-term solution to stabilizing and approving affordability
1h 0.92m municipalities can offset development charge Revenue reductions without impacting taxpayers by using alternative funding tools we strongly support the fact that this initiative would be funded from a source other than property taxes
1h 1.15m using federal dollars to unlock housing Supply locally is exactly how this funding was intended to work
1h 1.26m while development charge reductions May temporarily reduce up front Revenue each new home contributes ongoing annual property tax revenues for decades
1h 1.41m cities that have accelerated development have benefited from expanded assessment growth increased economic activity and stronger long-term Financial sustainability accelerating housing today allows Burlington to grow its tax base organically helping fund future infrastructure without burdening existing taxpayers for example the city of Winnipeg introduced a program last year that will help remove infrastructure barriers to get homes built faster
1h 1.85m it’s called the multi-family sustainable housing infrastructure program through this program the city will partner with the developers to improve local water Wastewater and drainage capacity
1h 2.05m barriers to development and getting shovels in the ground
1h 2.12m Mississauga is also piloting an initiative introduced by Minister Flack for publicly owned Municipal service corporations these new public corporations will be able to issue their own debt to fund new infrastructure projects which can then be amortized over to 50 to 70 years for example
1h 2.41m strategic use of development charge relief helps unlock stalled housing projects and support economic growth many housing projects are currently delayed or canceled due to rise in interest rates construction costs and development charges
1h 2.64m vary relief can unlock these projects create jobs increase housing Supply and improve overall affordability
1h 2.76m this approach allows municipalities to respond to current market conditions while maintaining long-term Financial sustainability
1h 2.89m on this point we want to emphasize something that is critically important to our members and the residents we serve affordability must remain at the Forefront of how this program is designed
1h 3.08m Community Improvement plan is meant to accelerate housing and improve access to home ownership and Rental Supply then the benefits must clearly aligned with the projects of focus on helping people afford to live here
1h 3.28m the mayor has reference that this pot this proposed CIP would enable the city to attach conditions on fee relief including requirements such as no luxury units and projects that respect the official plan
1h 3.5m today many standard homes and condominium units are already priced at levels that are considered luxury only a few years ago
1h 3.62m for example our data indicates that as of February this month the average single-family home was about 1.4 million dollars
1h 3.79m the average across all residential property types is about 1 million dollars in this community
1h 3.89m if this program is going to exclude certain types of units then the city must clearly defined what luxury means in measurable transparent and Market aware terms
1h 4.06m with that Clarity we may unintentionally block the various Supply we’re trying to encourage our members directly observe every day at the growing gap between what people earn and the cost to own a home in Burlington
1h 4.27m as Council considers this Direction with the potential CIP funded through federal dollars we respectfully ask that you ensure the original policy of 100% residential development charges exemptions are implemented
1h 4.48m provide clear and objective definitions for what constitutes a luxury unit in Burlington so this policy meaningfully supports attainable housing and consider how condominium fees affect a buyers affordability
1h 4.7m in closing Burlington has an opportunity to follow proven Canadian models that support housing construction while protecting taxpayers
1h 4.83m a temporary targeted development charge strategy combined with tools such as the housing accelerator fund and Community Improvement plans can accelerate housing delivery improve affordability and strengthen the city’s long-term financial position
1h 5.08m thank you for your continued leadership and commitment to addressing housing affordability in our community I appreciate your openness to public input and thoughtful decision-making on this critical issue this topic has a province and the nation watching and this Council has the opportunity to create the framework to get more people into homes that they can afford thank you
1h 5.43m thank you you do have several questions coming so don’t go yet
1h 5.52m Council to Europe first okay thank you mayor thank you very much for your delegation so I had one question and then you’re the latter part of your delegation brought up too so I can ask you two questions I’m gonna start with a second as a point of clarity I understand that it would be helpful for the industry for us to make that clarity about what we’re talking about if we say it’s not going to fund luxury units I get them would you be open to and would it provide even more clarity If instead of us defining what we’re not going to fund as in what is luxury that we actually put Clarity around what we would be willing to fund which is attainable literally attainable for Workforce middle class people in the city absolutely just as long as there’s some defined parameters and that encouraged what we are looking to achieve for sure thank you my second question is are you aware that because the conversation is now turning to funding that we already have available from upper level Government funding as in the hosting accelerator fund are you aware that in order for us to finish getting the allotment that we were guaranteed
1h 6.52m by the federal government we have to meet certain Target numbers and where we’re low right now in meeting those Target numbers is in the missing middle built form which you agree that it’s imperative for us in order to make sure that if we’re going to spend existing dollars we have in hand in order to that we use those dollars to meet those numbers to make sure we get the additional have funding that we’re allotted and not use them for because right now our multi-residential numbers are we’ve met those so if we were to use half dollars for multi-residential we run the risk of losing the last five million dollars of half funding so would you agree that any kind of program we come up with DC or anything needs to focus on making sure that we are meeting the numbers we need to get that additional upper level Government funding
1h 7.27m I would say so because if it’s missing in the missing middle that’s where we see at least for our clients and the people we serve that’s where we see the biggest Gap and it’s really hard for them to enter the market I have 14 Majors one of them’s older still living at home I think he’s 22 now so you know they would like to get on with these things so definitely missing middle is we would support that right thank you
1h 7.66m councilor Galbreath
1h 7.69m thank you mayor and culture stolte asked my first question but second question is if we do nothing how will your industry
1h 7.85m be affected if this if the building industry goes into further collapse how will your industry be affected
1h 7.98m that’s a good question I don’t actually have a crystal ball to say how it would be effective I affected I do know that
1h 8.12m from what we have in Supply there’s a lot of listings on the market as it is in resale right there’s a lot of things that could be reabsorbed through resale
1h 8.3m everyone’s in a different financial position some people bought really high and they’re selling now at a loss which is very unfortunate and it’s just circumstantial but those will be reabsorbed it’s
1h 8.5m it’s not as affordable though right that’s going to be a long window of time for those houses to go down because the people can afford to stay in their homes or they’ll try their very hardest to afford to stay in their homes and that’s what they’ll do right and that’ll restrict Supply in and of itself because if you don’t have to lose money and you can somehow figure out how to stay in your house for a longer that’s going to restrict Supply on the resale market right so we do need to meet it with other development that is positioning and geared towards the housing that people are looking for especially towards supporting young families and growing families which is what we want so that would be something that we would focus on yeah thank you you’re welcome
1h 9.18m cancer currents
1h 9.21m thanks I often think that sometimes we can say say and mean the same thing just using different words and I really felt like I gleaned that from your delegation so for clarity what you would be supportive of to help your industry as an industry representative would be tools that unlock affordable attainable missing middle in the City of Burlington first prescriptive period of time yes great when you mentioned you have awareness around emotion that may or may not be tabled today let’s hope it’s not around alignment with exempting out luxury units I think that’s going to be really difficult to Define because you could buy a house for 1.8 million dollars and six or eight or ten questions in there I’ll get there or you could buy one or you know one six nine nine and be Exempted and only two people or a single family could live there so I am nervous about that when it comes to your common about the official plan would you
1h 10.21m think that any development project that was subject to an appeal so outside of the city’s official plan should be removed from eligibility regarding any type of eliminations or offsets
1h 10.46m hey I’m not sure if I fully understand that question or I’ll make it easier thank you you said you’d be open to controls around the use of this type of funding and those controls you’ve gleaned from the mayor’s language like no luxury units and aligned with our official plan Fair yes
1h 10.82m does that mean then to use as a test for alignment with the official plan it would be anything that was appealed should be ineligible for any type of relief
1h 11.02m if it’s not in line with what is the best for the city in the residents which would be the official plan yeah I would say would need I wouldn’t just immediately say it’s ineligible I would have to go through that process and then determine whether or not it can be brought into alignment or if it’s really out of the scope of what’s beneficial for the city and as presidents okay thanks for your insights today thank you
1h 11.44m thanks there’s two more questions but as we proceed with questions I will just remind folks the procedure bylaw does not allow us to make statements first and then questions so I would just ask that everyone keep their questions tight and direct them to information that the delegate has provided for clarity so over to you counts for Nissan
1h 11.81m I’m sorry I was recognized by the clerk for point of order
1h 11.91m go ahead on your point of order
1h 11.95m I think I know the procedure by law well enough and I don’t appreciate being reprimanded in front of the community and Council when trying to explain something to a delegate you’ve taken more than enough Liberty to make statements be fair and don’t always come off the tail of my comments
1h 12.22m thank you counselor that
1h 12.29m thanks everyone that was not a point of order we really do need to stick to our agenda for the smooth management of the business
1h 12.43m and it wasn’t directed at you it’s directed at every single one of us to make sure that we focus on questions that’s my role as chair to do that and so we’ll continue I will continue to do my best to remind us where we need to where we need to focus so counselor Nissan
1h 12.88m yeah I think sorry you’re gonna be there for a second oh it’s okay the point of order we said that we would give people up to one minute and we used to track that on the clock so that’s how we get over this and don’t have to be arguing about about that we give people one minute to Preamble their questions so I was just checking the procedure by a lot to see if that’s been official or whether that was just like our three-minute rule so
1h 13.39m yeah rather than pulls out as a question I would just suggest that maybe we give people their one minute and also
1h 13.54m you know questions of clarification of obviously thank you
1h 13.65m that was my point of order
1h 13.7m and I have questions as well so the question is whether we’ve approved the Bible I believe it’s on today’s agenda the clerk can clarify the wild the enabling by lost still has to be passed by Council that was my question but my question was about the one minute
1h 13.94m a issue so there isn’t really not a question actually I would just like to recommend that we try to give people one minute to Preamble their questions we all agree to do that in a workshop so thank you that’s my point of order and I have a question for the delegate do you have a count sorry cancel stolte do you have a story I’d like some clarity from our clerk my understanding of our procedure bylaw is that that one minute is not meant to be able to give a preamble it is purely for points of clarity of the delegate so if I could get some understanding and we can all be on the same page would be awesome is that one minute for points of clarity that the delegate is presented in their delegation
1h 14.61m could I just jump in there to be recognized by the chair before you speak that is part of our procedure bylaw we need to make sure that we can focus on good discussion cancer stole he has the floor
1h 14.88m and the question was around the clarity of what the speaking time means
1h 14.97m go ahead counter stole tea
1h 15m sorry just to recap if I please get clarity from the clerk under our procedure by law that the one minute we have for questions of delegates is meant purely to be for questions of clarity in regards to their delegation it is not meant to be for Preamble leading up to a question is that correct
1h 15.28m through you mermaid War I don’t see anything the procedure by a lot about a one minute
1h 15.41m sorry I I’m this isn’t for me if it’s happened before me and workshop I if it’s a council custom I’m not familiar with it I just read the procedure but I don’t see anything about a one minute lead into questions or anything like that so I couldn’t really comment
1h 15.63m okay sorry if we removed the time limit of the one minute what is the purpose of questions of delegates
1h 15.73m we just threw you may need more to just obtain information from the delegate
1h 15.81m if that’s what the purpose of the question is that you’d asked to delegates okay thank you
1h 15.95m okay folks
1h 16.04m so
1h 16.06m I will I see councilman here on the board I will go to you we’ve done with the point of order is this on the point of order your worship
1h 16.2m do you have another part of I’m asking a question please I’ve had enough of this stuff can we go to questions please
1h 16.39m point of water can I ask my question please
1h 16.44m you can ask your question go ahead the chair recognizes cancer Sherman thank you very much
1h 16.53m hello thank you very much for being here this morning it’s a great to see you are award five resident I was spent a lot of time on Facebook group for Orchard this weekend I’m sure you saw my postings did you feel that the comment that has dialogue was helpful and useful and
1h 16.83m did you see the questions about their b or the comments that there’s no housing crisis do you agree that there is no housing crisis I think it depends on where you sit
1h 17.01m in that housing
1h 17.04m Spectrum right like if you’re already a homeowner and you’re quite content and you don’t need to move and you’re happy with your children you know either in your basement or in the spare bedroom then it’s definitely not a crisis if like you were like me when I was going through a divorce and lost everything and tried to start from nothing it’s hard to re-enter after you’ve built something lost it all and you got to build again it’s very difficult like that down payment scenario is quite challenging as well as affordability at that time now that I am settled it’s a bit different but then now when you’re future planning for your children it’s like oh where can you live near me that you can afford so it really depends on where you sit
1h 17.76m it’s a crisis in the sense that we just let it kind of
1h 17.81m spiral during covid it got way out of hand I will say I did the worst year in business in during covid I couldn’t in my good conscience let anyone buy if they could still rent if they sold I tried to get them to rent instead of buy again it just made no sense houses were going up 20% in like a month it was in sustainable so I think we’re just seeing a correction and hopefully we can get the it’s an opportunity for some and it’s a detriment to others right
1h 18.3m thank you for that my second question is with respect to the comments we keep hearing about bailing out these developers just throw away for us to make sure that funding for DC’s still come in but we’re actually never went through the developers books but you could put as a conditional or a fee on the back end of the closing contract that got paid you know was giving a credit for really from the sea do so that the price that is paid by the by the the new buyer doesn’t have a go through the pro-form of the developer doesn’t allow them to increase profits on that amount is that feasible
1h 18.98m it is feasible I’m going to say just because I come from a different perspective on this I do have a lot of developer clients as well as developer friends and I can say when I was doing land surveying and trying to build Parcels for even the smaller mom-and-pop developers you would have to build at least five units and then of that you would profit after the third unit was built like that’s how heavy the development charges and the fees and the application process and the red tape took away so if you’re doing this as a business it doesn’t make sense but if you’re not like it’s a necessary
1h 19.58m thing that we need for our communities we need housing and we need affordable housing and if we don’t figure out a way that we can you know maybe bypass that if that’s what is going to help because we want the money to go towards the end so user right so I would say that that would be something we can look at for sure thank you very much yeah
1h 19.89m counselor Nissan
1h 19.93m thank you for the chair thank you very much for the delegation
1h 19.99m pulling up my question here
1h 20.04m so
1h 20.08m the on new homes we have currently there’s and there’s an HST charge there’s a there’s a bill to take it off our first time home buyers but not only impacts both 7% is my understanding then there’s the development charge question when you spoke on eliminating development charges today so on new homes though particularly new homes that are just being built currently Realtors do collect a percentage point I think it’s between two and three percent and I just want to know if your members would be willing to shave half a point off of new homes to help get them built we usually do actually we’re actually very flexible with our commissions and depending on my clients I I see my clients at least for myself and a lot of our members do it’s a relationship built on trust you’re not a transaction to me you’re not a dollar figure so if that’s what gets you into a home and build your trust and makes you refer me and continues my business
1h 21.09m that’s what I’m going to do so that is something we can look at as well but again like Developers for the most part don’t work with Realtors we’re very lucky right now that we are getting that inventory from developers to help sell but when the market is great and they’re not experiencing difficulties we are not there or cut out for quite a long period of time yeah so just last question this is a this is not a high growth market right now it’s a very soft mark it was not correct
1h 21.6m in some areas yes yeah depending on what you’re selling yeah Condos for sure okay thank you so much no problem
1h 21.75m thank you not seeing any other questions so we’ll invite our next delegate up to thank you so much appreciate it thank you for being here
1h 21.88m all right Jim young you are next speaking to options regarding the temporary elimination of development charges come on up
1h 22.1m good morning Madam mirror remember to stop and filled residents
1h 22.26m originally intended to delegate an opposition to any suspension on development charges
1h 22.37m because I don’t believe they will achieve that intended aim overloading home prices
1h 22.49m I understand the argument that reducing those charges meal or the cost of building new houses possibly reduce selling price of new houses spot demand and home sales
1h 22.68m and jump start a more abundant housing market
1h 22.74m well that would mean what an immediate term the price of homeownership has always been determined by brother Mark forces of which course of the equation
1h 22.95m the hard fight of life is that the selling place of a home will be
1h 23.06m even if stimulus and seals
1h 23.16m she’s and gets his own
1h 23.33m this is basically true in the market we really a small portion of seals and new home sales
1h 23.41m and existing home sales at Hostage to people who own their own home homes
1h 23.56m and investment property owners both of them can afford to hold out until house prices rising in
1h 23.7m mean by aluminum residents there’s a lingering feeling in a lingering anger that Council would even consider development fee for giving us a significant cost to sit in reserves or the text dollars
1h 23.91m during a housing boom from the 90s to 2024 Builders and developers made huge profits will handle in dealing with himself to Burlington residents or planets
1h 24.1m so 20 seam developers of Lords the proximately 120 zoning appeals to help you now host of amendments to City
1h 24.39m 2020 official plan and you
1h 24.52m know millions of dollars illegal fees over the period
1h 24.66m decision to the complex economics of houses demand
1h 24.74m depth of analysis and much more discussion
1h 24.8m that will require more time and input from staff and I would advise more input from residents which seems to be a theme that part of it was missing in this particular go round and housing
1h 25.05m so I don’t think that
1h 25.08m Council and staff and City residents should devote more time for the economic analysis and study
1h 25.2m and for more calm and reason and Reflection from commercial
1h 25.28m and respectful he asked commercial to defer any decision on development fees suspension until that analysis and reflection of team please
1h 25.45m she goes to reflection
1h 25.49m and 2018 people
1h 25.57m that we hope to work together to dress the many issues that Feast of City
1h 25.69m development tense vacation traffic congestion citizen engagement
1h 25.78m 10 name a few in a respectful and constructive manner
1h 25.87m for the first 40 year term of this Council seem to achieve a level of collagen and Cooperative interaction that voters had hoped for and which I think Silver City very well
1h 26.06m it seems that collegiality has been lost in the center
1h 26.14m on this and many other issues members of coastal appear much to hear to litigate matters of policy and procedure in the press and don’t social media
1h 26.3m as elected representatives you granted one of the largest platforms at loudest megaphones Burlington has to offer
1h 26.45m this chamber in the city hall this is where the beaten the discussion please
1h 26.56m tell public mudsling and political divisiveness
1h 26.66m that will actually it’s Discord and Adams the only
1h 26.76m we all see what has done for civil discourse and sensible decision maintenance in America
1h 26.86m we don’t want that
1h 27.24m hi thank you for the fire to do better I love that thank you thank you the question I have the question of clarity on your delegation keeping with the rules as I understand them is are you saying that the or would you would you agree that the concept of using the tool of DC reduction or elimination
1h 27.61m could be considered so long as there’s parameters around it conditions put in place and that ultimately
1h 27.72m there is a guarantee that those savings are not only passed on to that first home buyer but there’s some condition in place to make sure that that property stays attainable when it changes hands so that it doesn’t become as you said it goes into the rabbit wheel where it may may in an Ideal World provide some savings the first time at sold but then that’s lost as soon as it goes back into the market so long as there’s a ton of protections put around that to make you feel as though as a taxpayer that the dollars that are being put towards it are going exactly to where it’s needed
1h 28.29m not only in 1000 of the general the federal provincial governments prevailing monitoring stimuli business activity well the Developers
1h 28.52m it’s probably good news if it’s done
1h 28.57m where certain restrictions on it and again there needed to be some sort of control whether it’s a divide between luxury housing and attainable housing I would personally favor more emphasis on rental housing because I think that achieves a whole lot of things in terms of getting people in their houses
1h 28.93m keeping the cost of getting into housing down so that maybe somewhere at some point they cannot forward to buy
1h 29.05m but yes so long as the funding is coming from where has been promised
1h 29.12m and so long as restriction on the possibility exists for people a prophet here one of the government money involved and if there’s always that would be good okay great thank you
1h 29.35m counselor Galbreath
1h 29.4m the mayor certainly want to thank you for your comments as well couldn’t agree more
1h 29.49m just in getting back to the asking for more information I assume your support of the recommendation that we’re looking to send it back to staff for a CIP it counselor stole one until a little bit more detail about parameters but I assume you’re supportive of having staff
1h 29.79m I come back with those parameters and and give us a recommendation a little bit more time on this issue absolutely that’s why I said originally delegate no position but my delegation actually ended up being a plea for more time more stuff and more professional and more resident and yeah absolutely thanks okay awesome thanks Jim
1h 30.2m accounts are Sherman
1h 30.24m Jim I upload your comments to the end there I appreciate it very much
1h 30.31m the question that was raised earlier was about you know the biggest cost that a homeowner has is their property taxes and I was I was wondering if that actually reflects more knew about his costs for mortgages and hydro and all those other things we have to pay and really does this relate more to folks have had the homes along the time and for new home buyers
1h 30.73m oh
1h 30.77m things is that nobody wants to pay taxes well takes he’s income tax he’s and increase
1h 31.05m I’m not sure to be honest with our city taxes inviting you buy as a ruled buyers anymore
1h 31.17m there’s probably new buyers or young families struggling anyway so any text helps and then there’s probably seniors who like myself have no retired
1h 31.34m and still paying city taxes and finding them less affordable
1h 31.42m that was actually a lion or PC takes a rental car but people in my in my age group whose income of declined but they still have to
1h 31.61m that buyers and existing home
1h 31.73m I guess I was getting more additional cost but having said that there’s a question about the notion of development charges that were interested in Ontario so presumably bought a home prior to them cost was a whole lot cheaper than it is for new to first time buyers today
1h 32.07m yeah obviously if you can cut development challenges and you can get that
1h 32.24m but there’s only something like in GTA change something like 12 and a half percent of home sales and new homes sales
1h 32.38m most of the home sales in GTH here the existing home sales
1h 32.45m so
1h 32.48m we keep concentrating a new home sales to train it the build up to bring places down
1h 32.64m so again if you’re going to
1h 32.71m support developers and Builders with some sort of induction and what they pay has to be very conditional
1h 32.82m and that would be my
1h 32.85m caviar if you like eventually that money being spent the buyer
1h 32.99m not feeling I agree with you thank you thank you councilor benevilla
1h 33.12m thanks for being here Jim appreciated just to pick up on
1h 33.22m Gilbert’s points using the CIP that we’re talking about at this point because of all the new information it received
1h 33.37m that everybody now is well aware of that
1h 33.44m wouldn’t fit well with the city long term you mentioned that as long as there’s no impacts
1h 33.58m to the resident locally
1h 33.63m so using the half funds that we have available are you aware that if we don’t use those funds that we will lose those funds from the federal government yeah I was a weirdo
1h 33.84m know any great dates but there is a limit to the team limit on the funding from the government
1h 33.98m really
1h 34m not what
1h 34.04m the address the situation through
1h 34.11m cuts and development child’s CIP call over the lake The Big Field is that
1h 34.23m little feeling the weed isn’t end up financing a group
1h 34.32m who really mean good living
1h 34.44m degree of famous
1h 34.49m I want my grandkids to be people
1h 34.54m bring them to the places that he
1h 34.63m um then yeah I’m prepared I think the city should consider anything whether that’s a CIP reductions
1h 34.79m but take the time you do it and do it properly at the same to involve reasons because
1h 34.92m it’s the reason we’re feeling the heart
1h 34.98m whether it’s the affordability factor or the fact that they feel ignored this isn’t a feeling to me
1h 35.11m my second question is assuming regardless of what gets approved here today
1h 35.23m if
1h 35.25m we have an opportunity to look into this matter further using have funds or whatever other funds that doesn’t affect the local taxpayer how would you as a citizen like to be engaged
1h 35.51m to help the committee the discussion
1h 35.59m how would you like to be
1h 35.63m engaged
1h 35.66m just come a nice behind you everything anyways
1h 35.79m it’s clearly simple task force but those real estate people real estate agency people resident small businesses
1h 36m um business Improvement area groups
1h 36.07m need to get people together and
1h 36.13m try to do such a way that it moves quickly and effectively there’s no point in setting up a sort of housing advisory committed to sit over the next two years and pontificate over coffee that’s not going to get anything done
1h 36.43m but yeah include businesses include businesses that particularly related to the construction industry and the Housing Industry including seniors if you think about one of the biggest traps in the hosing as seniors who are in homes
1h 36.72m they don’t want to sell because
1h 36.76m the differential retirement so we wait for her
1h 36.86m that’s probably a significant number of houses
1h 36.94m Supply in a way that you already training
1h 37.03m so look at supporting people who have sailing who’s
1h 37.1m rather than people who are building them and that position but I know
1h 37.24m I did the price to go back up again before I can afford to sell
1h 37.34m how about financing them give them a subsidy to sell below Market
1h 37.43m rather than subsidizing the supply end
1h 37.52m sort of the new Supply and find a way to incentivize the existing Supply in
1h 37.66m thank you for that cancer salty thank you I like your creative ideas
1h 37.77m okay so my question is centers around the conversation about if we don’t use it we lose it that is true
1h 37.96m are you aware of the fact that the have funding can be used for strategic land acquisition
1h 38.05m specifically the win of surprised me though okay so just for clarity that is something that we could use the half funding for so there’s no danger and losing it there’s lots of ways that we could spend it and do you think that if
1h 38.26m if we were to use the funding
1h 38.3m to purchase imminently land that was available private land that’s come on the market
1h 38.39m and buy the city owning that Land We Now can partner with the development community help save some jobs help build housing but housing that the city can control what it looks like and how attainable it is because we’re the landowners do you think that might be a good use of funding absolutely
1h 38.65m a part of a group called partnering all the shorter with indwell
1h 38.73m who are looking good when he releasing property
1h 38.81m and all the show the possibility of building affordable housing
1h 38.88m and that city property that they’re going to lease long term
1h 38.95m to help people afford homes
1h 38.98m if the city was buying lines to do something like that
1h 39.05m again we all the caveats and don’t want city land and says door being invested so that somebody can profit here from and appears to me in real is a very good example or how you can build affordable housing with anybody Prophet cheating on so I don’t like that thank you
1h 39.41m stuff
1h 39.43m all right I’m not seeing any other questions I do have one for you Jim I want to say thank you for being here and certainly thank you for your call for collegiality and respect in our debates issue after my own heart you talked about the debate and discussion taking place in council chambers and recognizing that many members of the public can’t physically be here or take time to watch we do have an added responsibility to communicate what happens here using our various channels newsletters as one social media the city of course what would be your advice on how we might convey on this issue which is a very one that is captured people’s attention how might we convey the information when we leave today in a way that is respectful of each other respectful of the public and and starts to meet that collegiality that you’re calling for
1h 40.44m obviously the decisions of commercial
1h 40.51m have to be really to people and means of available with price I can read about online publication’s
1h 40.72m I think the truth to avoid is the
1h 40.78m the road being division in any Democratic organization this is my opinion this is your opinion we debate it we argue
1h 40.95m I think sometimes is attemptation to get out too far in front let’s get outside of the story there first no let’s get outside of the studio their first and it becomes a public discussion long before it becomes an intellor discussion that Council and I’m not sure that’s always healthy
1h 41.31m how do you avoid he probably can and I don’t know whether you read for the specter
1h 41.53m I don’t know how you doing
1h 41.74m it to you attention when they think that you know
1h 41.84m he
1h 41.96m yeah that that’s really helpful Jim and recognizing that we have a two-step decision-making process things go through committee first but there’s only recommendations they’re not a done deal they go to Council next and sometimes there’s a change between the two as we’ve seen here this morning what would be your advice on how to convey that information I mean I’m cognizant of what you just said around you know getting out there but you know we want the public to know what happened at Committee in case they have perspective to share with us before it goes goes to a final vote at Council
1h 42.61m more time on two fronts
1h 42.7m more of what’s coming up in a community of the whole meeting
1h 42.79m so that people have obtained to digestion for me and if the late delegation or say just on online
1h 42.95m multimed to give accumulated information on meat decision the little thoughts
1h 43.08m and possibly more team between meetings the committee of the whole discusses everything in there
1h 43.2m and then they said look see that the council 3DS from the week from the
1h 43.32m I don’t think that’s helpful I would be nice if that were you and again
1h 43.39m you don’t think things to spend it forever but a reasonable period of time
1h 43.47m between of Distributing the minutes so that the agenda
1h 43.56m for committee the whole meeting and then maybe a lot more time between committee meetings and Council meetings to let people digest the information
1h 43.72m that’s very helpful thank you so much cancer currents
1h 43.8m through the mayor to Jim do you think it was respectful to the community that what was going to be voted on on February 17th if not pushed forward to today was going to be a bylaw not a community Improvement plan it was going to be for the elimination of development charges for two years and it was going to be applicable to any and every type of housing are you aware of that and was that respectful
1h 44.29m to the public was a weird over was the details of the feeling that it was very quickly and she had more question about how do you resolve that problem
1h 44.61m um that could have been resolved if there was
1h 44.67m a fixed period of time between the announcement and the meeting
1h 44.76m again
1h 44.8m there is a feeling sometimes that things get sprung on residents
1h 44.88m and people tend to assign the worst Motors to the training things through owners
1h 45.04m and I’m not sure that’s always true because I think the teams when just is an urgent situation
1h 45.14m but yeah as much time as possible and
1h 45.21m appreciate your comments on how being more informed and transparent can prevent us from getting into situations that might be viewed as disrespectful thank you cancer been Taverna
1h 45.48m just to follow up
1h 45.51m on counselor Kearns questioning
1h 45.58m when you watched
1h 45.61m the last meeting
1h 45.66m when
1h 45.68m staff gave us the
1h 45.75m denim
1h 45.78m on the Saturday publicly which everyone received in public and that Council
1h 45.9m when we had the meeting on the Tuesday
1h 45.96m prior to that memo coming out
1h 46.01m that the mayor
1h 46.04m had asked a number of questions
1h 46.11m none of us had that information
1h 46.17m and we may have voted can you get to a question Angela my question is
1h 46.26m are you aware that we may have voted
1h 46.33m in a situation where we would have heard the city
1h 46.41m are you aware that no
1h 46.5m okay not singing any other questions thank you so much for being here this morning we always appreciate here
1h 46.63m all right our next
1h 46.66m okay we’re almost at 11 do you want to carry on we have one two three four five minutes okay well we are going to take a five-minute recess come back a couple of minutes after let’s say five after 11 that gives you seven minutes and will return for a little bit of a break thanks everyone
1h 53.32m all right folks we are back from our recess and going
1h 54.26m to pick up from where we left off so I can get everyone’s attention here our next delegate is Jim Thompson to speak on two items regarding the options for the temporary of elimination of development charges and the amendment to the procedure bylaw so come on up Jim
1h 54.74m and you will have seven minutes and there may be questions so
1h 54.86m you can speak to them one after the other yes
1h 54.98m I’m not sure but it doesn’t affect your speaking time so go ahead whenever you’re ready you can get started on the DC item
1h 55.11m yes
1h 55.13m no
1h 55.24m okay okay good morning Marianne and counselors next slide place
1h 55.37m at the aborted council meeting it was struck by the argument before but by the Weber wrap that is industry needed relief he stated and going to paraphrase the cost to build a new unit is higher than the resale price of an equivalent home making new development financially
1h 55.67m unviable
1h 55.7m this slide from the cmhc presentation certainly shows that the sale price of a new home is higher than the sale price of a used home
1h 55.86m doesn’t however show that is detrimental to new construction as a sale price for new construction is still higher than the used price
1h 56m I know of no on their industry that I expect their new product to be cheaper than their old product next slide please
1h 56.14m this this slide compares the cost of similar Toyota Corollas as you can see the price dramatically drops as the car ages
1h 56.31m a new Toyota doesn’t compete with a used Toyota it competes against new Honda’s Nissan’s Ford vaux wagons Audis whatever
1h 56.46m Toyota dealers also offer the option to lease a new car typically for a five year term usually with the option to buy the five year old car at the end of the lease maybe the weba needs to get creative with their financing with the financing options for the product they are selling
1h 56.76m next slide please
1h 56.83m I also take issue with the statement of the apartment style housing is where nurses and firefighters might be expected to buy their first house this shows that this slide shows that the price of an average apartment is not affordable for experienced professionals it also shows that someone living on an average salary in Burlington has no hope of qualifying for a high ratio mortgage
1h 57.2m even a two-income family would only just qualify for a townhouse assuming they can save the minimum down payment it also like to point out the skilled trades don’t make as much as nurses and firefighters so they’re on likely to be buying in Burling so you’re not saving their jobs by this
1h 57.52m illumination of
1h 57.59m development charges as is being requested
1h 57.67m next slide please
1h 57.73m biggest problem in affordability is that an average salary of 69,000 can only afford a student can only afford a studio apartment in Burlington
1h 57.91m where are the minimum wage workers supposed to live they make about half the average salary
1h 58.02m um next slide please
1h 58.1m cmhc data shows that in the past five years they’ve only been 11 purpose-built rentals Apartments constructed in Burlington
1h 58.24m this is the housing that Burlington needs not more mcmansions which is what weba would build at the development charges are eliminated for two years as proposed by Marianne
1h 58.44m at the Council of the hall next slide please
1h 58.54m I sat through the aborted council meeting and the land of questioning that was directed at the wrap was eye opening
1h 58.67m counselor benevenia made a point that this matter has been under discussion for six months most of that discussion has taken place at the P2P committee where the Weber wraps sits as a member why aren’t all the questions posted him at committee
1h 58.94m why aren’t all the questions post up sorry when he first performed the idea of a reduction with the Proviso that it was compliant
1h 59.07m that was contingent on the city being made whole
1h 59.14m where did the provision for the city being made whole go go to in his presentation to council
1h 59.24m at no time in the six months is the issue of eliminating all development charges without exception at the expense of the taxpayer and foot and put forward for discussion
1h 59.45m I submit that there’s an inherent conflict of interest in having weba sitting on the P2P
1h 59.54m his primary duty is to his members not the taxpayers of the City of Burlington as Adam Smith noted people of the same trade seldom meet together even for merriment and diversion but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public or some contrivance to raise prices
1h 59.86m who actually thought it was a good idea to have a registered lobbyist on a standing committee at the City of Burlington thank you for your time
2h 0.03m councilor thank you very much I really appreciate all the information you do your homework and you brought some great examples back to us and
2h 0.19m I want some clarity on the very last piece of what you were talking about membership on P2P
2h 0.28m and as you were talking I was thinking if we looked at the one other committee that we have which is our audit committee that has public members on it who are not members of council
2h 0.46m if a member of the audit committee if there was a agenda item that came forward that they had a direct fiscal
2h 0.6m relationship with they would
2h 0.65m excuse themselves on conflict of interest
2h 0.7m would you become comfortable with their P2P to me I think you brought up a good point would you be comfortable whether P2P where
2h 0.81m if someone and I don’t want to use our wehba representative because that he just happens to be the member in relation to this particular topic but globally do you think that our public members of the P2P committee should they have a direct fiscal
2h 1.06m relationship with the subject we’re talking about that they should excuse themselves from P2P while that subjects being talked about
2h 1.2m okay I have actually put in a delegation
2h 1.31m so I didn’t want to appear three times only wanted to appear twice but yes there’s a there’s a definite problem there is no code of conduct for the industry representative of some of the P to Peak committee
2h 1.56m they can they I have never seen member from your audit committee come here and delegate on an issue
2h 1.73m they and if they had they are they’re mostly registered professionals not registered not registered lobbyists
2h 1.88m so fundamentally I think
2h 1.95m the Weber rap was in conflict of interest when he delegated here on
2h 2.08m totally elimination of development charges which was not what he proposed at committee
2h 2.23m so yes there’s a fundamental problem that needs to be addressed and it’s a fundamental problem with the way the P2P committee was set up
2h 2.37m I think you bring up a good point that’s worth further discussion thank you
2h 2.43m counselor Galbreath
2h 2.47m for your delegation today Jim you brought up the the part about DC’s on luxury units and you know I tend to agree with you what what are your thoughts with what’s being proposed around the CIP and a sort of cap on luxury units and not having to development fees way for these type of units I’ve seen nothing that says that there’s a cap
2h 2.86m for I I don’t know what you’re going to come up with at this committee basically everything’s up in the air I don’t know what what is going to be decided
2h 3.04m so that that’s a big problem
2h 3.08m and I’m going I’m going to say that
2h 3.16m you’ve had a long time to discuss this but you never discussed it with the Public Public is not even allowed to delegate it pay to pee
2h 3.3m and that’s a problem
2h 3.34m and
2h 3.37m I luxury housing you know need more mcmansions you need more rental accommodation because it’s rental accommodation that people are that is in short supply and Berlin
2h 3.57m and the you need more Supply to bring the cut the cost of rental housing down because the cost of rental housing is not affordable it might be attainable
2h 3.83m but it’s not affordable
2h 3.86m and I use the ca MHC definition of affordability which is what we’ve been using in this country for a long time
2h 4m and most of the housing in Burlington just isn’t affordable and giving up your development charges isn’t going to magically make the housing affordable
2h 4.16m you’ve got to come up with some better Solutions
2h 4.22m thank you Jim
2h 4.26m counselor currents
2h 4.29m thank you very much Jim for your insights and I’m just speak up a little bit please my apologies thank you for your insights and I’m just wondering you identified some feel that there is a compare and contrast happening about audit committee and P2P I’m not familiar as closely with P2P I’m the chair of the audit committee would you feel that these flanks within the terms of reference for audit committee allow it to maintain its independence so the requirements for citizen appointees to the audit committee is that they be independent that means they’re not lobbyists and B that they have an understanding of the difference between the oversight function of the committee and the decision-making function of the committee so two big differences there and just wondering what your thoughts are
2h 5.08m I think the audit committee functions very well
2h 5.15m you’re one of the you’ve got your terms of reference up to date
2h 5.22m you don’t have a real issue with the external professionals that are on the committee
2h 5.33m because they’re generally not lobbyists and yes you need some better definition of what goes on in pay to pee because you basically invited lobbyists in
2h 5.53m to your committee and now you see the result of that lobbying they’re they’re this is this is all peace when you have public private Partnerships the private partner picks the Public’s pocket
2h 5.86m okay thanks and I won’t try to say that three times fast
2h 5.94m counselor Benjamin you go ahead
2h 6.01m thank you mayor thanks Jim
2h 6.04m I’m gonna ask you the same question to ask the previous delegate so we’re here because we deferred to be here at the meeting from
2h 6.2m the discussions in the past
2h 6.25m depending on the decisions that we make here today
2h 6.31m how would you
2h 6.34m as
2h 6.36m like to be engaged or how you think we should engage the public moving forward
2h 6.47m based on whatever decision we make
2h 6.52m I’m going to say that it’s time for the counselors to get back to holding Town Halls where the public is actually hurt
2h 6.63m all these coffee chats don’t work you hear individuals you get anecdotes you don’t actually get the what’s the word that like you don’t actually get the temperature of what the public is feeling
2h 6.86m um so you delegate your staff to go and take the heat from the public on issues that you don’t want to talk about so really counselors need to get engaged with the public not sit here and wait for staff to come back with the results of a survey or whatever you need to and you need to hold meetings that
2h 7.27m involve the community
2h 7.31m not just individuals
2h 7.36m thank you for that
2h 7.4m councilman
2h 7.46m thank you very much for being with us again you make some really great points thank you and I appreciate the
2h 7.56m depth of your thinking there
2h 7.6m with respect to meetings do you not feel that this meeting for example is helpful in terms of allowing people to come and give their opinions to us this meeting
2h 7.84m so what’s the right word this meaning is people backside cycling backwards from decision that was already made the meeting they were the decision should have properly been done was that the committee of the hall
2h 8.11m and
2h 8.14m what was put through there by a vote of three to two I believe
2h 8.25m wasn’t there wasn’t any hadn’t nothing to do with the community there had been no Community involvement in a decision to totally eliminate development charges on all construction but that is what was proposed
2h 8.48m by a number of developers and and put forward by the mayor
2h 8.59m and supported by
2h 8.63m very counselors it’s totally this meeting Bart I was asking out this meeting and your ability to delegate I would have delegate at the first one if I’d known what was going to be put forward but I
2h 8.93m didn’t pay I wasn’t paying attention fine thank you Jim I have a second question there was a recommendation that was put forward not a decision with respect to the CIP if there and I believe there will be a statutory public meeting as well as request for information from the public would that be helpful in terms of achieving your goals of getting more public input
2h 9.35m yeah you need to hold your statutory public meaning but you need to hold it at a time when the public can attend the public can’t attend these meetings during the day that Public public delegation and meetings has fallen off since you’ve only holding daytime meetings people are busy working they’re not able to take the time to delegate
2h 9.77m thank you I appreciate that and we’ll bring that question back to staff about how the special evening session thank you
2h 9.89m counselor currents
2h 9.93m thank you so much again through the mayor so you’ve been here for a couple of hours you’ve heard information from information sessions you’ve probably seen the dueling public posts do you have any clear identity on what is supposed to actually be approved or decided today what is your understanding of what we will be voting on my understanding is that you come back to holding this is a committee of the whole rather than a committee an account so because you’ve got the
2h 10.48m mayor has said that she’s withdrawn what was actually on the on the agenda
2h 10.59m and it’s back to being a committee of the home it’s no longer a council making a decision it’s the committee of a whole referring the stuff back to staff which is what should have been done at the committee of the whole okay so just a follow-up question if if what was originally on the committee of the whole decision which made its way to the council package was withdrawn that reverts back to the staff recommendations but from this meeting so far it’s silent on whether or not the motion that was delivered out in public saying options for temporary elimination of development charges report back April 13th with a potential could be a bylaw could be a CIP from a source other than property taxes Etc so do you actually know what’s what’s on the table today to speak to
2h 11.46m is it an amendment is a new motion is it reverting back to staff what’s on the table today is how the hell do we clean up the mess
2h 11.6m great
2h 11.63m we’re going to try to do that thank Jim
2h 11.69m not seeing any other questions I do have one for you and I’m all about restoring calm in the chaos here so the question is this you mentioned that the public is not allowed to delegate at P2P would it give you any comfort to know that in fact anyone can request to delegate and know requests have been denied
2h 12.08m no it wouldn’t because the procedure bylaw says it’s only written delegations that are accepted and there’s no such thing as a written delegation and actual delegation by a member of the public is at the discretion of you I believe the chair and the vice chair and knowledge what it give you any comfort to know we’ve neither received any requests from the public nor denied any to speak but all requests have been accommodated who have asked to speak no it doesn’t because you basically set up that committee so that the public isn’t allowed to tell it’s actively discouraged from delegating at that committee
2h 12.82m all right and what it give you any comfort to know that our there is a code of conduct for all members of all committees including standing committees as well as our advisory committees and and we have had members of committee held to that standard through an Integrity commissioner appeal that they are interpret the things the same way that you do the advisory committees and boards are not standing committees of council counselors are held to the code of good governance which is really hard to get the Integrity commissioner to actually move on
2h 13.53m and sorry I was mentioning that there is a code of conduct CBS or whatever you call them are held to a different standard and I don’t see exactly where the lobbying the lobbyists delegates on the P2P committee fit into either code of conduct
2h 13.97m yes I was just there is a code that applies to them I just wanted to you please there’s a there’s a count there’s a Code of Conduct for all of our committee members
2h 14.16m okay seeing seeing no further questions thank you so much you can go into your next delegation if you wish Jim regarding the amendment to the procedure what was the actual agenda because I thought there was somebody between me on the agenda so we’re giving you I’m giving you the courtesy to speak to both of your items at the team same time if you would like since you’re already at the podium okay regarding the procedure bylaw you would if you wish to proceed with that
2h 14.79m good morning again next slide please
2h 14.93m okay I didn’t delegate on this item a committee as I have no problem with the council fixing its mistakes
2h 15.06m Council should never have had an informally agreement to speak for three minutes Council should have put the three minutes into the bylaw that the last review for further to counselor stolti question early should also put the one minutes for questioning in if that’s what was supposed to be happening
2h 15.34m it’s not in the bylaw
2h 15.37m perhaps if the revisions to the procedure by law had not been issued late on a Wednesday Council would have had time to properly review the document
2h 15.54m when watching the video of the latest Committee of the whole P2P committee and the aborted council meeting I was struck by the number of times that a member had to ask for the timer to be started
2h 15.75m all so when watching the video at home there was no way to easily see how long a member was speaking for as there is no timer on the screen
2h 16m I respectfully suggest that the bylaw needs to include an amendment dealing with how council is displayed in the Life feed I’m suggesting that the Life feed needs to have all members of council and the time that applies to them on screen at all times
2h 16.28m next slide please
2h 16.37m okay
2h 16.4m my takeaway from the aborted council meeting are quite different from those of the chief administrative officer in the city solicitor I said that the problem is that lessons are not being learned and they’re tweaking only works when you’re dealing with the robust document I said to delegation in 2024 and which I noted that three Council meetings in the 2020 calendar we’re scheduled on Tuesdays following statutory holidays and that this would mean that the public would not be able to register to delegate
2h 16.92m next slide please
2h 16.97m in response to my delegation the procedure by law was amended by a CL 2016 24 and cl 2624 it was stated the regular Council agenda is typically released on a Friday before the meeting when council is held on a week where there is a holiday Monday staff will publish the agenda on the Thursday before the meeting to ensure that delegates have time to refuse the agenda material and submit their delicate requests by the deadline
2h 17.5m this never made it into the bylaw
2h 17.54m the bylaw only changed the
2h 17.63m the One Day statutory the one day one business Day statutory holiday
2h 17.75m even if it had made it into the bylaw would have been able to find it
2h 17.83m counselor Nissan tried to Google the procedure biolog during the last council meeting what he got was the current procedure by law he did not get the procedure by law as amended into December 2024
2h 18.06m this is what happens when the bylaw is not actually treated as a living document living documents are always up to date
2h 18.21m I’d also point out that the version of the bylaw that the public is likely to get
2h 18.31m is the unmended procedure bylaw not the Consolidated by law as the link on the website on the delegation agenda page is to the wrong documents
2h 18.53m transparent is the website and whose accountable for keeping it up to date
2h 18.63m next slide please
2h 18.69m um the CEO and the city city solicitor tried to say that the failure to get the agenda out on time was a result of trying to compile a bunch of information as requested by Council in a short period of time I submit that the lack of time between cow and Council has been pointed out to council and staff on numerous occasions this slide is just one example
2h 19.14m next slide please
2h 19.22m next slide please
2h 19.31m next slide please
2h 19.35m okay and summary lessons aren’t being learned the tweaking approach isn’t working and take away is the things need to be fixed
2h 19.5m and addition there are several errors in the procedure bylaw that counselors staff have been made aware of but nothing has been done to fix them
2h 19.64m Council needs to direct staff to have a workshop to conduct a holistic review of the procedure by law to fix what isn’t working thank you for your time
2h 19.82m all right just looking to the board I’m not seeing any questions so thank you very much again Jim for being with us this morning
2h 19.94m our next elegant is Eric Stern who will speak regarding options for the temporary elimination of development charges welcome Eric you have seven minutes and there may be questions
2h 20.13m thank you it’s working okay thank you for your time and attention today I have a few things to communicate 0.1 property taxes are regressive tax they impact low-income earners more than high income earners
2h 20.35m I know the fcm is trying to change this today’s reality is they are regressive tax
2h 20.44m asking low-income households and struggling businesses to save the development Industries save jobs and create affordable housing is simply unfair
2h 20.62m the federal and provincial governments have helped Industries in the past for example the Auto industry I’ll just put this up a bit
2h 20.83m those levels of government have tax structures geared to income and profits
2h 20.92m put simply saving an industry any industry is not the responsibility of a lower tier municipal government especially one with out in affordable housing mandate Halton has that mandate in this community
2h 21.15m Colin Williams stated point to
2h 21.2m the only way that we’re going to get be able to sell new units get those units under construction and save jobs is to reduce pricing
2h 21.34m and we saw that on Jim’s chart the cmhc presentation
2h 21.42m there it is direct from the lobbyists prices needs to come down
2h 21.5m so the very high level there are two components to the price of a newly constructed home taxes and then everything else including capital gains on the land in the developers profits
2h 21.7m let’s say for the sake of argument that the price of a newly constructed condo needs to come down 100,000 dollars to be competitive with an already built for a resale condo
2h 21.89m if Burlington steps in with a 10,000 DC reduction on that condo the developer must reduce the price on their side by 90000
2h 22.03m without Burlington’s help the developer must reduce the price by 100,000
2h 22.12m the big question is if Burlington acts alone in the grounding communities don’t Oakville Melton Hamilton Watertown
2h 22.25m do you think the developers were lower prices only in Berlin will they step up and drop their share by 100,000 and the end user the end consumer will take 10,000 dollars
2h 22.45m or will those houses sell at market price as they do today
2h 22.54m it’s difficult for me to imagine that developers and commission real estate agents will lower housing prices below the market price the market price is influenced by resale homes surrounding communities interest rates and immigration levels
2h 22.79m as column Williams stated the price needs to come down to be competitive with the resale Market eliminating development charges reduces the amount that developer has to lower their price not the price charged to the home buyer
2h 23m I believe it’s naive to expect a Burlington only action to lower the market price of a home in Burlington
2h 23.11m simply put it’s impossible to prove that the DC elimination will be passed on to the buyer
2h 23.22m and if it is the buyer flip the home is pointed out earlier and take the profit and so who are we helping
2h 23.34m three Federal immigration policies are major factor in housing prices the federal government is prioritizing permanent residents spots for people already in Canada on temporary visas
2h 23.55m the target for international students in temporary workers has been reduced from 7.5% of the population to 5% that equates to over a million people
2h 23.75m prices are determined by supply and demand the federal government is the elephant in the room reducing the demand and in turn lowering resale prices
2h 23.9m simply put actions by Burlington’s Council will not significantly influence housing prices up or down
2h 24.04m so in summary property taxes are regressive higher property taxes reduce affordability add to homelessness and put pressure on all the businesses in Burlington including the restaurants
2h 24.24m the province is expected to release a budget at the end of March step one wait and see what the Province does when the province of takes an action at a lower the prices in all the surrounding communities and force the development Community to be competitive
2h 24.54m there’s no guarantee that the savings will be passed onto the home buyers mudding the whole affordability argument
2h 24.65m ask Burlington residents of their interested in incentivizing developers to build in Burlington over neighboring communities
2h 24.78m or if they feel the community is crowded and not already
2h 24.85m speaking of asking residents 2.6% of the people who responded to the focus Burlington survey were in favor of eliminating development charges 97.4% were proposed where is the city’s data
2h 25.07m survey data
2h 25.11m and I know the answer why did I have to read a summary of the mayor’s Motion in the Burlington Gazette yesterday
2h 25.21m the most in should have been attached to a revised meeting agenda for this meeting
2h 25.29m from September to February elimination was only an option with funding coming from another level of government
2h 25.4m suddenly things change
2h 25.43m why was in the mayor’s motions for today’s meeting shared with the public when it was announced on social media
2h 25.54m why wasn’t money allocated in the 2026 budget 2% for infrastructure 2% for developers or 2% for salaries and Consultants
2h 25.71m widening roads employees trade people there are other methods of creating employment within the purview of the city
2h 25.85m saving Industries is not a municipal responsibility please stay in your lane and while you’re in your lane please fix some potholes
2h 25.99m if you want to expand your personal mandate run for higher office
2h 26.06m thank you
2h 26.11m okay go ahead
2h 26.16m thank you Eric you bring up a lot of very good points for future conversation 100% my question for you is are you aware of that term if we don’t use the half funding we lose it well first off there’s a view in this Council that have funding money is other money from somewhere else it’s it’s money from Canadian taxpayers
2h 26.5m so it should be used appropriately
2h 26.55m and if half if Halton is responsible for the housing mandate and the view is to create possibly some very low income housing that Halton should be doing that and have funding should be redirected to Halton Burlington creating an infrastructure to build affordable housing and qualify residents to move into that housing is a complete overlap with another level of government it’s not provincial responsibility for Burlington to look after affordable housing so I think the approach needs to be look at the amount of time and money you’re spending on this issue look at the responsibilities that you’re giving by The Province and decide where inappropriate use of that money is okay thank you just appoint a Clarity I totally agree with you about not having the overlap are you aware in our housing strategy that
2h 27.34m we we designed it to specifically start where the region responsibilities leave off so that Burlington housing strategy is not about subsidized housing that the region is responsible for and it’s not about Market housing that the market will take care of itself it’s meant for that middle piece where there is there was no one with oversight over it and would you consider use of half dollars the housing accelerator fund which you’re right is tax dollars from upper-level government which you consider these strategic purchase of land that the city was then the landowner on with ideas like land lease opportunities there’s a development in Oakville I think it’s called Meadowland Muse or something where it’s city city-owned land
2h 28.07m lease in order to make it affordable not to subsidize Regional responsibilities but to that missing piece for Workforce housing would you see that as a better use for half dollars Halton has a program for lower income earners they have a way to measure income they have a way to qualify people well you’re saying is you want to raise the income level of the qualification and you want Halton to handle between 0 and 10 unrealistic numbers on purpose and you want Burlington handled in 10 and 20 you’re going to need software systems you’re going to need people you’re going to have an overlap Halton should manage between 0 and 20 if that’s the goal
2h 28.66m Burlington can help
2h 28.7m interesting idea thank you
2h 28.74m councilman
2h 28.78m all right thank you I always appreciate you what informed delegations in much appreciated you raised the point about repressive taxes and I think find that a fascinating question with respect to the nature of the regulation is from the province that both Define property taxes versus impact and valuation-based property tax determination but the question the triggered in my mind is is you know the accumulation of equity and and how do you bring that into your comments because it’s clear that people who have owned a home alone time have accumulated significant equity and that relates to the property taxes they pay so what’s the answer
2h 29.53m I’m looking at it is what are the rules today
2h 29.58m the rules of the game today are you taxed on the property value inn in reality people that live on the lakes are pay more property tax higher income earners pay more property taxes where the regressive property tax hurts is on the somebody on ODSP they don’t have any flexibility you’re coming in and you’re raising their taxes and there’s nothing they can do about it so that’s the reality we’re in today what the answer is I don’t that’s a different discussion altogether but we have to live within the rules that we have right now
2h 30.1m yeah but what you suggesting if I may follow up on that is that the council Council should therefore solve the problem by changing the tax the way in which you know it’s not at all I’m saying these are the rules we have Council can’t solve this problem and submissive provincial issue I know lobbying is taking place from fcm and from the Big City Mayors and but you know for today’s discussion and then the next two years it’s very unlikely that the change is going to take place
2h 30.59m right so we should just accept that reality and work within it
2h 30.64m appreciate that comment thank you
2h 30.68m cancer currents
2h 30.72m thank you very much through the chair so
2h 30.78m does it give you some comfort to know that the existing Community Improvement plan for affordable housing already has some considerations outlined related to development charges assistance programs that’s in section 5.5 to 5.7 and are you understanding that the difference between the Motions that we might be looking at today are both scoped in two different ways one the way that the motion from three colleague’s identifies is that it requires options for the temporary elimination of development charges full stop that’s the end product the other one which is the one that was put forward by staff originally committee that didn’t carry through provides more of an obtuse path to provide any tools including development charges to help unlock more affordable housing are you and are we even having a conversation with the community that understands the nuances between what we’re going to have
2h 31.78m of before us well that I made the point my delegation the mountain motions to my best of my knowledge I can’t find them have not been made public and this is a really complicated issue there are all kinds of pros and cons of doing things and implications of government actions but you’re you may potentially have walked in here today throw an emotion on the table that the Public’s never seen voted on it and it’s done and the few remaining strands of trust I have with this account so after they property tax presentation of the percent the way you choose to tell us the percentage have been broken completely and we’re broken completely on February 17th when you marry you walked in with emotion you threw it on the table and there was a vote no public input so we need the public has a right when we’re talking about six million dollars or 9 million dollars or 41 million dollars the public has a right to see that and an opportunity for 30 days at least to review it and comment on it we don’t know if
2h 32.78m the start of a building is going to be Foundation port or it’s going to be the developer throws a fence around the property and they’ll get an exemption until they build 20 years from now so none of those details are having made public and this is a hugely complex issue
2h 33.04m okay so my second question for clarity is
2h 33.1m are you aware that there is an existing Community Improvement plan that could be amended versus the request from some colleagues to create the potential for a new community investment plan
2h 33.33m I am not aware of that and I think someone needs to sit back and say is this Mandate of this Council and how much money are we spending on this process
2h 33.52m counselors stolte thank you so my question is one of clarity based on the answer you just gave to Cancer’s first question
2h 33.65m would you feel more comfortable and I think you bring up a really interesting point would you feel more comfortable if there was an I don’t know what tool this would be but some sort of policy implementation for this account so that when motions are being put on the floor that are considering a dollar attacks dollar figure a use of residents tax dollars above a certain figures so if it’s going to include a number I don’t know I’m just gonna throw out over 200,000 dollars that there’s a process that goes in place to ensure that there is time given for public engagement and time giving for proper look at options before decisions are made because I agree with you the idea that we’re making quick decisions without public input on multi multi millions of dollars is not appropriate so what a cap policy that sets a cap and then a process that leads from that be helpful
2h 34.5m yes
2h 34.52m okay okay good counselor Sherman
2h 34.62m thank you very much I just want to come back and clarify as a clarifying question if indeed the CIP
2h 34.75m suggestion recommendation today actually involved dealing with perhaps a members the existing CIP would that be more acceptable say I haven’t read the CIP because all the discussions on this between September and February were another level of government was going to make Burlington Hall and it wasn’t really a big concern for me other than you know I’m not sure about the overlaps and things like that so I haven’t done any research on it and you know I have a life and I like to enjoy my retirement and do other things beside reads Council documents so it’s completely unfair that this issue blows up to weeks ago know and I took totally agree with you which is why we referring it having said that though do you feel also that instead of having sound bites thrown at you would be helpful if we had a more Folsom discussion would be helpful to have some clear information so I asked for the Motions all of those things and for all residents not just for me me too thanks
2h 35.72m the council currents
2h 35.76m thank you very much I’m just going to go through the mayor to touch on that point around Community engagement being tied to a financial obligation do you have any idea how much the decision today might cost
2h 36.01m I don’t even know what the decision today is yeah exactly exactly thanks
2h 36.14m all right I’m not seeing any other questions I do have don’t don’t go away yet I do have I do you’re almost done and I really appreciate you being here Eric and and all the delegates so you did talk about the property taxes being regressive couldn’t agree more and you touched on Federation of Canadian municipalities as well as the association of municipalities as well as Ontario Big City Mayors and many others asking for a new new framework with the federal and provincial governments
2h 36.69m could we count on your support in continuing our advocacy to get that recognizing other provinces don’t have DC’s at all other provinces don’t download Social Services to the local tax base Etc so so this there’s other places in Canada that are ahead of us
2h 37.05m it’s again it’s a complicated issue the federal and provincial governments are based in my opinion broke or approaching bankruptcy so for this Council to come up with ideas and programs that they want to implement and then expect another level of government fund them that’s already bankrupt doesn’t to me it just doesn’t make sense I mean the debt level now the federal and provincial deficits and debts or astronomical so how can you expect those governments to provide give you some of their share you can expect those governments to turn around it increase taxes on people
2h 37.68m and then give you some of that increase in tax
2h 37.73m that’s a possibility but I don’t see them giving up part of their share and to me it just means I think you need to live within your means and get back to doing the boring things that municipalities do cutting grass and fixing bottles and not saving Industries and I’m sorry I don’t I use a lot of wonderful city services let me add that some of these things are more down to earth
2h 38.11m you better choice of worked we’re glad that you use them when you get good value from them my other question is just around the the process for getting motion circulated and out to the community and on the agenda interested in your advice for us our I can tell you that members that wanted to bring motions tried valiantly to get it on the agenda or advised it was out of order with our procedure violin it had to come at the meeting so our next best thing was to to circulate it publicly I hope you’re on newsletters it was in there as well so would you think we would benefit for from some
2h 38.85m maybe changes or updates that would allow those emotions to come forward as part of an addendum and in the council agenda
2h 39.01m I I don’t I’m don’t follow to the level of detail that Jim does Jim Thompson does she should be commanded for doing that so I don’t understand it I don’t think it’s fair and I think something needs to change and I also I received three or four newspapers and other newsletter sorry and other people for other words to me from the community I don’t there’s no details of the motion counselor Sherman I believe yours just doesn’t address the issue
2h 39.47m period the development charges issue you’re most recent newsletter so there’s nothing going out in detail to the community
2h 39.61m okay my follow-up is are you on my newsletter because it was certainly in there more than once okay so mayor at burlington.ca you can you can subscribe that that might be of help okay counter currents
2h 39.87m well it’s a good thing the engagement Charters coming out soon so my question is this do you think we can bring advocacy to the bank or should we be extremely certain on our funding sources before we make decisions
2h 40.11m each check you know I’ve talked to people and the federal government level and they have meetings like this and they talk about a valid use of taxpayer dollars and people’s breakout laughing you know public in the room right taxpayers dollars are taxpayers dollars and they’re important they’re a sacred trust that that we give to staff and we give to this Council to use wisely so yes of course there should be public input when significant amounts of tax dollars are being spent
2h 40.56m thanks my second question is this do you feel like it’s fair to be blamed for not knowing about an upcoming in Amendment using someone’s personal email newsletter
2h 40.74m okay I think I’ll let that one answer itself we’re going to be answering about use of corporate resources tomorrow so it’s really important that we know how the communities getting information and we don’t have that from our community survey in Folsom details so that’s my question okay no Communications about things that are happening at Council should come out in an unbiased and an unfiltered way from the city not the counselor with their own agenda they should come out from the city first and then counselors can certainly comment on them with their own opinions that would be a more democratic process
2h 41.36m okay
2h 41.37m thanks thanks for some good ideas too respect the electric counselor Sherman
2h 41.45m thank you very much I just want to follow up on something you just said do you get my newsletter directly from me I believe so because I did send an update on Saturday did you get that I may have I may not have the grandkids were available Saturday so I had other things to do it was sent thank you all right there was one Wednesday and one Thursday that didn’t cover it
2h 41.83m so I’d already read two in the week and that you know I may have just gone not another one
2h 41.97m and seeing no more questions one one final we’re just glad you got the information one way or the other and you’re here that’s awesome
2h 42.1m so one of the one of the other sort of hurdles that that we face is that typically City doesn’t communicate about a decision from committee before it goes to council they do the press releases after there’s a final vote because it’s just recommendations coming from committee there was no vote at a council meeting so you had referenced fehb 17 there was no vote there it moved it here so would would it be beneficial if there was some City Communications about what happened at committee before something comes to a council vote that’s something we can consider
2h 42.73m well first there are a lot of communications about the items being referred and the change of the purpose of the meeting and there were a lot of the special council meeting whatever today is the second or the third of lost track already but none of them said at any detail they just said there’s a meeting coming but out of fanfare but there was nothing about an agenda or details or what was being discussed and that was on Facebook and Instagram and acts and everywhere else so there was an opportunity there to here’s a link to what we’re actually going to talk about that wasn’t taken and of course it would help because people don’t know what you’re voting on at a council meeting
2h 43.4m how are we supposed to know and a lot of people have to work and pay the so that they can pay their taxes and support your salaries so they’re not able to come to these meetings and listen
2h 43.59m very helpful thank you so much not seeing any other questions thank you thanks for being here okay our last delegate is Albert Hacienda speaking to the options for the temporary elimination of development charges Albert come up you have seven minutes whenever you’re ready
2h 43.93m almost good afternoon
2h 43.97m good morning today I’ll be commenting on temporary lifting of development charges a quick fact
2h 44.08m the GST and HST collected on the construction of new homes over the past
2h 44.18m history has resulted in billions and billions and billions of income coming in for the federal government
2h 44.33m these construction practices in my opinion have been taxed unfairly particularly when you’re paying hsd not only on the construction of the home but also the land that it sits on 75% of housing costs are in land acquisition fees levies DC do you have to pay this is before you even get a shovel on the ground so imagine you want to build a house I already got a bill for a million three and he started building my house yet so these are all government related charges the construction industry is one of the largest and most critical sectors in Canada acting as an major economic engine it employs over 1.6 million
2h 45.01m and contributes approximately 162 billion annually annually to the country’s best product 90% of the industries dominated by small and medium Enterprises more than 60% of all construction companies are micro firms with fewer than five employees
2h 45.31m approximately one out of every 13 working Canadians is employed in the construction industry
2h 45.45m the remaining 50% of income coming in comes from the construction of new homes and condos
2h 45.57m and it produces 71 billion dollars in wages
2h 45.64m which is important source of consumer spending within local communities
2h 45.71m the sector is expected to remain vital part of Canadian economy for years to come
2h 45.8m and supporting housing and Industrial Development
2h 45.87m very very various levels of government have assisted other countless Industries
2h 45.96m such as the automotive manufacturing Airlines
2h 46.03m even Canada post to mention a few via Grant subsidies loans to keep them viable and Alive some of the money that was being given to some of these companies
2h 46.21m just boggles the Mind these companies were giving a ton of money and they all went bankrupt this isn’t the case this is one of the first times I understand that the construction industry is helping for some support
2h 46.39m if development Charges going to be temporary removed they should be removed on all forms of housing
2h 46.49m each housing start comes with a different story and subsequent requirements a single parent with three adolescent kids cannot accommodate that situation in the condominium they would have to purchase a home for a lot more money with a front and rear yard compare that to a retired couple or senior who sells their three million dollar home and decides to purchase a condominium at a much lower price with they be more need of a development charge reduction than the single parent with a small children who prefers to raise him in an actual house where most of us grew up
2h 47.02m take a family brother and sister with children each who decide to bring and share out to buy and share a house with the intention of bringing their parents to live with them this is quite common and popular due to the economic conditions and high income prices if these people bought three condos it would be the same size as single family home he would benefit approximately if we’re talking DC reductions almost 300,000 dollars in reductions and that’s not including the HST reduction which is coming I understand this month in which the HSC is going to be removed is that the third reading in at the Senate and hopefully within the next month I’ve been assured by Karina Gould’s office this is in fact will be in place so they would be an entitled to another HSC refund which would be another 300,000 dollars so these people buying a new condo would be entitled almost 600,000 dollars in reductions where the person buying the single family home for their family to live together would receive nothing
2h 48.04m happened if a cap is placed on certain price points
2h 48.1m with these folks not be entirely reduction in development charges on one home and you only starts at 2 million dollars not long ago these homes could be afforded by working people not their deemed the missing middle that nobody could afford
2h 48.32m as I said before HST relief is coming or so we’ve been promised
2h 48.4m but it’s set at a certain limit of a million dollars which really excludes Burlington for anything because you can’t buy anything new in Burlington for a million dollars I would ask next time some of the counselors are talking to the the feds and say it’s not our fault that houses are a little more expensive why are we being excluded from the benefit of the HST reduction for no particular reason I don’t think and someone in another area should be entitled moreover reduction than people have been Burlington
2h 48.91m so if you want to know why the price of housing is spirals are the control
2h 48.99m just asked me
2h 49.02m thank you you have some questions counselor nisson yeah just a quick question Albert the the issue of HST and that’s being Federal and provincial dollars and the fact that that exceeds the cost of element charges here in Burlington All In
2h 49.36m I know there’s talk about them reducing across the board but nothing yet would you all like to see as a interim measure that they at least fund the DC’s out of all that money that that’s been coming into their General Revenue over year over year over year on the backs of the new homeowners which you support that
2h 49.69m absolutely depending on where the money and the benefit of the HST GSC has been paid throughout all these years it should be them the ponies up the money towards DC’s being temporary moved but I don’t know where that money flows so I can’t tell you who eventually ended up with it I can’t believe that the municipalities didn’t benefit anything from it but once again I’m not sure so I don’t know thank you
2h 50.12m cancer Galbraith
2h 50.16m thank you through the mayor thanks to your delegation always Albert you know being in the industry and in our control I’m very optimistic about the HSC and GST reductions and hopeful as are you under our control is only the municipal funds and Municipal fees that we charge to you guys the developers do you think with a DC reduction it would stimulate any building in the local industry here in Burlington well as
2h 50.68m example the HST reduction that they’re talking about we’ve already approached everyone that’s purchased a house from us but haven’t closed yet that reduction will come off the total purchase price so we’ve already contacted their lawyers to work out how they’re going to arranges sadly most of the lawyers don’t even know what this is all about because it hasn’t been passed in law so they’ve never had their conferences discuss how this works but we’ve made a promise to each person that bought a house that the hsd comes off that comes off your purchase price and would you do the same with a DC reduction
2h 51.2m well no we paid the disease already sorry she paid them up front right yeah because the properties already in the process of being built but in answer to your question that would be yes as well but we paid those already so we can’t get those back unless you want to give them back and we’ll come back to the okay thanks Oliver
2h 51.51m all right I am not seeing any other questions thank you very much all right we are at the end of our delegations we are also at noon so I’m just going to look to counsel to see if you would like to proceed or take a break want to take a break and come back okay so what we are going to do so this item the DC development charges item is our first item when we come back we did reorder the agenda for that so we will reconvene take a recess for lunch and reconvene at 1:00 if you can’t stay that’s okay you can still follow along at home at Burlington dot CA slash meeting so we are now recessed until 1:00 where we’ll pick up the agenda then thanks everyone
3h 48.29m all right welcome back everyone we are back from our recess and we have the items before us to be considered at the special council meeting and our first item it was reordered will be the
3h 48.55m item on options for the temporary elimination of development charges DGM 3206 so I see hands from counselor Sherman Galbraith and stolti
3h 49.65m and so I’m going to go to counselor Sherman first he’s the first and I see and then we’ll proceed with discussion go ahead councilman well thank you very much I think we’ve had so much discussion about the DC the DC issue being you know made free for the developers so we improve their profits I thought we would cut to the Chase and go for the referral that has already been circulated by but by staff and to colleagues and and that’s what I want so I think I think staff have the referral ready and if you wouldn’t mind putting that up in the screen please I will read it and then after that I will have some opening comments thank you
3h 50.71m yeah thank you very much so the referral is report DG refer report dgmo 3-26 regarding options for the temporary elimination of development charges to the commissioner development and growth management and the Chief Financial Officer report back to Committee of the whole on April the 13th 2026 with the potential Community Improvement plan funded from a source other than property taxes such as the federal housing accelerator fund so I want to just comment on that if I may
3h 51.28m you know lesbian a lot of people saying we made decisions at the in the past on the subject and then a decision that would have accounted would have been the one of the 17th that Council that we did not make we didn’t even discuss it there was a lot of a lot of other discussions that and with the deferral of the essentially the entire agenda to today and I have to say that
3h 51.93m since asked by the mayor that had caused me to have a serious concern about where we would head and we didn’t have enough time I acknowledge I felt that we were in a rush and that we did in more time to deal with it but I was not allowed the opportunity to say that on the 17th which actually upset me a bit
3h 52.31m decisions are really formal one on mass as such of this and we have to be really careful that we follow procedure and that’s important in any event the the meeting was was started off by discussion or around a statue of holiday and the effect that had had on delegations I acknowledge that that was important and I support the idea that we should defer or make it longer period between the cow and cows will meetings in the future and if we can make that happen that would be great
3h 52.85m in any event we have not done enough work on this file we still have a lot of discussion to be had we do need to engage the engage the public we can do that by following the procedure of the CIP which requires us to have a cal meeting and the stately public meeting in addition to getting information from the public in other ways which I am completely supportive of I appreciated that was some folks thought we could have done that before but we’re now doing it now because we’ve now had enough conversation to know that we should have done that in the first place thank you
3h 53.43m uh thank you I’ll go to the secondary of the motion Council Galbraith go ahead
3h 53.54m thank you and through the mayor yeah certainly support this referral back to staff and agree with councilman we did not make a decision on February 17th I had a lot more questions we just never got to the item so I didn’t get to ask them but I’m happy with the direction that we’re going here I did not want to hit the property tax base for a subsidy on the DC’s in the first place but I think the federal housing accelerator just in its name points to the direction where we’re going it hopefully will accelerate some housing my focus here as the deputy mayor of red tape and business is to try and help some of our existing businesses stay afloat in the correspondence we’ve heard from you know Pollard Windows lumber yards many businesses that are really suffering from the downturn in construction
3h 54.45m and we have we have some developers that are saying that this a measure of DC reduction can help stimulate projects this year they will it is enough it’s a fine line it’s not a huge amount but it’s one of our buckets that we can look at reducing and it would it would be enough to stimulate some construction and some employment and some jobs that have a real effect on our economy so this is a big industry I really do hope the upper levels of government
3h 54.97m come in with some HST and GST reductions as that would be obviously a lot greater than our portion here but the only thing that we have in our control is is what we have in front of us so I’m certainly happy to send a back to staff get some more public input and make a decision as soon as we can because every day lost right now in this industry is job losses and people suffering so hopefully we can do this
3h 55.44m sooner than later thank you
3h 55.48m Council
3h 55.51m here
3h 55.53m I have a couple of questions of staff there are some reference to what’s before us Jamie or anyone who is available
3h 55.7m Allison
3h 55.76m or Steve yes sorry whoever can most appropriately answer
3h 55.87m okay sounds good
3h 55.91m so thank you the questions I have let me start with a comment as it’s on the floor and there’s been commentary already
3h 56.11m okay let me start with my questions thank you
3h 56.15m thank you for that procedural clarification
3h 56.2m I’ll start with my questions so in regards what we’re looking out on the floor here how is this similar or different from what the original staff Direction was that was or not staffed Direction was staff recommendation that was in our report on February 9th
3h 56.48m through the mayor I may have to raise this up a little more sorry through the mayor to the to the counselor the motion is I’ll say it’s a little more scoped than the staff recommendation if you look at the staff report well either recommendation and a staff report but when you scroll into it to understand what options to a and 2B make reference to there’s a couple things right there’s obviously two a is to develop a new temporary development charge exemption program and it’s we can we can attach criteria like affordability and what have you but then when we get into
3h 57.17m two B of the staff report that’s where we can also or staff were or suggesting that we would also look at the existing programs that are in the council approved CIP already to see if they can be expanded and tweaked and added onto so that we can take a broader View and then come back to council so that we can present a suite of options for Council to decide okay thank you at a point of clarification on that when you say tweaked in amended
3h 57.71m right now the
3h 57.75m what’s the lettering the ARP CIP
3h 57.83m arh CIP
3h 57.89m could it tweak enough to expand past rental and include purchased units is that could be tweaked that far or do we need to come up with a new CIP if it’s going to include both rental and purchased units
3h 58.12m see the mayor to the chair I think no matter what our objective would be to broaden the scope of the existing CIP then create if I’m understanding your question correctly I don’t think we would want to create a brand new CIP just to to address this issue
3h 58.4m in the interest of efficiency and trying to deliver something as quickly as we can and get to that statutory public meeting so that we can really engage industry in the public opening up the existing approved CIP with all of those options is the way to go and you feel that what’s in front of us on the screen is proposing a brand new one a potential CIP Improvement plan are you reading that as a new one that would take longer and be more complicated than tweaking and using the flexibility and the existing one we have
3h 59m I I think we’re into some semantics here and I I’d be open to getting that Clarity from from Council if we would just work within the existing CIP I think I think we’re all going in the same direction it’s just that getting that Clarity but
3h 59.28m again the staff recommendation is that we would work with the existing approved CIP to do not just that but some other things
3h 59.44m sorry just put it on the floor no I have no additional point to clarification I mean we understand clearly what the intent is its to develop a grant program for the temporary elimination and development charges and whether that be a new CIP or an amendment to the existing CIP I think what’s in clear is the intent and that being a CIP grant program provide for the temporary elimination development charges and I agree with the comments that Jamie may we would just look at what the easiest route forward whether it’s an amendment to the existing CIP or a new one that’s sort of a moot point at this park it’s not a concern
3h 59.44m for us to stop in terms of what that would look like I think what we would be focusing on is achieving council’s intent in terms of the outcome thank you
3h 59.58m sorry now sorry sorry Stephen I’m more confused than I was
3h 59.64m that’s in regards to 2A correct to B is the option to look at Beyond DC exemptions at any other tools that might be helpful for us to reach our goals correct that is correct okay thank you is that all one question
3h 59.91m and several follow-up go ahead okay second I have a few so I’ll just take my second question is
4h 0.03m do you need more direction from Council or is the original staff recommendation with out this enough for you to do the work that we’re is essentially being asked for in this motion that’s been put forward is this motion kind of duplicating what you have already proposed in your recommendation and if we just accept the staff recommendation in the report like we could have three weeks ago we could be three weeks further ahead and the work
4h 0.43m the way to the chair
4h 0.48m again I think the the recommendation and the staff report will cover this
4h 0.57m and other things so they again we can really come back with a suite a suite of potential options for Council to consider
4h 0.71m if I just said mayor to the counselor what I think this resolution that are Amendment does in terms of the funding source is where it provides more clarification where before you know the original staff report we were looking at whether it be through reserves or other sources of funding this one is a little bit clearer that it had you know looking other than property taxes in terms of how we fund it so when we report back it’ll be much clearer in terms of the potential funding sources the other factor I think that’s changed significantly since the time of preparation the original staff report is we now have the cmhc housing Port costs to work with so that’s significantly Scopes or reduces the range of financial considerations and we went from an average about five to six hundred dwelling units to less than 350 dwelling units he excludes single detached Wellings so in terms of how we will fund or propose funding mechanisms for the CIP program we will report back with a lot more clarity around what those financial implications will be thank you thank you so if I have
4h 1.71m an amendment mayor
4h 1.74m to take amendment to this can you let me know when would be appropriate time to put that on the table
4h 1.86m to propose so good any further questions or based on an amendment yeah go ahead and do it now and you’ll need a secondary but go ahead to table it yes okay I’m gonna ask for a friendly Amendment then just as far as to make things easy would with the Mover in the secondary consider removing the last one to three four five six seven words of this it concerns me that it reads as I read and I think some members of the public are that is now redirecting the focus away from property taxes away from other sources of funding and onto the housing accelerator fund and I think in order to ensure that we’re looking at all the different funding opportunities other than property tax taking the focus off the housing accelerator fund
4h 2.53m I think my removing those words it’s going to keep this motion much more Global in generalized
4h 2.63m oh look to the Mover and secondary councilman go ahead I guess if it doesn’t actually eliminate that as a potential source of funds and I’m okay with it
4h 2.82m and the second under
4h 2.85m if you know where more money exists other than this I’m welcome I welcome it please there’s a lot of creative options there’s Partnerships there’s all sorts of things so I want to make sure we’re looking at all we’re not now hyper focused on the halfway can’t wait to hear them okay
4h 3.07m okay so we have an amendment move by Council seconded by councilor Sherman to remove the specificity around the half recognizing it’s not needed as I understand at staff can look at that without that direction so
4h 3.29m do we we need to vote on the amendment do we not or can we
4h 3.38m through you can we just change it before there’s a vote we’ve just changed it now it’s not like friendly man it’s me correct me if I’m wrong
4h 3.52m okay well we’ll do it that way then and I will go to the next speaker on the board which is counter Nissa and just so that everyone benefits from what I mentioned to counsel T just to help me track time and speaking order and all of that if you could at least now specify if you’re going to speak to emotion or ask questions and separate them rather than intermingle them because it’s really hard for me to track your time if you’re switching from statements to questions so do one or the other is fine because there’s a motion on the floor but will just let me know when you’re going to speak whether it’s a question or a statement and then we’ll proceed with the timer if it’s a statement
4h 4.28m and you well we’ll proceed with the timer and I won’t be tracking time to add back so you get two speaking times to each motion so you can use it now or you can save it for later so just so every once I hope clear on that go ahead count sir Nissan
4h 4.55m yeah thank you your worship so first the question for the clerk procedural question I just want to make sure that we are operating under a motion to refer at this point
4h 4.77m I’m not an amendment so I just want to make sure because I do have an amendment that I want to get on the floor I want to make sure it doesn’t miss the opportunity
4h 4.94m through you Mary yes this is where operating under the emotion to refer okay
4h 5.07m and I’ll be all questions you’re worship until I’ll let you know when I’m ready for for comments and so I mean first question I want everyone on the same page
4h 5.28m yes Jamie since you’re standing
4h 5.35m development charges
4h 5.38m who are they paid by
4h 5.41m to the city
4h 5.46m so just before you answer that
4h 5.51m I’m just going to check with the clerk around what questions are permitted during a referral
4h 5.61m that we’re not opening up the entire item at this point we’re talking about whether we should refer it and the elements that are on the screen
4h 5.76m I believe
4h 5.84m certainly want to allow the maximum amount of conversation but I want to make sure that we follow appropriate procedure here
4h 5.98m so through mayor the motion is certainly debatable generally comments will stick to the mat the merits of actually referring the item but I think there’s room for a little bit of latitude there too
4h 6.2m okay so the will proceed in that manner go ahead counter Nissan yeah I will ask the question again but I would just like to note that a referral came immediately with no option for us to ask questions about the reports so let’s be careful not to use procedure to shut down debate here are limit debate on the items so my question refers to report DGM 0326 which is in the motion and please let’s let’s give that an opportunity just to have an airing I’m not
4h 6.79m I’m not willing to have this closed off prematurely so yeah that was the question Jamie who pays for the development charges to the city
4h 6.96m through the mayor to the counselor the developer pays the development churches and that’s paid prior to occupancy of the building
4h 7.08m okay thank you
4h 7.12m I will go back in line because with this referral on the table I just want to get my ducks in a row thank you your worship
4h 7.28m thank you and thank you to the clerk for guiding us through how we can both show latitude and stick to her procedure by lot the same time it’s delicate balancing go ahead cancer
4h 7.51m okay well I don’t think it’s delicate balancing we jumped to a referral and we have it I still don’t know what
4h 7.62m you know striking new information there is so so I’m a little bit blind so some of my questions I’ll ask for that Latitude
4h 7.76m one of the things that I just don’t quite understand is this one here before us speaks to a potential Community Improvement plan that doesn’t have its scope of work let’s just say already scoped but we do have the affordable rental housing CIP already scoped can you help me understand the difference between
4h 8.16m folding into one that already exists versus what does potential mean and if it’s not a potential CIP could it be with this wording of potential bylaw
4h 8.41m through the mayor to the counselor well again
4h 8.51m I think we all understand the intent of what we’re trying to do the word potential Community Improvement plan I suppose if you fear to read that in its most literal way it could mean a new a new one or
4h 8.78m I guess what’s missing is the word Amendment to the existing Community Improvement plan if that
4h 8.89m gives you the clarity that you’re looking for counselor
4h 8.97m so then my follow-up would be
4h 9.01m staff would feel more comfortable working within sort of the big big parameters already set out and the I’m going to use acronyms for everybody Ark h i p
4h 9.23m to the mayor to the chair correct the again all just refer you back to the recommendations and the staff report which were perhaps a little more broad a little more Global and nature where we would we would look at
4h 9.5m development charges as well as the existing programs that are in that to and then come back with some recommendations but the staff report was all with the understanding we would do that within the approved CIP not with creating a new second CIP simply for efficiency so that we can keep things progressing okay okay that’s good so then I guess
4h 9.89m mayor at your discretion I will be looking to the movers to see if they would welcome a friendly amendment to say instead of within a potential to say within the existing affordable rental housing CIP
4h 10.16m so keep it scope to within the objectives of the plan that we have already available to us and supported by great work
4h 10.31m secondary is here
4h 10.35m okay that has been moved and seconded we’ll get that language up and then I will that was that’s a question back to the Mover and secondary if they want to scope it to the existing or or not go ahead cancer Charmin
4h 10.64m well I heard I heard the commission say that it wasn’t necessary it was kind of Moot and that they will look at any option in order to get us to a good place and by the way whatever it is is going to be subject to two meetings and public data input so I’m going back to the commissioner for his comments on that whether it’s necessary or not
4h 11.01m so if I may respond I heard I heard differently I’m sorry
4h 11.1m just hang on
4h 11.13m let me manage the meeting I’d like to
4h 11.18m Steve to respond as requested by councilman who lost held the floor and then I’ll come back go ahead thank you mayor to the counselor as I indicated staff clearly understand what councils intent is and that is developed a grant program for as it relates to development charges and an amendment is not needed to further clarify what council with this resolution is seeking I think planning DGM stop her very clear in our mind as to what the council’s intent is I’m stopping not be opposed of counseling we’re doing the resolution to make reference to the existing Community Improvement plan however based on the resolution and the current wording I don’t feel that an amendment is required because we clearly understand what the intent of counsel is as it relates to coming back with a report on a community Improvement plan that would provide DC relief through a grant program thank you
4h 12.1m thank you I don’t feel the need to change
4h 12.17m hey
4h 12.18m mister currents back to you point of order do I have the right to ask for a vote at this point or more questions I just don’t feel disposed of my request my amendment is not complete for me
4h 12.39m okay so we have a we have it moved in seconded we don’t have it on the screen yet but it’s coming the amendment to scope it to the affordable housing
4h 12.62m rental program CIP we can get that up
4h 12.69m for you and you will have the floor for either comments or additional questions on it just let me know which so we know whether to start the clock
4h 12.87m so if you just want to pause for a moment
4h 12.94m I’ll give you and the secondary the opportunity to speak to that first and second
4h 13.11m and counter Gallery I didn’t get you give you an opportunity to speak to the amendment as the Mover of the original or the secondary of the original
4h 13.25m so we’ve got three potential speakers here do you are you okay to wait until you hear from the other two and then speak to it
4h 13.38m okay
4h 13.4m go ahead sorry we have a point of order just hang on I’m just and if everyone would wait and let me recognize you first before speaking that would be super helpful but counselor to you did catch my attention for a point of order go ahead thank you I’m not clear and I was getting the strong impression that there are other members of committee and Council here who are not clear I feel like we’re hearing two different answers from managerial staff as a post to our Commissioner of growth management and given the fact that this motion or direction is towards our commissioner I’m really uncomfortable with
4h 13.98m the commissioner indicating that his understanding of what he’s going to be looking at as a scope DC elimination program and our staff are telling us no it’s going to be broadly looking at everything so before we go ahead with any kind of amendments or or debate on amendments I think it’s super important that we have Clarity from staff that staff are clear on how broad we want the scope versus how not narrow we want the scope
4h 14.37m okay that’s fair enough I will take that as a point of order for the business so that we understand the motion that’s going forward so given this is a direction to the commissioner I will turn it to you Steve and to tell us I think the question really was whether the amendment was necessary for you to bring back your work and that that will guide I’m sure our preceding here go ahead
4h 14.83m thank you there the short answer is no based on what the intent of the motion is relating to options for the temporary elimination of development charges so I don’t feel that the based on that it’s being council’s intent what they’re asking staff to report back on it whether we need to clarify whether it’s an amendment to the existing CIP program or brand new CIP program it’s we’re going to be focusing on achieving the council’s intent in terms of that direction I would be honest we may get into a process where we’re looking at amending the currency IP and we may find it’s easier to say no let’s just write a new CIP and come back with that for clarity purposes or conversely we may find that it’s just simply adding a paragraph or two to the existing CIP and rebranding it to clarify what the CIP scope is and then we will report back to committee and council with an amendment to the CIP but at this point in time because we have not put pen to paper as to what that would look like I can’t say whether it be a brand new CIP or an amended CIP
4h 15.83m P so sorry but basically we will be coming back with a community Improvement program that implements councils Direction and intent in terms of a temporary elimination of development charges when I said once staff are doing the detail work we may find it’s easier to go one way or the other but at this point in time we’re not sure which of those two routes would provide a cleaner and a clearer path forward to implement council’s direction thank you so leaving it as it is provides us with a little bit of flexibility that would we that stop will require to drop that CIP program and bring it forward in a corns with the April 13th deadline thank you
4h 16.5m okay I will turn it back to the Mover and seconder
4h 16.58m councilor currents go ahead
4h 16.64m yeah I’m just gonna need a minute with that information because I find it really unsettling when we have heard that the more efficient path would be to amend what’s already existing and unapay and has an agreement around its objectives versus creating from scratch a new
4h 16.94m CIP plan find it has all of the preliminary activities associated with it but scoping it to be exclusive to and I heard you use the word a grant for just the temporary elimination of development charges excludes any other options based on the literal reading of this
4h 17.28m referral motion and I’m really uncomfortable with that because what I’m trying to do is get to a place where we’ve optimized all the resources that we have available to us to achieve the policy directives set out an agreed upon within the affordable rental housing community Improvement plan so I’m a little bit remiss which is why maybe this referral piece was rushed when we don’t have a full sense of
4h 17.7m all the Dynamics at play that were contained within the original options and within what was discussed at committee so I’m going to have to hold that information with me for a minute because it seems like it’s conflicting with your staff
4h 17.94m okay counselor Nissan just advise if you have questions or want to make a comment so we know how the timer Works go ahead okay I might we need to do a little sausage making here unfortunately what I would propose to counselor Kern this is all happening quick is that
4h 18.27m we worked together in amendments maybe we need five minutes I’m not sure but to say that it would be the arh CIP in the first instance and if necessary a new CIP
4h 18.44m so if it’s in the current one that’s better if not we go to the new one
4h 18.49m you know I wish we were a committee right now frankly this is a committee type type of work but
4h 18.59m I’m going to just ask my mover if she would be a okay with that if she wants a couple minutes to think about it
4h 18.74m okay I do have yeah no worries so within within a new or existing so that is I just need to check if
4h 18.91m if you’re okay to amend your own motion then we don’t
4h 18.97m then we can just do that I think
4h 19.03m that would be the idea if but I haven’t heard from the movie okay it’s happening very very quickly things are moving quickly we’re in Council so
4h 19.17m do you need to okay I will leave that with you for a moment and I will recognize counselor Galbraith who is the Mover of the original to speak to this who hasn’t had a chance yet and then I’ll go in the order on the board go ahead
4h 19.42m yeah
4h 19.45m I think we’ve heard our commissioner speak a couple of times to it and he doesn’t feel the amendment is needed so I don’t feel we should be scoping this
4h 19.61m anymore than it already is I am I’m putting in staff’s hands come back with the options and
4h 19.7m so I I don’t even know where the amendment is at right now but
4h 19.78m the way it was originally worded I don’t think I would have supported it I just I would like to see staff come back with the options that they feel
4h 19.91m the direction is and I think they’ve they’ve told us that a couple of times now so thank you
4h 20.05m going in the order that I
4h 20.1m seek we currently have it has not been amended yet
4h 20.16m so a cancer been to venue go ahead
4h 20.26m thank you mayor
4h 20.28m with respect to
4h 20.33m going to committee I mean what we’re doing here from what I understand what I hear from staff can I just pause you for sick are you in comments on this on this or question just so I know where about the clock Angela are you in comments or questions right now so I know what to do with the clock and how to record speaking time on the on the amended motion
4h 20.69m okay can you get right to that question for me that would be helpful thanks
4h 20.8m thank you so my question is staff is
4h 20.88m in the report are we going to get because we were talking about the flexibility and a different programs that were were looking at will we receive
4h 21.05m things items like Financial issues any risks that we may have
4h 21.15m and
4h 21.21m to understand more
4h 21.24m of specifically what
4h 21.29m CIP we’re going to be heading towards
4h 21.43m through the mayor to the counselor yes we would include the amendment
4h 21.5m whether it’s a new CIP or an amendment to the existing Community Improvement plan but irregardless of either or option with input from the Chief Financial Officer in terms of the funding sources the financial costs on projected housing activity etc etc is would be looking to my be looking to Mr Mueller and his team to provide that input into the reports it would be a joint report prepared by both our teams thank you
4h 21.93m just the follow-up for that like to add
4h 22m if
4h 22.02m there are any
4h 22.05m appeal issues that may arise from this
4h 22.11m it may not be I don’t know the legal part of it is but will we have that information as well
4h 22.24m so I like to have that information as well through mayor to the counselor yes in terms of the planting act process that’s laid out we will provide that overview in the report in essence a community Improvement plan or an amendment or an amendment to a community Improvement plan is subject to the requirements that we hold the public meeting and anybody can appeal the decision of council to approve a community Improvement plan but we will outline that in more detail when we report back in April in terms of the specific planning act provisions and those rights that citizens have to appeal the decision of council should they decide to amend or approve a new community Improvement plan thank you
4h 22.91m another follow-up to that same question on the Olt your last one go ahead so
4h 23.04m once that happens the assume there’s an appeal
4h 23.11m will we understand the consequences if there are any
4h 23.19m regarding that
4h 23.23m the Merit the counselor yes in terms of what would be the implications if there is an appeal to the CIP during that appeal period we would outline that in the staff report as well thank you
4h 23.43m thank you all right cancer needs on back to you
4h 23.53m actually I think I would
4h 23.57m give up my time to eventually hear back from the Mover about that change so I’ll give up my time for the moment okay counselor stolte question or comment just let me know question thank you sorry it’s a follow-up because I’m still not clear and I’m sorry if I am being very dumb on this one I don’t feel like I am but I am if I’m understanding Steve
4h 23.94m you are saying that the motion that’s imported right now on the screen if it’s the way it is
4h 24.03m that the scope of the work and the report that will be getting back is specifically only on one tool and that is on options for temporary elimination of development charges because that’s how it’s literally being asked for in this motion
4h 24.21m first is two-parter first is my understanding from staff Jamie is that staff recommendation Part B maybe this is where I’m getting hung up on the wording says an opportunity Part B is an opportunity to review the existing programs and light of changes to date that may identify non-dc exemptions so you’re saying that option b gives
4h 24.53m it’s going to look at tools like DC’s and other tools whereas the emotional on the floor right now Steve you’re saying if it’s accepted as it is it’s just looking at that one tool am I understanding correctly
4h 24.75m through the mayor to you councilor correct I when you look at the staff report staff to be
4h 24.88m if you read them the motion that’s on the table stop or option to be starts to fall off the table if you will and in a sense because it’s meant to explore things Beyond just right whereas two a is very much in alignment with with the motion I apologize for earlier confusion I think we were focused on potential versus some of the wording there we may be glossed over that point okay thank you so I would not support this because I don’t want to scope to just temporary elimination development charges so clerk that my second question then is in order of our
4h 25.5m procedure by law
4h 25.54m what takes precedent emotion to accept the staff recommendation as in the report does that come before potential referral motion or does it referral motion take Preston over that
4h 25.72m through you mayor the referral motion takes pressing over that right now in Amendment to the referral motion is on the floor so let’s if the amendment was adopted the motion to refer would be amended at but still be on the floor after this amendment so if I want to put a motion forward to accept the recommendation staff recommendation that comes down the line down the line okay thank you
4h 26.06m okay counselor currents
4h 26.1m okay great so I’m going to take a very strong stand put a Line in the Sand here’s the two differences that I see here so when I look back to February 9th in the recommendation report provided by staff related to a CIP they clearly and succinctly identified that any measures must be flanked by the city’s affordable rental housing community Improvement plan
4h 26.56m that I completely agree with 100% I don’t think anyone around this table doesn’t want to provide for more affordable rental housing options we’ve already made that commitment what I see in front of us with this revised one is dropping that affordable rental housing component and creating a wide open playing field which I’m not comfortable with so the only way you’ll have support from me in any way shape or form is if there is a strong containment for the city’s affordable rental housing community Improvement plan to be captured and contained in anything that we move forward with today so that leaves folks here around the horseshoe with two options a drop this referral 100% And
4h 27.32m come back to what the staff have originally offered us which is the latitude to use different tools including the temporary elimination or relief or grants as we heard from the commissioner from development charges but they must be within the context of delivering the objectives contained in the affordable rental housing community Improvement plan so to that and
4h 27.73m I will put my amendment to this here firmly on the floor asking for a vote that indicates within the existing and I just need some wordsmithing by the clerks if you don’t mind when I said capital I actually meant can you capitalize affordable rental housing not Capital plan so what’s going to be before you is I’m going to ask you to please vote
4h 28.11m Council on whether to include or exclude the words affordable rental housing community Improvement plan in the referral and I will ask you for that vote so clerks can you please fix it to say remove the word capital and please capitalize affordable rental housing community Improvement plan
4h 28.46m and then I’ll ask the chair to call for the vote if there’s no more questions
4h 28.58m okay we’ll just take a moment to get that on the screen
4h 29.04m okay cancer Nissan and just clarify questions or comments so we know how to proceed sure I think I’m ready for around the comments go ahead on the motion that I am seconding so I’ll be honest I think that what we’re doing here is we’re we’re building up a plane in mid-air rather than just going with the staff recommendation and so the referral doing this as a refill is extremely awkward with respect to the amendments
4h 29.63m I based on my conversations with staff this is the right way to go I’m not against moving beyond the arh CIP if necessary but I think we should definitely be looking at this first my understanding is there are unmet needs already in the arh CIP and so this is expanding the options around DC around the DC’s but I think the most important thing is that that CIP is still at the center
4h 30.11m like you know I’m not against adding in the other you know a new CIP if necessary but my understanding is that it’s not necessary so no motion is perfect but as far as a men goes we can include this amendment and people could add in an existing CIP after as a second option if they want to but definitely we got to have the arh CIP because without that we’re not acknowledging it and
4h 30.54m I just want to add you know my
4h 30.61m my friendly advice to my colleague says if it’s not in the motion it’s not official so staff interpretation today can different different from today to tomorrow this is the
4h 30.79m this is the bylaw this is the this is the report you know this is going to be official in the minutes the staff interpretation is not official in the minutes so whatever you want to get done let’s get it in this let’s get it into this referral motion and I will have other motions later thank you
4h 31.13m okay thank you very much counselor stolti questions or comments so I’m just gonna make comments now that I have the clarity I need especially from the Mover that the intent of this what’s before us is definitely to scope it to only conversations about the temporary elimination development charges and not as it was outlined under staff recommendation to be which is why also identify non-dc exemptions so I cannot at all support this as if it’s scoped purely to the temporary elimination of element charges so I will not be supporting this and I’ll look forward to putting an option on the table when the time comes for us to accept the staff recommendations so that we can look at not at DC elimination as an option as well as other non-dc options as to see where we get thank you
4h 31.97m okay I have a speaking order but cancer Christians do you have a point of order on this or I think you want to respond to of order if you may
4h 32.13m go ahead so just to counselors still tease comments I think we’re only speaking right now I hear you what you said we’re just speaking to the inclusion my only amendment right now on the floor is that I’ve changed potential CIP to affordable rental housing community Improvement plan that’s what the vote will be for period full stop if anybody wants to make any other changes that’s for another round right now the vote is purely with the bolded words that’s it
4h 32.64m okay councilor Galbraith
4h 32.71m thank you and I guess through the mayor just a question to Staffing it to only affordable rental housing community Improvement plan does that eliminate
4h 32.95m you know condos single family homes Townhomes from the CIP
4h 33.09m and development charge relief
4h 33.16m over to the commissioner go ahead
4h 33.23m through mayor to the counselor we would
4h 33.28m based on the existing terms of the CIP the short answer is most likely yes what would be required would be amendments to the existing CIP program to broaden it to include different classes of development that was outlined I believe in the original staff report so as part of the revisions or changes that would be proposed to the CIP would be to broaden the scope to include either all or more categories of Market or tainable residential as well as we would consider rebranding the CIP to more reflected its intended to accelerate housing options within the City of Burlington and not just limiting it to affordable rental housing so that would be part of the scope of the amendments to the CIP that stop would report back on thank you
4h 34.05m thanks for that and can I comment no
4h 34.09m for sure yeah we’ll get the clock going go ahead
4h 34.14m I’m just gonna remain consistent here I my concern is the the people building homes people working in this community
4h 34.3m the supply chain that is is all being severely affected at the moment I want to broaden the scope to include anything that’s being built basically so that people can get back to work I want to be part of the solution not the problem I think
4h 34.58m you know I had people say to me local governments upper level governments are in the way they are the problem they continue to add red tape year over year I’m I’m looking to eliminate it and make it easier to build and get people working so I’m not going to support scoping it to this degree and yeah those are my thoughts
4h 34.97m all right I’m going to look to
4h 35.03m think first time speaker on this you had questions earlier Angelo so I’m going to go to you for comments and unless you have questions just let me know
4h 35.21m okay comment on this
4h 35.23m okay thank you
4h 35.26m I was going to bring up with counselor Calvin was saying I want to see it broaden as well in my ward I have
4h 35.4m seniors residents going up
4h 35.44m if this is not
4h 35.48m this could be a potential problem for
4h 35.52m that particular organization that’s doing good things for seniors
4h 35.65m I’m not going to support us so
4h 35.7m I just want to see a broaden I think it’s very very important thank you
4h 35.81m all right counselor Sherman go ahead
4h 35.88m thank you very much yeah when we talk about affordable rental housing that lasts for you know a year or two in the next thing we’ve seen is that rentals rents are going up extremely significantly we see older people selling the home’s movie into rental properties and the next thing you know they can’t afford to live there anymore but they would have been better off in their original owned home so I believe that any any additional housing whether rental or owned is is the right way to go so I don’t wish to narrow the opportunity to increase homes for what ever as long as they all within on notion of relatively affordable
4h 36.51m thank you I will not be supporting the amendment
4h 36.59m all right cancer Nissan your next on the board questions or second and final time to speak if you wish go ahead thank you it will be a question I need to lay it out to 100 long
4h 36.85m I think there’s a misunderstanding around this Council right now about what this means
4h 36.94m So based on my conversations with staff on Friday
4h 37m if we open up and this will be the question please confirm that I am getting this correct if we open up the affordable rental housing community Improvement plan
4h 37.16m and by the way you can add or another plan you can add that Amendment later if you want to okay the Mover didn’t want to but you can do it after but if we include the arh CIP
4h 37.34m what Steve was saying is that we will it will be amended to allow all types of housing to be included
4h 37.45m okay they’ll do their you know whatever their best judgment is it is not it is no more limiting than it would be with a new CIP it is the same deal but between the two so so you’re not limiting anything by supporting this year just the question is do you want to do it in the existing CIP which would be more efficient in my opinion or do you want to do it through a new CIP or do you want them to look at both and that would be okay too so question for staff that might characterizing the situation correctly or which you like to add anything
4h 38.03m presume the name would change too by the way so this you know it looks like a rental housing now but it would be broadened and changed
4h 38.16m through mayor to the counselor
4h 38.23m I have no comments or changes or I concur with your comments that we could if we were to expand the scope of the CIP program to all forms of housing I would suggest that we would probably look at rebranding the current CIP program I was just sorry reviewing the staff report and which we did indicate that the CIP program could be geographically scoped or could be type of development scope or a combination of both so we would be looking at all of those options based on our current official plan policies the housing strategy and the intent to what council is trying to council’s Direction in the motion when we report back in April thank you
4h 38.86m okay counts are currants either question or comment let me know share probably last comment so let’s be reminded that market housing is squarely contained in Section 3 of the housing needs and opportunities report within the city of Burlington’s Innovative housing strategy so it’s clearly scope that it is on the Continuum of options however what that said it is also Bound by our ability to make the best use of our resources within the confines of our affordable rental housing CIP which is Guided by an informed by our housing strategy so if we took all the money to eliminate development charges on solely and only private full rate housing that wouldn’t allow us the opportunity to achieve some of our other priorities so what we’re really doing here is an exercise in optimizing resources and prioritizing where we need to fill the gaps in our market and housing Continuum across its entire expanse so
4h 39.86m to remove this
4h 39.9m affordable rental housing community Improvement plan from the what will be a legally binding or a legally recognized direction of Staff would be remiss to leave that whole piece out and all of the other policies that it supports so taking this out is non-negotiable for me I can’t believe that we would take a path that doesn’t include all the work that’s already been done and if we’ve already sorted ourselves out with what Market rent and market purchase is available we heard from one of our delegates that there’s lots on the market people just can’t afford it so it’s their people can afford it so there’s your affordability crisis our scope today is to identify ways to unlock through the tools that we have including our housing accelerator fund ways to fill in the gaps that we have in our targets that we’ve committed to one of those is the missing middle and so I’m hopeful that we’re giving staff the path which they already gave us which was to A and B to fill in
4h 40.9m those gaps in the middle to help us unlock the full delivery of our housing accelerator fund money and to close the gaps that will help deliver directly to people who want to call Burlington home a place for them to live my job is not to shore up an industry if we were to scope this specifically and it gets used up all by private Market builds that subsidizing an industry and then we really need to look at our bonus in section and I don’t have legal advice on that at this time so I would like that but we’re in a referral we don’t have a chance to ask the big questions yet so I won’t move on not including our affordable rental housing community Improvement plan and I’m actually hopeful we can Circle ourselves back around to get to the original staff Direction I think that’s the way to optimize everything that we have to get the most homes in our community and get the most people working
4h 41.8m countertop for second time comment go ahead thank you
4h 41.89m so I’m going to try and keep it brief and I’m going to build off what cancer was just saying well I do like
4h 42.02m that we’re narrowing the affordable rental housing community Improvement plan
4h 42.09m and I do appreciate the fact that by opening that up we’re not scoping it only to rent over scoping it to include
4h 42.19m what comes down to and that comes back to my very first question I asked staff today when we started back into the conversation after lunch was do you need us to give you direction do you need us to scope it and they said no that
4h 42.38m any
4h 42.4m motions be it to look at the arh CIP be it to scope it to Temporary elimination and development charges any way that we’re trying to scope we all have differences of opinion based on what we believe based on what we’ve heard from staff based on what we understand based on what we’ve heard from the community we all have different concepts about how it should be scoped when push comes to shove we all agree I think by now that a CIP is likely the best tool I believe we all agree that staffs recommendation that includes looking at DC charge elimination or reduction and other non-dc tools it’s going to give us professional advice that’s not going to be limited it’s not going to be so scope we’re going to get the best information that we need to be clear we’re going to get the best information for the community that they need to be clear and that by asking to do this what we’re doing on the screen which is to continue to narrow it down we’re going to miss opportunities that staff was clear right from the start to say we recommend option two in two B that’s going to give you in the
4h 43.4m be the best information possible and I believe that if we were to take away what’s on the screen and go back to the original staff direction or staff recommendation that is the most respectful way for everyone around this council chambers and the community to get all of the information non-site that we can thank you
4h 43.76m cancer Sherman
4h 43.8m thank you
4h 43.86m you know I think we’re having the conversation we should be having in a month’s time right here right now if we’re not happy with what we get back then we can make that decision and we can change it as we need to I’m not even just disturbed about that but here we are trying to scope it down narrow it change it reduces I don’t want to do any of that I just want to get on with the job you know the public in response to some some Publications was response was quite loud you know let’s have that conversation and let’s let’s make it available to the public and let them getting engaged and that can be every angle you just been talking about whatever you want just bring it on and we’ll have those conversations in the course of time but be trying to do it now we’re wasting time people thank you
4h 44.56m okay I see both Council Nissan and Kern’s hands you’ve used your speaking times you still have opportunity for questions or to move a change to the motion if either option is available to you so counter Nissan your first sorry Airship I remember the last time I said that was a it was a question and I was on one yeah yeah you’re right you do I’m apologize go ahead Okay so
4h 45.02m in the spirit of councilman’s comments I would suggest that to just drop this entirely this referral entirely if you want to get back to back to business and then we’ll vote and I believe support the staff recommendation what I’m trying to do as a secondary on this is improve it such that it gets us close as possible frankly to the staff recommendation and it’s going to be piece by piece and it’s going to take us all afternoon I assure you because I’m gonna add two and two B in here and I’m going to remove Source other than property taxes and change it to upper level funding and we’re gonna be here a while so because in the context of a referral it’s very challenging to to our work especially a referral that where we’re in council with the strictures of our commenting periods so my intentional is still through the mayor is not to limit anything through this in fact coming up after this would be another one to say or another
4h 46.02m or CIP if necessary so again we can do this all day like I would
4h 46.13m I’m I’m happy to keep doing it all day but I think the most efficient thing would be to just dump this referral frankly excuse the language but drop this referral and then we can actually talk about the main staff report and recommendations so this then if you do that this amendment to the referral also goes away otherwise we’re going to do it piece by piece and there’s a lot of Staff time in this room right now so definitely stand by this for now but would rather just see it all go away thanks
4h 46.61m counselor Kearns a question or an additional motion go ahead mine’s going to be a question so my question to counselor Sherman is what is not in staff recommendation to A and B that is in yours because to counselor Nissan’s point I’m going to go in and start giving a bunch of amendments around taxes that say bracket not to include retain savings reduced capitals so we’re going to be here all day
4h 47.1m what do you what are you not getting from staff’s recommendation to A and B that you feel will achieve be achieved here because first and foremost there was an Omission around even including the affordable rental housing community Improvement program so that is Step One is to guide us by things that we have agreed upon as important to our community by way of the work that’s already been done and is founded on strong reports and studies so what are you not getting and do you want to be here all day
4h 47.6m thank you very much for the question I do not believe there was a mission with respect to the full rental housing community Improvement plan I also believe that if you’re threatening us with keeping us so going let’s go bring it on otherwise I’d like to have the vote taken right in this moment right now thank you
4h 47.96m I’ll repeat the question
4h 48m what is not and do you have any insights on what is not included into a and b that should her ought to have been included including the reference to affordable rental housing keeping it scoped to the amendment to the amendment Commissioners the question
4h 48.28m okay that the commissioner has that’s cancer charm and answer so I’ll just jump in for a moment
4h 48.46m I’m I’m hoping we can get to some consensus here
4h 48.53m I I believe we’re closed actually I think the there’s two things that I’ve heard in the so yeah tiny thank you there’s two things I’ve heard in the dialogue there’s a desire to not limit it only to the affordable rental housing but to
4h 48.86m have either a new or existing so for me a simple addition of within the new or so two words would fix it for me I could support that entirely
4h 49.06m I wasn’t comfortable with the original staff recommendation that came forward I read it as limiting it to the rental housing and in my mind I wanted to have broader options than that
4h 49.25m so that would help me I think it would help the community we got a communicate this to them words matter and and this looks pretty exclusive on Plain reading of it so I could get behind this with a new ore and then to counter
4h 49.55m comments around other non-dc
4h 49.62m a charges if we added and non-dc funds or sources
4h 49.73m I could get behind that and and we could
4h 49.79m we could vote on this the conversation that we need and want to have is when the CIP comes back so giving a little bit of direction to stuff but not handcuffing them I think is where I’m sensing the mood of council is
4h 50.05m and and then when it comes back in April we will have two opportunities to discuss and debate it’s still would have to go to a statutory public meeting and Council so another two opportunities to discuss and debate I don’t feel in a position today to have that dialogue I think we need the information which is why the referral is here so I I don’t know if there’s a mover for either of those two but if there is I think we might be able to get to where we need to go while giving staff just enough Direction but enough maximum flexibility to bring us back what they’ve heard us say we want but be clear to the community there’s no property tax impact that was a concern that we’re looking at more than just rental and there were looking at Beyond DC’s I think those are important message is to the community in this conversation so
4h 50.96m um that’s my recommendation and I okay counselors stolte go ahead I see between California and myself we’re giving each other nonverbal communication that we would move in Second Amendment to that effect I think that would require five minutes to work okay let’s let’s take we’ll take a recess for five minutes see if we can get that teed up and and hopefully get everyone on board for that okay let’s come back Point see let’s come back at 2:00 what time are we two 15 okay sorry two
4h 51.58m oh two ten let’s come back at 2:10 gives us seven minutes I think thanks everyone appreciate it
5h 0.87m okay folks we are back from our recess the new words
5h 1.02m are the underlined parts and that has I think we’ll have to ensure that the underlined Parts have been moved and seconded by councilor stolti in Nissan
5h 1.23m the original bold was cancer so we can take
5h 1.33m unless counts are currants is okay with all of that and we can leave it at is as is or will take it into parts
5h 1.45m so that is what is on the screen now and I’ll ask if there are comments to that or questions before I called the vote
5h 1.63m cancer currents thanks very much so just being very clear I’ll look for my vote first on simply the words affordable rental housing community Improvement plan that’s the
5h 1.84m I guess it’s technically the First Amendment but we can call it second that I will take the vote on we’ve had discussion on that I haven’t had any discussion on what’s underlined I don’t know what it is I’d like my vote specifically affordable the Bold non underlined affordable rental housing community Improvement plan
5h 3.03m that’s fine we can take it in two votes counselor Sherman
5h 3.12m with these lost amendments I’m satisfied with the entire document whether it’s underlined or not
5h 3.25m all right seeing no further speakers we will take the the vote into Parts first on the affordable rental housing community Improvement plan Edition and I will turn it over to the clerk for the recorded vote on that
5h 3.56m thank you Mary ward council Goldberg support
5h 3.61m councilor Kearns support Council Nissan support Council support counselor Sherman support councilor Pennsylvania support Mary Ward support 7 in favor and that does carry then we will now
5h 3.87m discuss the underlined section I’ll open the floor for any questions or comments and we’ll just note Debbie a few could note that that underlined part has been moved by Council in councilor Nissan
5h 4.12m so counter is over to you
5h 4.17m thanks just looking to understand it on what are non-development charged tools
5h 4.29m because they had never heard of that in my life so let me know
5h 4.35m okay that’s back to the Mover who’s Council go ahead counselor yeah thank you so yeah taking the opportunity to explain what that additional amendment is for that captures what is said in 2B
5h 4.54m where it specifically says to identify options for non-dc exemptions so it’s not looking only at DC exemption tools it’s looking at other tools as well and it’s making sure that that’s captured clearly in this
5h 4.73m so it’s speaking to making sure that two B is in the amendment
5h 4.81m okay
5h 4.83m can I take the follow-up question
5h 4.9m why can’t we just
5h 4.93m have to be
5h 4.99m that is my option Choice First Choice as well
5h 5.09m let’s try to work with what is on the floor right now but ultimately I hope this fails and we go to the staff recommendation personally
5h 5.28m not seeing any other questions or comments I will
5h 5.39m turn it to the clerk for the sorry go ahead counter Kearns okay
5h 5.48m profit to be if you want yeah give me a breather for one sec can I just go
5h 5.59m to amendments out
5h 5.63m and just dump the two be wording into here as refer and then below it refer 0.2
5h 5.84m yeah
5h 5.88m we’re we are only one Amendment out so that’s okay we can go to out and add a bracket per to be if that makes it very clear no it’s actually a new point at the bottom
5h 6.13m which would be called to be which would be called B
5h 6.23m okay
5h 6.38m if you’d like to amend that you can put an amendment on the floor you’ll need a secondary
5h 6.53m and okay
5h 6.58m do you want to add a purge 2B
5h 6.65m or do you want to keep it the way it is here sorry cancel I’m not clear what you’re asking for you’re saying as part two be in the staff recommendation but like where did more clearly than just be
5h 6.82m well I just if I may
5h 6.86m I just don’t maybe we asked staff staff can you tell me what a non-development charge tool is because a non-development charge tool can be
5h 7.04m retained savings debt
5h 7.09m reduced Reserve fund contributions draw from a reserve fund or or a levy so I just don’t know what a non-development charge tool is however I believe it was possibly scoped wide enough into be
5h 7.36m in a way that’s more understandable so I am
5h 7.42m I will ask the commissioner to speak to that perhaps
5h 7.51m what the non-dc charged tool idea meant in the staff report go ahead
5h 7.62m I’d like to recognize Allison ends coming up as well I think when we just Merit to the counselor when we look at what under the legislation municipality can and cannot do with a community Improvement plan and it’s because Community Improvement plan is designed to address the issues of bhanusingher community Improvement plan and municipality can actually acquire and dispose of land at below Market rates where normally we have to dispose of land at market value it can get into a series of other loans or other incentive programs that are provided to Property Owners so it would be those other Suite of tools that the municipality could explore such as we are currently doing with the aru program where under that Community Improvement plan we are providing Grant
5h 8.62m to Property Owners to build an AR to offset their construction costs or as part of the current CIP program we are working with property owners particular faith-based groups to look at feasibility studies to assist them to look at what could they do with their property to help them retain outside advice and also to give them guidance to bring those lands to Market in order that they could then sell them to a developer I don’t know what Alison has anything else that she wants to add in terms of what those the suite of tools and programs that are available under the current program that are all designed to facilitate the construction of new dwelling units thank you
5h 9.25m chair
5h 9.28m agree it’s really about looking at the existing programs and looking at the things that have changed in the universe around us since we approved the CIP last year if there are any tweaks to existing programs also that we could take advantage of that was the intent
5h 9.55m okay counselors told you go ahead I just want to respond to counselor’s perhaps it’s the word tools that’s throwing off the conversation because I certainly hearing you thinking of the word tools referencing funding sources and it was meant to mean more as I understood it from staff as other strategies that might be utilized would you feel more comfortable if it said additional non-development Church strategies
5h 9.92m just can I respond go ahead
5h 9.98m so the wording in to be that was originally and reflective of what we just heard from staff was to amend or adjust existing approved programs to address opportunities to expand the scope of eligibility for a temporary time period That’s what I’m open to which was already here and it could have come back with a plan restrictions new options and eligibility a funding source a timeline this is way too open and I feel that we need to be aligned with the plans that we already have in the tools that we have to optimize them so I feel like what we already had does exactly what this is trying to do but this is doing it in a way that is leaving too much ambiguity that could put the taxpayer on the hook to be totally honest because it doesn’t even speak about programs or opportunities and eligibility and a timeline so that’s why I’m uncomfortable with it
5h 10.98m and I’d like us to just go back to be which staff had already given us
5h 11.08m so I can’t support this because a
5h 11.13m is not based on Sound business case it’s not anchored into policy it doesn’t have a timeline associated with it and it doesn’t have clear definition of what these are
5h 11.29m or what programs exactly are supported
5h 11.35m sorry but that’s what we’re asking for them to bring back we’re not ask you to vote on those things now it’s asking those to be brought back so we understand them but we already had them in b
5h 11.5m know we had a request for them and be
5h 11.54m this was already in hang on hang on hang on hang on thank you
5h 11.65m okay
5h 11.67m councilman go ahead to be or not to be sit Hamlet
5h 11.76m truthfully we are now doing a game the conversation we will be doing in a month’s time and I don’t feel the need for this and frankly we just in spin mode here I think I said I would support thing that the counselor asked for in the context of the rest of the chains that’s being proposed I will not actually be satisfied until we have what is on the screen in front of us approved and I would like to call the vote if that were even feasible
5h 12.28m I don’t know that we can call it yet we have two more speakers counselor Nissan go ahead
5h 12.47m well
5h 12.53m ideas are shifting I I do I do like and appreciate the second half of the amendment that I am seconding but I’m not loving the first anymore and I think it should just be too be
5h 12.72m or at least put in Brackets so I’m gonna just let somebody else second it I know it’s not going to go away but I’ll let someone else suck in this mirror so maybe just find another secondary
5h 12.91m and
5h 12.94m and yeah maybe we should ask the amendment into two votes between separating at the end Clause thanks
5h 13.09m okay cancer Charmin has seconded the additional underlined language so it remains on the floor for conversation there is an opportunity to add additional languages if anyone wishes to add including to be from the staff report you can do that counter go ahead
5h 13.56m if there’s the possibility of
5h 13.61m getting agreement on this and taking out an additional non-development charge tools and inserting the words
5h 13.73m however their preferred based on 2B recommendation in the staff report I’m more than comfortable with that
5h 13.85m if that is going to satisfy majority of people around the horseshoe
5h 13.91m okay I’m getting
5h 13.93m odds so
5h 13.97m do folks want to take another recess so we get the correct language on the floor or is everyone okay
5h 14.07m with
5h 14.1m okay he wanted to take another five I don’t need five one okay let’s take one minute to get that additional language modified back on the screen with the appropriate Movers On
5h 14.33m the amendment to the amendment
5h 18.73m okay
5h 18.78m okay so I will go to question first Council Sharman and then we’ll proceed with the item go ahead
5h 18.92m thank you very much for all of this question of staff
5h 19m okay so is this clear does it change pretty much anything that we’ve just read from the outset it was just broadening a little bit
5h 19.14m what is it going to take is how much different is it from what you’re going to do anyway
5h 19.36m a few minutes to the counselor the revised wording is so and what our previous kind of my previous comments are in alignment so it does not we were going to do this work as part of the report back to committee and Council thank you thank you very much I will support this
5h 19.63m Council
5h 19.67m I know this has been extraordinarily painful for everyone in the community every member of Staff every member of council I appreciate the fact that
5h 19.81m we have
5h 19.85m made lots of sausage as counsel Nissan would say and I do think we have finally come to where we’re going to get information that is going to satisfy everybody’s questions and everybody’s concerns so I appreciate you for
5h 20.92m it’s going okay so we are just voting on the underlying section first as an amendment moved by councilor stolti seconded by counselor Sherman and he final questions or comments before I called a vote
5h 21.3m thank you Paul for the Shakespeare references can you just do a new or amended instead of the existing can you just do a new or an amendment to
5h 21.51m cancer stole two in German you cool with that all right we will accept that as a yes
5h 21.64m or amended
5h 21.67m instead of the existing
5h 21.72m all right
5h 21.75m am I good to call the voter do you would you like to wait until that is up on the screen
5h 21.97m I go okay all right
5h 22.03m good stuff everyone anything any final questions or comments
5h 22.14m anybody anybody we’re dancing now this is a good sign okay I’m going to ask the
5h 22.27m clerk to call the recorded vote on the amendment and then we’ll go to the main referral go ahead thank you Mary Ward
5h 22.39m council Galbraith support Casa Kearns Constantine support Council support counselor Sherman
5h 22.51m support councilor benea
5h 22.56m support mermaid Ward support 7 in favor woohoo
5h 22.72m you never referral motion as
5h 22.76m and counter any son you have the floor go ahead thank you worship I would like to just bring up my my Amendment at this time
5h 22.94m it was sickening up
5h 22.98m counselor Kearns seconding
5h 23.06m sorry I should have given more time for us to celebrate before I brought this up yeah
5h 23.12m I was just really need a second or first okay counselor crowns thank you distribute this a couple hours ago but it probably feels like five minutes ago
5h 23.3m I was waiting for her to get on the board there we go
5h 23.36m yeah so
5h 23.4m trying to keep the politics out of it but I do want this Council to say today that we are not on for
5h 23.55m for any eliminations of development charges without being made whole that’s fundamentally what this is about but there is a carrot in here for the for everybody which is it can be made on a permanent basis as long as we’re made whole
5h 23.82m we will remove those development charges I think this is a good negotiating point to the provincial and federal government to say that Burlington has committed that if you fund us we will eliminate these DC’s tomorrow and that’s that’s fundamentally what it says it’s a bind it’s it’s to offer a binding commitment to both levels of government
5h 24.17m so you bring the you bring the money and it’s done so I think it’s important because I don’t want to go down the road that we went down in the last couple of weeks and that’s why I’m bringing it Forward I do want to add all so just check the end there the housing accelerator fund I’m counting that towards this so I’m not undermining any of the work that we’ve done already but any further you know any attempts to eliminate development charges have to be funded either through the half or some other federal or provincial programs that’s the intent thank you
5h 24.79m okay councilor Kearns as a second ago go ahead I think very much
5h 24.87m when we started this conversation informed by P2P and formed by experts in the industry
5h 24.99m the reason I gave my vote in the positive was because of exactly this it first it was 20% reduction then it went to 100
5h 25.14m and it was always on the condition that the municipality was made whole
5h 25.21m a very grateful to the 50 people that came out over the weekend on short notice to learn about development charges and the very critical infrastructure that they funded in our community and contribute to our quality of life and that’s short up the other part of it the things that we invest in by our capital reserve fund which is the savings from exactly those in our taxes so they were all on board to unlock new housing opportunities to help an industry that’s struggling but what they were not on for was for any type of attacks offsets that included as I mentioned before
5h 25.81m you know preemptive use of retained savings drawers out of our Reserve funds levies or anything else so this continues to show that we’re ready to come to the table make that transformational change be part of the solution but we need our partners and so I’ve said you can’t take advocacy to the bank but you can certainly take it to the front door so let’s bring this to the front door and say we’re ready we have a plan we’ve had a big discussion a community discussion we’ve got funding so we can back up the conversation to say we have this much money in the housing accelerator fund from our federal Partners how can we use it the best to optimize the most new homes for new people to call Burlington so we can do it that way and then whatever happens after that is depleted we need our federal and our provincial Partners to come to the table
5h 26.62m mandatory no excuses critical they must come or we can’t go further with this program so we’ve done a lot of work we’ve made a lot of Investments we’ve put thoughtful consideration behind the plans that back up how we got here today but we can’t continue to go further without this help and we ought not to go further with out this help and that’s what this speaks to
5h 27.01m Council
5h 27.04m thank you I appreciate this coming forward I do not see this as a direction that is in any way contradicting to what we just amended to the motion before us the before this so I think this is good if staff does come back with recommendations that do include things other than development charges as a way for us to use the half funding and possibly funding from our strategically and acquisition fund or anything like that I’d like to see those but if we’re talking directly and specifically about the tool of reducing or eliminating development charges that I am full support of this what is before us now
5h 27.65m concert
5h 27.71m yeah certainly hope that we will receive federal and prevention programs to either top up the half or replace development charges just maybe a question for staff on this with regards to the CIP work that was planned does this you know just thinking of our last conversation I know Council wanted the half wording removed from the previous motion because maybe there’s some other options out there that I’m not aware of but the staff feel that this sort of handcuffs their ability to come up with a range of options through the CIP
5h 28.37m commissioner
5h 28.43m through the mayor to the counselor I would read the last clause in this motion as effectively putting a pause on any DC relief until such time is the federal and provincial governments would come through to make the city hall that’s the way I read it in the sense that Council commit to not make any reductions in development charges I’m not so that would I would need I don’t as I read it it would have effectively put a pause on any DC relief until upper levels of government committed to it unless there was some clarification being provided and I misread it thank you
5h 29.02m okay okay I read it too so thanks for that Steve the Mover you wanted to speak to that thank you for the opportunity just know the last four words such as the housing accelerator fund that’s what ensures that the work will not be handcuffed in any way we’re talking about any any if you want to make reductions to DC’s outside of half
5h 29.41m funding outside of other funding that’s that would be problematic but everything we talked about that earlier this afternoon has been all about inside the half so the half is the half funding is safe with this will not interfere with that at all I hope that helps
5h 29.71m a cancer been Taverna
5h 29.79m just on that topic thank you counselor Nissan
5h 29.89m you agree with that discussion that counselor and ESN just mentioned without the have
5h 30.16m sorry I’m not trying to be up to the mayor to the counselor but I still the way I read it it’s because of that Council commits to not making any reductions to development charges and then unless certain things happen with so that’s why I read it as saying that it would effectively eliminate a dancing a DC Reduction Program in the advancement of being made whole so unless I’m misreading it in our deferred to my other colleagues at the table of the correct me but that’s way I read it I don’t know if Mr Miller Mr Benson have a different interpretation on it thank you we have our Commissioner of legal and legislative Services hand up the floor to You Blake thank you Mary through the chair that last sentence I do know that this starts out as a staff direction to communicate with the provincial and federal government’s regarding an action that Council wishes Council would like staff to undertake
5h 31.16m the second component of the council commit that goes beyond a staff Direction so in terms of format I’d suggest that you do not include the last after the semicolon with Council committing to do something that’s a council decision that’s really not part of a staff Direction so just in terms of formatting I’m raising that for council’s consideration
5h 31.61m know I’m still got my second question here
5h 31.67m sorry yeah go ahead counter
5h 31.75m my second question is should we take a moment to have legal
5h 31.86m and planing staff come with the correct wording
5h 31.93m understanding what we’re trying to achieve here
5h 31.99m because I agree with what both stop people have said
5h 32.06m thank you
5h 32.11m are you asking for them to respond again I mean I’m asking
5h 32.23m through this the chair and staff to take that moment to rewrite
5h 32.32m this the way we have meant to come out
5h 32.4m because right now
5h 32.42m as staff has said
5h 32.48m it doesn’t say what we were going to do
5h 32.53m okay
5h 32.55m just going to pause for a minute
5h 32.6m and just hold before I recognize anyone just yet
5h 32.7m so we have heard from our commissioner and our planner that the latter half is not necessary or it would pause the entire program which I wonder if that is a contrary motion to the one we just passed
5h 32.97m okay so maybe we can
5h 33.02m and I see a lot of hands on the board I want to get to the hands but maybe we need to further paused to get the either have that removed if the remover and second are wish to remove the second half or come up with language that stuff could advise us on but I’ll go to counselor I’ll leave that with you as I go through the speakers order as they appear on the screen go ahead cancer Charmin
5h 33.41m first day I find this contrary to what we’ve just approved but more importantly
5h 33.48m we can deal with this once we had all the work done by staff so again we’ll hold on the conversation now when we should wait till you get the reports back so I cannot support this I don’t need to have this conversation thank you
5h 33.68m accounts are currants
5h 33.74m the purpose of this is to put a control around the program so we’ve heard disputed numbers across the community from our staff interpreted differently from 47 million to 16 to I don’t even remember what the new and breaking number was because it was based on new cmhc numbers but it’s only for one year not two we don’t know how much this program or a suite of Options under the CIP or new CIP will cost us we cannot make decisions without a business case or with a cost and we cannot send our staff out to go and come up with a plan with an unlimited budget we have to bring those controls in place to be good stewards of all the dollars so what this is really saying is we have to be made whole we all know by law every dollar out of the DC’s has to be put back in how do you get that dollar back in we don’t know but we know for sure we can be whole if we use the half funding
5h 34.74m up first and then we have to look to our provincial and federal Partners so this is a bit of a stop Gap while we wait for them to catch up with the progressive approach that we’re taking so have funds have to come first those keep us whole they’re still from the federal government and they prevent us from having to go and just go and have a discussion about a program that’s been brought to us with no financial plan yet we’ve heard some of the things that would help that financial plan and I have also heard that the community is not on board for those two holes they are not on board for some of those tax base tools so this is really allowing us to use up the money that we have remaining which is the half Fund in the best possible way that doesn’t affect your taxes and after that we need to have our federal and provincial Partners come to the table that’s explicitly clear
5h 35.65m counselors told to
5h 35.74m actually take my hand down for a moment
5h 35.79m councilor Nissan
5h 35.82m yeah I would want maybe once you clear the hands so I’ll have a discussion so there are a couple discussions going on but insofar is the question of whether this would be undermining what we did before that is not the intent I don’t believe it does but I’m willing to give five minutes with staff to make sure that they agree and so there’s just need a word like notwithstanding the above or without disrupting the prior paragraph something like that because the intent
5h 36.34m is simple the intent is actually very simple which is that we make a commitment especially the second portion here we make a commitment that we do will not reduce development charges without first being made whole through Federal and provincial programs
5h 36.56m and we’re including the half as one of those programs which is exactly where we’re going to get the money from for the for the previous or other or other programs so
5h 36.74m so that’s that’s the point of this but I’m sure we can find a language that says excluding the above paragraph you know I’m sure we can figure it out if you give us a minute here
5h 36.91m but I think the intent I thought the I think the intense quite clear here it’s not about disrupting what we were already doing with the half money
5h 37.06m so I I don’t know to me it’s Crystal Clear but not be to add extra language so everyone’s on the same page
5h 37.21m accounts are Galbraith go ahead
5h 37.26m yeah I just the more the more I read it it’s just what we previously just approved was asking staff to come back with a series of options I want to see them all that discussion is going to happen a month from now if we don’t like one then we can say no to it but I want to see them all I don’t want to restrict their work and narrow it to we’re telling them exactly what we want to see back but give us a range of options and the CIP and then we can make that decision then and have that conversation then so the more I read this it just restricts what what we’re asking them to do I don’t think we need it at all so I
5h 37.84m don’t think we need any extra language just remove it please thank you
5h 37.94m okay I’m going to suggest we take five minutes and see if we can come up with some language that everyone can feel comfortable about so back at 523 please
5h 46.93m oh okay we have a modified motion on the floor and I will ask the Mover and secondary if you want to make any comment on the additional language alternative first go ahead counter Nissan sure I guess we’re restarting the line here so first of all we added that Council to avoid any disconnect between the first and second about who’s doing what it goes without saying I think that our staff will be there to support us in and writing out this binding commitment so it was really unnecessary to direct staff and it’s this is really about counseling the commitment not directing staff to you know do it so that’s an improvement thank you to our legal counsel for catching that and on the back end just to satisfy and feel free to ask Steve yourself but to satisfy and make clear that we’re talking about half Federal provincial or other level programs in that with that I’m hopeful that we are not stepping on our own toast from the previous
5h 47.94m a paragraph
5h 47.96m and this is an amendment to the referral thanks
5h 48.02m cancer currents
5h 48.06m thank you very much and again this goes back to our guiding principle of how we got here in the first time is that we said we’ll take one big giant step and then we need our partners to come up right beside us and so I also think that this offers a point of advocacy for our partners that might still be here Weston home builders you can take this and you can bring it to those tables and say hey look Burlington really is committed we’re all aligned here we want to unlock those housing options here’s what you need to do they spelled it out clearly for you and they can’t take another step until you come beside them so this provides that absolute Clarity and I hope that it’s going to be really well received wide and far and it gives assurances and a sense of comfort to our residents to show them where this particular funding should be coming from an ought to be coming from and not from some of those tax tools that were maybe first identified as options
5h 48.98m concert benevenia
5h 49.03m thank you Mary and the waters insurance is you like that word so I’m going to ask both commissioner
5h 49.2m both Commissioners who helped put this together are you comfortable with Where We Are
5h 49.32m when it comes to our previous discussions there’s this dovetail where we’re going
5h 49.41m through mayor to the counselor yes I am comfortable with the revised language thank you
5h 49.5m well it’s important this
5h 49.58m I will support this too I like the changes have been made it does clarify that it’s Council that it’s directing it I would love for the h we HBA to take this as an opportunity for having increased advocacy to upper-level Government funding I do like that it that our previous Amendment broadened the scope of what the information we’re going to get back this amendment specifies that it regards to development charges only that we will commit to only funding those through upper level Government funding existing or new thank you
5h 50.04m all right any further questions
5h 50.15m comments
5h 50.18m all right so I I was worried before that when when our commissioner said that this would pause everything we don’t want to pause everything we want to get the information back on our options we’re not making a decision about anything today other than what we’re asking our staff to bring back to for us to consider and there will be much more opportunity for Council debate and committee and Community input so if the Commissioners not worrying that they can continue to do their work then I’m okay with this as well
5h 50.81m not seeing anyone else on the board
5h 50.84m over to you for the recorded vote
5h 50.88m thank you mayor council Goldberg support cancer
5h 51.08m and that does carry unanimously and we are back to the original referral motion
5h 51.2m are there I’m afraid to ask any more motion no more no more emotions I hope so we have
5h 51.44m we’ll just get the original
5h 51.48m amended on the floor
5h 51.63m we’ve got duplicated paragraphs there we can take out the second one I think
5h 51.98m okay so I will open the floor for I’m going to first ask if there are any questions I do know your hand counts for Nissan I’ll come to you first for comments but are there you have a question go ahead
5h 52.22m thank you and I I want to Preamble by saying I’m satisfied with the work we’ve done today and we’ll make call us a fact shortly but there’s something that’s bothering me or that’s been bothering me that I just I need us to discuss and hopefully get a retraction
5h 52.59m here’s two items the first is the
5h 52.71m the the press the release in which this motion was included
5h 52.82m stated that the potential Financial impact
5h 52.9m we’ve learned that the potential Financial impact is about one tenth of original projections
5h 53.02m I have a problem with that because our staff were very clear our CFO was very clear that it was a 16 to 41 million dollar projection and again this is underpinning the referral motion
5h 53.23m so I would ask that the mayor
5h 53.31m or the other two council members
5h 53.36m two options please either explain this how it’s one tenth or please retract it because well I’ll wait to wait to hear the response thank you
5h 53.69m Council Galbraith go ahead
5h 53.73m I would be happy to get into these discussions but I think it’s better put to when this comes back there were answers to some of the questions from staff that in my opinion contradicted those original numbers for example the residential DC’s collected last year were it was stated they were 6.8 million but in the staff report appendix e shows that the residential portion were only 1.5 million so I have those questions for staff I don’t want to we’re not on the item anymore we’re on the referral item so
5h 54.38m I had a bunch of questions for staff on details finances that were in their answers but I don’t think today is the time to get into it but I would be happy to get into those that when the time’s right
5h 54.67m all right cancer Kearns
5h 54.74m oh thanks so much so I’m going to put my community engagement hat on and I’m going to ask a question through the mayor of staff so there’s a lot of information out there that not a lot of people understand and I don’t some understand it better know you’re welcome I want to understand what do we do at this point staff comes specifically to help level set the conversation around all of what just went on over the last couple of weeks again to counselor Nissan and galbraith’s points you know the DC revenues were stated differently the projections were stated differently the tools were stated quite broadly how might we work with our communication staff to level set some of the key pieces of information agree to fund statement of facts I’ve already asked for that of Staff by email and I have that how do we wrap this up and show
5h 55.74m a lineman amongst Council and be proud of the next steps we’re going to take forward around housing affordability how do we how do we go there so that we don’t feel inclined to make individualized statements or releases or anything like that at this point can you help us is the question
5h 56.03m all right our CEO would like to respond go ahead yeah three you mayor I think the direction that council’s provided staff today is a really important step and it provides us the opportunity for that table setting exercise we’re going to go away should this direction be approved we’re going to go away and make sure that we’re coming back with a report that contains well packaged factual information that can be used by Council to more effectively communicate to Residents potential implications and options we know that that table setting exercise is important to members of council and so that’s that’s precisely what we’re going to try to do with the product that we’re going to come back with
5h 56.92m okay so just a follow-up question
5h 56.98m how might
5h 57m our Council individual members take a pause take a beat not release an immediate statement after we’ve left Chambers can you help craft as a CAO as leader of our organization a communication that would be well received by the public and the community about the decisions that we made in Council today before each of us jumped to make our own statements
5h 57.38m can we get a voice of the city out to the community
5h 57.6m three mayor yeah we could certainly provide some messaging outward in terms of the decision that Council has arrived at today should that should this motion be approved I you know I don’t I think we’re Limited in terms of the the nature of our control with respect to the tactics used around the Horseshoe for communicating the residents so there are some limitations in terms of staff’s role in intervening with those types of things but we’d certainly should cancel feel it’s important we can you know draft some very specific Communications work to to ensure the community has the information on the basis of the direction that’s provided by Council today
5h 58.46m okay that’s great I’m going to wait and I’m going to make a personal commitment to pause until I see that and then I’m going to help share that out to the community so we’re all speaking with one voice
5h 58.66m oh okay I’m going to go to first time speakers first go ahead counselor
5h 58.77m I think Pennsylvania you haven’t I’m not sure if you’ve spoken yet on the old clerk know okay go ahead
5h 58.89m thank you bear and this question is actually for Castle currents you mentioned you want to
5h 59.01m staff to come up with
5h 59.07m I guess some information correct information I guess now we talked about our in our individual
5h 59.22m things that we’ve said to meet you
5h 59.26m or what are we specifically talked about in terms of
5h 59.37m having staff
5h 59.41m create the information that is needed
5h 59.49m I might direct that to see what they’re going to prepare for us is that okay with you if we just asked staff what they’re going what they’re looking to prepare for us out of this
5h 59.71m I’m asking parents what she’s asking staff specifically so there’s been numbers thrown all over the place
5h 59.9m am I correct some are not correct
5h 59.95m is that what you’re asking staff to come up with
6h 0.03m okay verify the numbers I’m just going to pause for a second we could end up sort of asking questions of each other all day long I think it would be helpful
6h 0.23m for for us to just take a Beat
6h 0.31m our stuff have said what they are going to provide to us if people want to address those things in their in their statements they can but I think I think it would be helpful if we contain our questions to questions of staff on this item
6h 0.6m and anyone can speak to the questions that have been raised by members in their statements which is what I’ll do
6h 0.76m is that so my question to stop okay is
6h 0.82m are you going to be receiving emails from Council to make the correct adjustments or the correct statements based on whatever numbers
6h 1.05m are out there
6h 1.07m here the way I was looking at this exercise was obviously we’ve heard the conversation around the Horseshoe today we you know should counsel land on the on the motion as described we know what councils directing staff to do we know the importance of the next step in the process is that staff are going to come back with a product in April that will be kind of repackaged and address a lot of the key questions and an issues that were raised and discussed around the table today so the communication outward is is most likely to be focused on process that we are coming back before we make any recommendation we have a job to do to lay out the options lay out the the issues and implications of those options and bring them forward and in April so that’s really the nature of the communication I am not going to be suggesting
6h 2.07m or requesting that Council give me their ideas in terms of what that communication is I think it’s best to to have staff do that exercise put it out set the table for what is going to be an important Next Step
6h 2.31m thank you
6h 2.35m okay
6h 2.4m cancer Sherman have you asked a question yet I do have a question I’m just going to go to you guys have comments to make on the okay I’ll come okay and cancer Nissan you vast a question so I’m just going to jump in here so as we think about this is a question for Blake or Commissioner of legislative and legal services I think or could be the clerk I think that’s where our code of good governance sits but will it be helpful in our endeavors in terms of how we communicate this decision outside Chambers to be guided by the provisions in the
6h 3.17m the code of good governance which says number 18 we will Foster respect for the Democratic decision-making process we will accurately communicate the decisions of council even if we disagree with council’s decision when we disagree with the council decision we will do so in a way that avoids implementing the motives Integrity or competence of our Council colleagues staff or the institution generally so that’s specific to how we communicate Point 11 is we will communicate information to the public in ways that are accurate timely and in the interest of the corporation we will respect that the mayor as the head of counsel is the primary spokesperson for Council so is that how we should be guided in our conversations outside of this whether we wait for the official Communications or not
6h 4.01m thank you mayor and answer your question that code of good governance would apply to any decision that is being made by Council including this one
6h 4.23m right I’ll open the floor back up if we can stick with any questions on the referral motion that would be helpful and then we can go to comment so do you have a question on this concert Nissan
6h 4.43m I mean yes I think my questions are in order I don’t think there’s anything wrong with my line of questioning but I will make comments and do course my question to our CFOs and I’m sure that nothing has changed but has anything changed about your previous estimates about 16 to 41 million dollars
6h 4.81m you stand by those staffers something something is there been a game changer it’s now one tenth
6h 4.93m so through the mayor thanks thanks for the questions so there has been a lot of
6h 5.02m additional detail I will say provided the supplementary report that had some more details that was looking at chmc Canada mortgage and housing Corporation numbers the challenges a game I stand by everything I we put out their stuff it’s actually not just me it’s a team of across the corporation and it just highlights the complexity of trying to estimate development churches the development church is very prescribed so it’s a big range we gave and it’s it’s a possibility because of when you lock in the DC rates having said that
6h 5.64m if the motion depends how the
6h 5.7m if we come back in a month with with a scoped CIP where it’s measured and controlled within a two-year window then that number will likely will be a lot less because Council can now control what’s what the number will be so I think from my perspective it’s it’s a crazy range it’s from 0 all the way up I do stand by them I think but it will way we’re headed we’ll certainly have a lower scope I don’t know if the commissioner planning once that anything on to that
6h 6.21m all right I mean for my intense that’s my question is answered thank you very much and I just feel that it’s very important that the community at the correct information and not be misinformed
6h 6.42m intentionally or otherwise
6h 6.45m it can be otherwise so I would just ask that these these
6h 6.53m numbers are either explained or retracted and that’s a request of of the mayor and counselor Charmin I guess I mean whoever wrote it whoever wrote it
6h 6.71m counselor Albert Authority provided an answer thank you
6h 6.76m cancer Sherman go ahead
6h 6.8m well thank you very much I spent a whole career doing full casting budgeting estimating numbers and you can make them as big or small as you like or you could try to look at the past
6h 7.01m and if you look at the last five years you get 17 to 40 to million dollars worth of DC’s
6h 7.12m in the past
6h 7.16m that is not where we are going forward the current state of development is massively diminished as it was in 2025 and going into 2026 give them the cmhc data it was completely contrary to the average of the last five years
6h 7.5m give them that I remember seeing the first report from staff thinking
6h 7.6m okay I heard what you said but it doesn’t represent the future because that’s where I live I understand how you got it that’s what people do they take the average of the past they come up with the future that is not a good indicator give them the state of the industry so when we left
6h 7.95m how where we first talked about the numbers I was completely thrown off I didn’t have any moment to debris I couldn’t even begin to understand how that could be
6h 8.18m and just take a look at the current applications we’re processing
6h 8.25m you just think about that
6h 8.28m however then we go into Peter p and we get the cmhc person stands up and says there’s a few hundred units come and
6h 8.41m which is actually a source of for 0.6 million dollars when we looked at those 400 what we discovered were those units in there that actually were not would not be subject to the DC waiver they are already in the process
6h 8.67m so what we’ve found is that the likelihood is if you would think objectively about a forecast it would be a much lower number
6h 8.8m 10x is possibly
6h 8.86m hi
6h 8.93m could be 15x
6h 8.98m so you know I was asked and you know a lot of press out there and comments made and I got comments back to me well why haven’t you commented and the answer is because I don’t comment
6h 9.18m when I don’t believe what has been previously said I can’t comment because I don’t have the data
6h 9.3m outsole meeting where the mayor and I know strong their power kind of instructions cause a whole bunch of drama all by itself but it was done with the intention of trying to get some questions answered because it was the only way she knew how to get the questions answered in time for the council staff said you need to give us a staff Direction so she did that the outcome was two reports that were put in the council agenda
6h 9.7m that I haven’t found many people who have ever read them
6h 9.75m which is a bit of an issue but had been read by the public they would be a different story so I’m going to leave it at that yes we need a different View
6h 9.89m okay
6h 9.91m cancer currents
6h 9.96m thank you very much through the
6h 10.07m when we approved the new amendments to the tree by law back in December of 22nd we issued as a city a press release that talked about the updated Tree by law and it said things it’s posted Monday September 22nd
6h 10.36m um key changes accurate tree valuation updated pay for use tree services a couple of quotes Burlington dot CA slash Forest protection what I am specifically asking for so that the community can be informed because if we leave these Chambers today you’re putting it back on us to come up with our own stories with our own ways of sending them out into the universe can we please receive a media release today through City channels that helps people know what a development charges know how to get to our half funding pages
6h 11m exactly what you did with the public Tree by law can you please do do you need a staff direction to do with the decision that was made at Council today
6h 11.17m three mayor know we don’t need a staff Direction and
6h 11.25m I believe that we can get something out today I think I think that distinction between the direction of the council’s providing through this discussion and and the tree by law was
6h 11.48m were landing on process here there’s another step in the process again it’s an important one but we believe that we can address
6h 11.67m your comment and satisfy that through a media release later today as intended
6h 11.79m great great and letting people know that there’s more to come is also part of that media release my second question is back to the facts and I just want to make sure in my mind my calculations are right so I’m pleased to hear from the CFO that you stand by the numbers that were originally contained in the appendices we’ve heard them before 16 to 41 I think it is the table three the estimated DC revenues they are that’s the four point six that’s what drives the commentary around one tenth of the original projections can you please tell me if my thinking is correct that is for a one year only 2026 and to get an accurate picture of a two-year DC elimination would be to double that number to line up with the original projections that was the time period the original projections were Within
6h 12.67m so if you use the same methodology that delivered the estimate of 4.6 million as 2026 DC revenues and you apply it to a two-year elimination period would that number be doubled to give an accurate estimate
6h 12.95m through the mayor so again those numbers were based I think from the CMH Canada housing mortgage Corporation 400 units and staff tried to dig into those numbers to articulate when would they materialize so in that supplementary that you’re referring to there is a chart that shows 2026 only 4.6 million so yes it’s an estimate
6h 13.33m for 2026 but you know whether we’re doubling it or not it’s that’s time will tell I mean it’s probably more of a question for the Roman industry but certainly that’s a number that
6h 13.51m that we were able to reconcile
6h 13.56m within this period I think it’s it’s probably more reasonable for sure
6h 13.62m if I can also add to your mayor to the counselor depending on the tool that Council was to choose it would have a financial implication as relates to development charges because development charges are not only calculated and collected at the time of building permit issue and so they’re calculated building permit issue and collected at occupancy but the other Factor there was a development charge exemption the charges Act
6h 14.09m the has implications because development charges are set for two years from the date of application or 18 months from the date of approval
6h 14.25m so if Council where was to do a DC bylaw amendment to effectively zero out the residential DC that would carry forward for two years so the end of 2027 and if I came in for a site plan a severance or rezoning on December 31st of 27 I would carry that exemption forward for up to 24 months or 18 months from date of approval so that was also factored in to the original calculation with the DC route which is different than if it’s a community Improvement plan route where it has a defined start and end date so that also factors into the calculation so you may you would get a higher Financial implication for the City by going through a DC bylaw Amendment as a posed to just doing a two-year CIP program that expires on December 31st 2027 regardless of whether or not when you make your site plan application because
6h 15.25m if you make it application during that CIP program effective period you’re still paying the DC charge that’s in the city of City of Burlington development charge by law in effect at the date of your application so that’s all a factor in the calculation we can clarify that information when we report back about the different financial implications of the different routes and why is CIP program has more less Financial Risk to the municipality then a DC
6h 15.74m bylaw
6h 15.76m change I just wanted to point that I was a key difference between option one and option two that is correct that’s my understanding roughly 50% more by going to DC route because of the locking in the DC rate and anybody with a major project would probably want to spend the 20,000 or whatever cost to apply for site plan if they would more than recoup that indeed by locking in their DC rate at effectively zero for an additional 24 to 36 months thank you
6h 16.25m okay I’ve got some questions
6h 16.36m because we’re talking about the numbers so if you go to the additional information that we received as a result of the mayor’s direction to get more insight into how those numbers are calculated attachment a
6h 16.63m breaks down that 42 million as being a total of 3,359 units
6h 16.76m what you’re saying and this is a touchman b is that it’s and notwithstanding the extent of the program but for next year it’s likely to be closer to 400 so a big difference between the two is that correct
6h 17.07m that is correct
6h 17.09m okay
6h 17.11m thank you for that and then you also gave us information on our actual residential DC’s which in 2025 were this is attachment e 1 point 6 million roughly the non-res is actually a whole lot higher the industrial commercial institutional but that’s 6.8 when you break it down is only one point
6h 17.49m six for 2025 correct
6h 17.58m it’s correct okay
6h 17.61m I’m out of my questions counter Nissan over to you
6h 17.67m question for the CFO there’s a claim or a
6h 17.77m something was put out there that you were focusing on historical numbers for your projection and these some of these other questions for clarity but is it true you only looked at historical projections and didn’t you take into account all of this already you and your staff and you know cross departments take all this into account to give us the best possible forward facing projection it’s not just historical could you confirm so through the mayor
6h 18.28m yes we looked historical
6h 18.32m but the rules were different in the past so I think Steve just highlighted the main driver that we were really highlighting to counsel
6h 18.46m was the requirement you lock in your DC’s at site plan that’s relatively new on the DC act from a couple years ago so that was the potential risk
6h 18.63m with all that’s in the pipeline to permit committee so that’s a combination of why it’s such a big number and and
6h 18.76m again you can mitigate that risk you can cap the dollar value through the CIP and certainly notice their CIP is way better I’m glad we landed there but again I’m asking and counselor Charmin and calibrates have responded I asked them are to explain or retract the one tenth of original projections I based on everything I’ve heard so far that is false
6h 19.17m so please explain or retract that because I don’t want the community to be misled thank you
6h 19.29m cancer currents
6h 19.37m it’s in my turn yes you have the floor go ahead question or comment
6h 19.46m my question just goes back to the last conversation that I heard from the mayor identifying that the tenure historical DC revenues in 2025 was 1.5 million what was it in 2024
6h 19.75m I have the answer it’s a trick question do you want it
6h 19.91m not 9.4
6h 20m the 10-year historical DC revenues attachment e on the so you’re asking for 2024 residential was 9.4 million non-res 1.7 for total 11 million
6h 20.23m okay so it’s not a fair thing to just illustrate only the 2025 residential DC at one point five million when we look back we can either use a bit of a blended over the last five years or we can note that 2024 still delivered 9.4 million in DC revenues I think it’s I think it’s a crafty scoped to just leave it to a super low year and I just wanted to highlight the 2024 did give a bit of a better year in terms of DC collections
6h 20.8m okay councilor Nissan
6h 20.91m my turn
6h 20.93m no other and less cancer Sherman has questions your next in line go ahead
6h 21.03m okay
6h 21.07m well I’ve gone to my second concern
6h 21.15m and I’m just gonna ask staff I’ve asked this practically every meeting and it sounds like a basic question but is there any staff person who thinks that development charges are paid by the home buyer
6h 21.43m okay thank you
6h 21.46m my question for the mayor and the other counselors is to you stand by that or will you attract that thank you
6h 21.65m okay councilman over to you
6h 21.75m yeah in terms of cash flow you’re absolutely correct the home pilot does pay when they pay for the house but initially is paid for by the developer The Proposal that I would believe we should make could make as you heard from the delegate this morning that actually those funds could be added taken out of the pro-form out of being paid by the developer and could be put into a closing fee that at the bio would pay except they get a credit from the city associated with that so as with everything it’s a function of how you interpret it I would just want to go back if I may also that I’m not I do not believe that the 10x is is an incorrect statement I think it’s entirely Chris Stevens because one has to look into the future and look at the actual date of that is currently presently and nobody is buying nobody’s pre-selling Condominiums at this moment furthermore ground oriented
6h 22.75m homes you do not need to pay all the DCS for like 50 or 60 Homes at the same time you pay for them individually as they are built and so as the market goes down so does the entire DC process so does the entire industry which is we we have plenty of evidence to know that is happening so I believe you need to look at the current and the future stats as well as the past the past is gone through I believe we’re looking at too narrowly with one year or two years totally I would always agree with that but the facts are that present we are looking at a market that is essentially dead and and you know the any hope that is going to come back in the next two years which strike is coming from people who understand
6h 23.5m that there are no pre-sales there’s nothing happening in the next few years of any substance on tall buildings so that means if we can get some slow ground oriented buildings going that’ll be great
6h 23.71m it means we see thanks
6h 23.76m I’ll jump in with my own question here so
6h 23.86m the there has been claims made that this would lead to an automatic
6h 23.97m well it would lead to a seven and a half percent tax increase was that information that you provided in your stuff report where you recommending a program to us in your original stuff report when you gave us those numbers that was reliant on a seven and a half percent tax increase
6h 24.29m you had noted other sources in the supplementary information were you recommending to counsel that that was the way to accommodate the program that you had put forward which was the same amount the 16 to 42
6h 24.56m through the mayor know the supplementary was that one option to cancel if you were to raise that amount of money that’s what it would take to was in we were not recommending anything we were just making where these would be your funding options if we achieve those levels and surplus reserves debt would that increase property taxes by 7 and a half percent was that your number
6h 24.97m no sorry when you’re the seven and a half is trying to raise the highest amount which camera remember what it was if you’re using reserves you’re not directly funding at using from funds you’ve collected in the past that would have an impact on
6h 25.29m your taxes but not not initially at 7%
6h 25.35m so know that the number is 7% was strictly if you’re trying to raise I think it was 44 million dollars that’s where that number was
6h 25.47m if we achieved that level and the staff memo suggested that there were other sources of revenue that wouldn’t necessitate that
6h 25.66m so let’s get a yearly sir yes but that that funding when you issue that you have to pay the debt service in costs so that would be funded from property taxes but not to that level of some percent
6h 25.93m okay and then my second question is around the information in the stuff report page 145 around this question of how to get transparency on who pays for what and who benefits for what if there is a development charge reduction
6h 26.17m that ultimately it’s built into the cost that the home buyers pay I’ll just read stuff as aware that other municipalities of entered into agreements with developers to permit DC reductions such agreements require the developer to pass on the DC reduction to purchasers by reducing the purchase price on a dollar for dollar basis and that the agreements have purchase and sale including word include wording disclosing this to purchasers so that is something that you’ve put in your natural report would your advice be to that that we that we can use that to make sure that we know who benefits and who pays
6h 26.83m here I’m gonna defer that one because
6h 26.92m yes we as a condition of the grant or the CIP Grant would we would require that the Builder or developer advised the purchaser that there was a city of Burlington Grant in the equivalent of the DC charge and that information be passed on to the home buyer and sorry Council you caught me off guard with your earlier question or just looking back in December of 2025 cmhc issued a report about development charges and they concluded that the new home buyer ultimately pays the development charge legally the municipality collects it but the cost of that charge gets reflected in the closing and it gets passed on to the purchaser that’s what cmhc concluded in their December 2025 report thank you thank you okay Council Galbraith you have spoken yet go ahead
6h 27.74m just a question sort of on process how many times can we comment on
6h 27.83m the referral that’s in front of us here
6h 27.86m only two times and I think the clerk has been it’s been mostly questions back and forth at the moment of Staff or each other and I the clerk will give us a tally where are we at with speaking times
6h 28.08m in terms of commenting through your mayor in terms of commenting I have counselor Sherman spoken twice comment twice Council currents once
6h 28.18m and no other comments and
6h 28.22m Austin has been questions
6h 28.25m okay
6h 28.27m okay well just a comment that I think we should just move on in our business instead of we’re accusing each other here back and forth we already had a delegation today complaining that we can’t get along and we’re wasting people’s time I I’m tired of it I don’t want to be accused of what I know and what I don’t know anymore I’d like to vote on this and if we’re not going to move forward with the business that we have today I’m leaving so
6h 28.68m let’s get on
6h 28.71m all right councilor Nissan then go ahead
6h 28.8m yeah I mean good comments I think the public needs to know if there’s false information out there so I’m sorry that’s why I’m bringing this forward
6h 28.99m Steve I’m not sure if you got the went through the full report from cmhc
6h 29.11m did you see the part where it says in a soft Market it is not the buyer who pays for it I was going to bring that in my comments and in a soft Market it comes out of profit and then sometimes the buildings don’t kept which is unfortunate so I just want to share that you or if anybody wants to bring that forward
6h 29.48m sorry is that out of order the clerk has just signaled me so I’m going to turn the floor over the clerk I just didn’t know I wasn’t sure if this comment or question whether it’s just okay I know I know it’s a bit of a fine line sometimes
6h 29.7m I don’t know maybe you can let us know in April but I read that report front to back it is recent and it says that in a soft Market which are realtors association explained we are in that it is not does not go 100% to the buyer so looking for any response to that thank you
6h 30.08m I think it first four most they’re not selling any units right now and that’s the fundamental issue that as you indicated that nothing is being sold know DC’s are being paid and that’ll be a decision on how it Builder wishes to Market their product and how they can compete in the marketplace but generally the DC is usually an adjustment on closing that’s Incorporated in every Opera purchase sale and the home buyers ultimate responsible for those adjustments at the closing time thank you
6h 30.51m okay thank you I look forward to getting a briefing on that report because I read it a little bit differently and I think I’m out of questions
6h 30.69m hope that helps
6h 30.76m cancer currents
6h 30.81m thanks very much too questions one’s going to be about legal advice that we may or may not have received and the second is just going to be to kind of put to bed a little bit of this where the money comes from questions so I just want to make sure I’m understanding the true Financial picture of our city so that’s going to be my first question so when we talk about funding sources that might have been considered retained savings is 1.1 to 1.4 million a year that’s doesn’t go very far the stabilization reserves are 5.6% and the targets 10 to 15% so we’re below the capital infrastructure Reserve is in a deficit of 350 million over 10 years that’s why we put a 2% infrastructure levy on the 2026 tax bill our debt is at 8.4% we can go up to 12.5 that outstanding debt is currently sitting at about 140 million with servicing costs being about I can’t tell the number because I have it in a chart but it looks kind of like 17 million a year as a historical
6h 31.81m debt charged
6h 31.85m all of those things need to be brought up to
6h 31.94m the targets or reduced a little bit lower because we don’t get anything when we pay for debt are we how would you say our financial picture is given all of this if we’re about to potentially take on a big a big burden I won’t call it a tax burden but this makes me nervous and that’s why when I hear things like it won’t just be taxed these are the things these are the tools these are the places that I am concerned about how are you feeling about them
6h 32.46m the mayor I think the motion that we have today we come back and April will probably be better to address that there’s limited funding sources really to take away so we’ll
6h 32.67m obviously I’m don’t like using tax dollars but it’s councils decision as to which way we go so I think they’ll be there’ll be more in that in the next report in April along with the CIP
6h 32.85m okay and then a follow-up to that much like councilman I had to pass and it was in procurement it was based squarely on strong business cases that say if you invest X you get why if you do this then that will we be able to get a view or a visibility into a crisp sort of projections and return on investment when this next CIP piece comes back that’s a follow up question not a second question
6h 33.32m it through the mirror I’m glad to say it’s a team report both the planning and finance so I think we’ll I can’t speak to the housing side of what you know what you measure a return on investment I think we’ll be in a position where able to mitigate any Financial Risk and then the criteria that’s used them on for the planing and sense of for housing Steve’s group could speak to more than I
6h 33.74m and then this is my last question so there was a statement made to saying you know nobody really wants to fund luxury units the way that this was last crafted and left as a bylaw option one it really did open the door that anything could be eligible for the DC exemption so my question to Legal is will you come back or might we expect something to come back with some insights around how we can scope this again to perhaps give us options around whether it’s luxury all the way to Affordable and that we have clear decisions that we can make on how to fund DC’s that advanced different places within the housing continuum
6h 34.47m through the chair yes as part of the report back in April certainly legal staff will be working with finance and planning staff to ensure considerations like those and others are addressed
6h 34.66m the end of my questions thanks
6h 34.72m okay I’m not seeing any other hands on the board so I’ll take an opportunity to share my thoughts and first of all I will respond to the questions that were put on the floor with respect to the information out there I think it’s really important for a residents to have the facts and to have all of the information some of which came after the committee meeting so we got information about the relative difference between a DC bylaw change and a community Improvement plan that was very clear around the ability to attach conditions and to ensure that we were able to achieve a level of construction that stops the clock so it doesn’t continue past that 18 months of site plan I asked you know give us so you’ve given us the the full projection based on 3000 and 59 units over two years plus 18 months if we contain it
6h 35.71m that number is different if we contain it to the two years but also looking at the fact that we are in a housing crisis that’s independent data that we got from Canada mortgage and housing Corporation and I thought it should inform our discussions we got that information at pipelined a permit we got additional information from the mayor’s Direction where I asked staff to provide what was what was realistic over the next Horizon and that’s where the 4.6 comes from it is one tenth of the number that is that was circulated in the community and I can tell you people perceived that as in one year we’re going to raise their taxes to get 42 million and and that perception unfortunately was left in the community and deserved a response that that was based on units that are unlikely to materialize base on Canada mortgage and housing Corporation numbers we were all so advised
6h 36.71m so yes 2024 was a banner year we had 1200 units the highest we’ve ever had but all the other years are two to four million Tops on the residential side but that’s looking backwards and looking forward that’s in a good those are in good years
6h 37.03m those are in good years those numbers in a housing crisis where we have been advised that there are
6h 37.18m double digits of units that are being sold we have to take it seriously and cmhc said you’re lucky to get 400 this year and next year even worse picture so we have to be yes we can look at you know the the projections based on 3,300 units or we can look at the projections based on what Canada mortgage and housing Corporation data is telling us and that is new information we all know that a community Improvement plan allows us to
6h 37.81m attach the conditions that we need
6h 37.87m all right I’m out of time on that so counter go ahead
6h 37.95m thank you I just test something rolling around on my head that I just feel the need to express in common on is that we hear
6h 38.04m about these vastly despairing range of numbers from 4 million to 41 million I certainly agree with Council Sherman that we cannot only look at historical numbers because they do not dictate the future but the reality also is that we cannot look at what cmhc is saying because what the numbers they’re giving us is based on us doing nothing and that was never the conversation we were having the conversation we were having was about promoting a tool that was going to hopefully increase our numbers so the reality is is that we need to look at a median somewhere in between the two not historic not based on doing nothing but what the proposed Financial impact was going to be for what was being put on the floor thank you
6h 38.7m okay counselor currents
6h 38.75m thanks I am I need certainty I have just heard the mayor say again
6h 38.84m one tenth of the original top end number
6h 38.92m based on the cmhc numbers which comes from her housing forecast by structure type which is table 3 the estimated DC revenues which is 2026 only which again is one year and her estimates were based on two years so why am I hearing this word again like one tenth of the original projections when
6h 39.28m it’s not Apples to Apples it’s a one year versus a two-year estimation can someone please tell me if we can ever say one tenth of the original projections again with financial backup
6h 39.48m it’s not lining up for me and it’s sounding like misinformation so can we agree to the information so there’s no questions
6h 39.63m where is this one tenth coming from
6h 39.73m I think that has been discussed I don’t know stuff when I provide any additional comments
6h 39.83m it’s been a reference it’s it’s there it’s one year we did our forecasts based on two years
6h 39.98m okay Council Nissan go ahead I want to have an answer because I don’t want anyone to say it’s one tenth of the projections if we’re basing it on a one year projection versus an original two
6h 40.16m so is it what is it
6h 40.22m so the report in the stuff recommended the staff provided numbers is 4.6 as a projection for 2026 we don’t know what 2027 is going to be like that that number is expected to be lower for for that and and the the other number was for almost four years not two
6h 40.63m so counter Nathan go ahead
6h 40.69m yes it was for four years because the TC elimination would cause that I am going to go into questions yeah or
6h 40.81m sorry I’m going into comments in a second
6h 40.91m Craig
6h 40.94m we talked about this at committee for it so actually you know what Mary I think you probably answered a 4.6 million is one year
6h 41.05m you do you stand by your projection still after all this conversation
6h 41.14m you’re our CFO it’s a very important role obviously so through the mayor
6h 41.25m Penning on what’s changed since we wrote this there’s always opportunity for change what I gain I would go back to is the motion that Council has directed staff to I think in April 13th you will have a a solid or a better number but cat so that the wrist will be mitigated and Council can decide how they want to proceed so that would be I can’t really say anymore than what we’ve discussed and what’s been down but I would say April 13th should be a another robust discussion I will make a comment now fundamentally I am very happy with where we landed today it was good work that brought us back very close to the staff Direction I am happy that council is committed to to only do DC reductions if made whole you know house per the details there
6h 42.07m um this 4.6 million that was only for one year I think residents can draw their own conclusions about this one tenth
6h 42.23m I think residents can draw their own conclusions about whether the developer pays pays for DC’s or whether the home buyer and take a look at that report as well zero shade on our developers who want to build our community but I’m more concerned about our residents residents struggling to put food on the table for their kids and grandkids as well and I’m also concerned about incorrect language flying around as far as a tax increase goes that was that number was provided by staff
6h 42.81m and you know you can only shake a tree so many times it’s still taxpayer money and that was the impact the total potential impact
6h 42.95m I believe in mutual respect
6h 42.98m but they also believe in telling the community accurate information
6h 43.05m so if we want to do that here’s what we have to do no longer misinformed the public about development charges by saying that they are paid by the homeowner they are paid by the developer in a soft Market they are not paid by the homeowner courtesy MHC so let’s be clear they are paid by the developer number two stop using funny numbers to justify a position
6h 43.47m if you’re going to invoke our young people don’t misinform their parents
6h 43.55m number three do not use strong mayor powers to direct staff
6h 43.64m I do not respect stronger powers I do not respect the use of strong their power I cannot collaborate on a council if strong mayor powers are going to be used to Bigfoot my own motions from two days prior
6h 43.87m so respect around this table has to be earned and it can be earned we can get there
6h 43.96m back of the napkin calculations misinformation of fundamental facts and rushed process nearly led us to a 16 to 41 million dollar liability estimated I am proud that we stop that I wish it didn’t go this far
6h 44.23m so
6h 44.25m if you want my respect you have to respect taxpayers first thank you
6h 44.36m councilor Pennsylvania
6h 44.49m 40 minutes ago we just said that we wanted staff to come out with a media release to fix whatever issues that
6h 44.62m that we need to make sure that the public knows and that we hear on the table don’t do things on our own
6h 44.8m what we’ve just heard we’ve heard I’ve heard
6h 44.9m through my drop in through residents through Reading media through people sending me links
6h 45.04m so here we are we’re just repeating everything that we have
6h 45.11m said we weren’t going to do
6h 45.16m moving forward I’m honestly I’m very disappointed with how this
6h 45.26m whole conversation is going
6h 45.29m and it really gets me to the point where
6h 45.39m I wonder why we’re really here
6h 45.48m and I’m sorry to say that
6h 45.52m but I had to say thank you
6h 45.6m counselor currents
6h 45.65m think so I’m going to use my comment now but it’s going to be a little bit wider and it’s going to reflect on how I opened up my community information meeting which I thought was really helpful for how people could learn a little bit more and what we did there was we lifted up the community’s collective knowledge we did that back in 2018 when people didn’t understand what an official plan was and didn’t understand what that meant to how they lived their lives in our city so we lifted everybody up and we all learned together I think my first slide was called biologist power and I think everyone left in powered we had an informed conversation what I said then was that oftentimes residents feel distanced very much from the new monsters of reports and recommendations charges complex complex legislation and the squabbling council and it was the feeling in the room
6h 46.54m today that we’re feeling it was the feeling in the room last time we were together and it certainly was the feeling in the room when the information session started and it was the feeling that the online narrative had taken and you know what that feels like it feels like broken trust because this matter came out of line with the Covenant of how we consult with and inform our electorate about the business of the city
6h 46.92m and to that end I think I was the first to apologize I said that the file had a legacy and it had legs and it had heart because it touches on emotional things that are important to people where their children are going to live where they’re going to downsize how they can continue to call Burlington home and how they can stay in the homes that they already have and we had examples in editorials that were far distance from the policy that we were doing and it was striking you know an emotional plea that wasn’t grounded in the work that we were trying to do it was a rush
6h 47.49m we are all here trying to do the same goal which is to help more people call Berlington home and I think we managed to do that today in a way that everyone finally feels engaged and we can all be prepared now to come to the best possible outcome and to share this great quality of life but the first thing that we need to do was apologize each and every one of us especially our leadership to say we’re sorry we got it wrong we were about to pass a bylaw a binding by law at big numbers with no flanks
6h 48.03m a no closed timeline we already heard two years plus 18 months we almost made a really big mistake and so this today is not actually collaboration this is course correction and that’s also something that we can really be proud of but we first have to be humble apologize say that we can make mistakes and show our staff short community that you could try to do something great but make a mistake and you’re allowed to come back and correct it and it’s even easier to correct when you have people working with you so I’ll be the first to say sorry to our community for missing that meeting and letting things go out of line and I hope that you can work with us
6h 48.7m all right any other speakers to the item
6h 48.79m all right I think I have
6h 48.83m a second time and I’ll
6h 48.87m I’ll start on this so I know
6h 48.95m sorry
6h 49.02m all right I do want to say thank you to everyone around the Horseshoe for getting us to this point I think this has been truly democracy in action we we have a two-step decision-making process for a reason and it worked the process that we have worked in this case we we had a discussion at Committee of the whole and I think a lot of us including me left that meeting and continued to ruminate on what we heard what I heard at that meeting what I started to hear from community and that’s exactly why we separate the final decision making from Committee of the whole it became clear that having listened very deeply to those who are around the table my counseling who were there that there was a need for additional information that there was lack of clarity there was certainly lack of clarity for me about the relative merits of a DC by
6h 50.02m Reserve change and a community Improvement plan and the CIP allows that maximum opportunity to do what I think we were all hoping I can certainly speak for myself hoping to do which was to scope the program to two years not two years plus 18 months to exclude luxury subsequent conversations with stuff to ensure that it accorded with our official plan to make sure that we weren’t giving any benefit to developers like at millcroft or other places that that the community didn’t want and Council didn’t want and that subsequent opportunity for continued conversation with our staff supplemented by the requests that I put in writing for full transparency for the community those were questions that I was going to bring into that February 17th and they asked me to put it in writing in a mayor’s direction to get it to all of us so that we would have
6h 51.02m that information I think that information certainly changed the picture for me that coupled with the conversation in community and hearing from everyone this this is exactly the process at work we didn’t make a decision on February 17 although there were additional motions that were being contemplated that were precirix
6h 51.93m okay
6h 52.11m councilor Nissan does and counselors told he does go ahead cancer Nissan
6h 52.21m thank you mayor
6h 52.25m I’ll make a brief we were on the view of a huge mistake and it was averted and I’m glad it was
6h 52.41m with respect to strong mayor directions that sort of thing and that was at the request of Staff I’m sorry but there is agency involved here the mayor had agency mayor you had an option you could have called a special counsel and then referred the item which is where we landed eventually I would suggest taking strong mayor Powers just off your desk and not using those anymore
6h 52.81m finally there is an option to retract statements that have been inaccurate and that option is not been taken up I don’t know why thank you
6h 53.07m councilman
6h 53.17m I am deeply offended that I’m being accused of having a being on the verge of bringing forward a decision this Council kind of on the 17th that I that I didn’t have a chance to discuss give them the additional information that was put in the agenda I find it a personal slight for anybody to think I would support such as a thing in the face of the additional information and having Seth through the pipeline to permit and I actually asked for attraction of that term
6h 53.74m okay does the counselor wish to retract
6h 53.81m I said that thank you Mary I said we were on the verge of a mistake not counselor charm and so I see no need to retract that thank you
6h 53.95m Council
6h 53.99m get my comments are going to be fairly brief I am thrilled that we have painfully worked as hard as we have to land where we what we have in front of us I think it is the right place to be I think it is not exactly what any individual counselor wanted to represent their ideal goals but I think it represents the collaboration and the mediation of getting all of us some what we were looking for
6h 54.4m when it comes to the motion that was originally put forward on February 9th February 10th
6h 54.52m we all have the right to put motions forward that motion did pass by majority that was not a Wrong conversation to have it may have been a not the best option for the community but it wasn’t a bad conversation to have the issue that I had was in the process that has unfolded over the last three weeks I’m not going to go into great detail I agree with counselor benea that I think we should not be using this forum as an opportunity to put in quotes for the media or whoever might like to quote us the mayor and I have had a private opportunity for her and I have a very productive conversation about how perhaps we can do things differently in the future we both acknowledge that there was challenges and possibilities to do better on all sides that were part of this conversation over the last three weeks and hopefully that is how we’re going to move forward and I challenge this account to do just that
6h 55.36m cancer currents
6h 55.39m yeah thank you very much I’m going to have to use a question exam out of comments but I’m a little concerned about a couple things that I just heard so the one question is
6h 55.57m I don’t have any circulation of amendments that were going to be going forward before we went to the vote on February 17th and I’m just wondering
6h 55.75m did anyone receive amendments in circulation in advance I had the last one I have was from February 9th and maybe I was left out of the loop but I didn’t have any anything between February 9th and 17th circulated as an amendment might anyone have that
6h 56.07m I will have to search my inbox but yes there was something circulated to all of council and stuff prior to the meeting there was an amendment that was circulated so all get that for you and make sure that you have it but that was that was circulated prior to the meeting
6h 56.34m okay so then my second question to staff is next time there’s a recommendation by staff to utilize strong mayor’s powers to receive information in a timely way that doesn’t suit the council agreed upon calendar might you consider emailing all of council so that if anyone who wasn’t at committee could have their voice heard their Democratic voice heard because I was not consulted whatsoever on the series of questions that were contained in the staff recommended use of strong mayor’s powers and I’m just wondering might that be something you could do next time
6h 57.09m I can take that one because it was my ultimately my I we did discuss that the last committee meeting councilor and I did say that that was good suggestion and I was happy to receive that that before asking asking questions to Canvas staff the reason that it didn’t happen in this case was just the timing that we were under I felt the urgency to get the information to all of council was more important and more valuable to the community and to our deliberations
6h 57.61m so that’s that’s what I did and I felt it would put people under another kind of a deadline to to respond to me so but I will absolutely consider that and I thank you for that suggestion for collaboration
6h 57.86m and staff have heard this now we can work together on that for sure
6h 57.93m and just as a appendix
6h 57.98m trying not to use them would be even better
6h 58.08m okay I’ll take a point of personal privilege here for a moment just to make a couple of comments and to respond to the request for retraction very briefly I will say that I am always looking and listening for ways to do better I think we all are as a council as staff we’re looking for opportunities to advance the business of the city in a way that is respectful in a way that is informed and in a way that allows for that difference of perspective and everyone feeling comfortable to to make to make their comments and to to ensure that people feel welcome in this space and I
6h 58.84m understand the concerns around around the information it I felt that there was information that was being circulated that was
6h 59m quite inflammatory and
6h 59.11m Unity when we got new numbers that were significantly different based on the reality and it was important to get that out there I understand the the apples and oranges I think we’ve been doing a lot of apples and oranges throughout this whole discussion are we talking one year two years three years two years plus 18 months I think it will be really important for us to come together as a council and ensure that correct information is is out there and I also think
6h 59.64m it’s it’s really important to make sure that everyone feels welcome in our community to share their view vilifying an entire industry doesn’t help us to those ends and we want to make sure that we we remain independent and that we that we ensure that everyone feels comfortable bringing their perspective to us we can disagree with it we can we can say that that’s not the direction that we want to go but I don’t think it’s helpful to to vilify and I don’t think it’s helpful to to inflame public sentiment I think our job is to try to restore some calm in this chaos that is certainly what I am trying to do here by bringing counsel together to to set us on a path where we can have the respectful discussion that we need with respect to strong mayor Powers they have been used exceedingly sparingly in the last two times have been precisely to provide information to counsel
7h 0.64m in an urgent situation the first was tariffs and this one related to information for Council so I will always put the interests of the Community First I will always put the interests of our decision-making first I know I know that that can be criticized and I’m okay with that but my intention always is to ensure that the public has the information that they need that Council has the information that they need it’s not a tool that you want to use a lot but for the purpose that it was intended which is better decision-making that’s why it was there
7h 1.26m so with that I will I think now call the vote
7h 1.37m counselor Kearns
7h 1.41m yeah thanks I’m going to use a point of privilege too then
7h 1.5m so point of privilege
7h 1.61m okay so thanks for that however I feel that my character too has been put into a really difficult situation and here’s what happened from my perspective
7h 1.8m the mayor created a scenario where we went from a conversation in the fall
7h 1.89m that was simply about a reduction with support
7h 1.98m flew into 100% without support created a binary situation that was either you support this DC offset or you don’t care about housing and the people in our community would be left
7h 2.22m in a terrible situation and so it framed the situation as either your four housing or you’re against housing and I take exception to that but that is how it was made view in the public and that’s not fair
7h 2.47m you created a situation that put counselor went to Venus squarely in the middle
7h 2.55m you could have an ought to have just made a statement on your own and you divided Council by three to three and put cancer been Taverna and his Integrity squarely in question as a deciding vote which fractured Council
7h 2.78m the different pieces of information that we’re still not clear on have been thrown around and I think that that’s really unfair I think it’s also incredibly unfair that you went past the CEO to the CFO using strong mayor’s powers on the long weekend when you still have not disposed of the strong mares power to delegate the hiring and firing of senior staff including the CEO back to council which we’ve asked you to do this and your actions have created a very difficult scenario and we’ve thankfully and luckily moved through it maturely today but to end on your point of privilege is again not a fair place to end this there are a lot of facts and a lot of situations here that still need to be addressed and I don’t feel like you coming out looking like you’re on top and making everyone else look bad as a true use of point of privilege I just won’t let that stand
7h 3.7m thank you that was not the intent at all of my comments I’m sorry you received them that way
7h 3.79m we will carry on now to the vote
7h 3.87m Kelsey Goldberg
7h 3.92m support customers support customer stolti support councilman support councilor Pennsylvania sport mermaid Ward support that’s seven in favor and that carries unanimously all right we have about 15 minutes left we can try to move through some of the other items on the council agenda before our 4:30
7h 4.26m so let’s move to do that now
7h 4.34m we are at the committee of the whole meeting for February 9 and 10 items a b c d e f g h i j k l m and O our group together for one consent vote does anyone wish to move any of the items out
7h 4.65m for separate vote okay lots of hands sorry cancer on the board go ahead I’d like to move em Heritage response to Bill 23 dgmo 726 out please
7h 4.91m cancel Venia
7h 4.94m and also like to move em as well
7h 5m councilman I have a question on a nice and K
7h 5.09m oh okay
7h 5.15m counselor currents just a question does o need to come out because new information with the addendum came out related to it
7h 5.35m does it need to come out if there’s additional information on the item through you marry me board that’s that’s been councils past practice I mean not necessarily I don’t think procedurally needs to but it has been counsel’s past practice so I think you probably could pull it okay we’ll pull out
7h 5.64m councilor bends at an older a new hand
7h 5.71m that’s an old man but we’ll get a separate vote for him yep
7h 5.8m okay so we have
7h 5.85m then
7h 5.89m abcdefgh
7h 5.95m J
7h 5.99m K’s gone l
7h 6.03m m o n r okay
7h 6.06m any
7h 6.11m questions or comments on
7h 6.16m what is on the board not questions sorry only come to a pulled it counselor Nissan
7h 6.29m yeah just two comments I’ve actually just one because the other one got pulled motion memo on City of Burlington leaving X social media I just wanted to note that there is an increasing number of municipalities and I didn’t bring the list with me but I believe the province of New Brunswick and a couple other municipalities are leaving X so it’s not just us I wish we could do this faster but I’ll accept committees decision to slow it down a bit thank you
7h 6.8m very not seeing any other comments
7h 6.84m over the clerk for the recorded vote because we’re all birth
7h 6.9m Port House the currents partner Nissan support Council
7h 7.09m item Kay is next the Burlington climate action plan there was a question about that go ahead and thank you very much it really was a question with respect to the nature of the recommendations because because in the report the climate plan
7h 7.38m it was quite
7h 7.4m specific around the role of electric scooters on roads as and and as well as it was quite specific about the evolution of the transit system
7h 7.64m have including Transit lanes and including expansion of the transit service and I my question is simply this does the approval of the climate action plan mean that this city automatically is going to accept whatever is in there as being the direction that will be taken and creation of Master plans for those particular services that matters
7h 8.07m through the mayor to the counselor takes you for the question know the intent is to highlight in the climate plan the different initiatives through other Master plans or other issues the cities taking on to Capital so it doesn’t automatically approve or pre-approved councils Direction on these capital projects but these are types of works like the Mobility plan the mobility scooter the transit lanes that type of stuff is things to stop for looking at to help reduce our climate footprint
7h 8.56m that’s just fine thank you I will be happy to move through it
7h 8.65m okay that has been moved any go ahead counts for Nissan yeah first of all fantastic plan and I’m glad that it’s come forward and thank you for all the hard work on it I want to know that the plan does say that we need all three levels of government to actually make progress on climate targets and I want to know that that’s not happening right now back in November Ontario
7h 9.07m decided or has come forward to say it will scrap setting Targets on a missions
7h 9.19m because it wasn’t meeting them and they got sued for not doing it by some youth
7h 9.25m so last I checked that’s the answer is to not have targets at all so good luck to us all thank you
7h 9.41m all right over to you for the vote
7h 9.49m how’s the Goldberg support customer service support councilman support counselor Benjamin yeah support me Ward support seven and favor that carries turning now to the Heritage response to build 23 phase two short list of designation candidates to head pulled it out counselor Kearns go ahead
7h 9.88m thank you very much this goes back to the community engagement piece around the circulation of the notice and I’ve worked with the
7h 10.01m clerk and what the author I’d like to just defer this by a cycle and so I’ll ask you for the recommendation whether it’s April or May please
7h 10.25m does stuff have a perspective on the referral as a whole and on the date
7h 10.41m you thank you through the mayor to the counselors so yes unfortunately due to human error those notices to come late I would note that I was able to hand deliver notices on February 20th about this meeting so I’m not sure if that makes any difference in the consideration there are no delegates this morning but I understand where you’re coming from with wanting to ensure that the owners receive sufficient notice so I will leave that to cancel thank you
7h 10.89m okay maybe I can ask a question back so we’re about to have marches committee the whole tomorrow could we move this to April please
7h 11.05m through the mayor to the counselor that’s your wish I can follow up and send you notices with the new dates Thanks okay so can we refer this to the April Committee of the whole place
7h 11.31m do we need a revised motion on the floor referral to Emerald okay does any do we want to wait for the language or is everyone good to proceed
7h 11.48m sorry
7h 11.55m who enjoys Community engagement can second it
7h 11.61m thanks councilor Nissan okay it’s been moved and seconded we don’t have it on the board but I think everyone’s okay to proceed yes all right
7h 11.77m over to you for the vote
7h 11.8m Council Galbraith
7h 11.83m support Council Kearns support customer service support Council Sherman its Heritage I didn’t support it
7h 11.96m cats are better than you know are you nuts support
7h 12.03m and Mary Ward support five in favor Two Against
7h 12.1m and that does carry turning now to the new residential zoning by law we did get some additional information that’s why it’s been pulled but I’ll open the floor if there are any questions
7h 12.29m counter currents
7h 12.32m thank you very much just a question to staff how may you envision this new bylaw helping to unlock new housing options particularly with I think this is the one that affects the four units as of right per property is that correct
7h 12.65m the mayor to the counselor that is correct
7h 12.7m so the new zoning by law provides more flexibility not in both use in the in essence it’s the end of exclusionary zoning by allowing up to four units on a lot in addition it provides for updated performance standards in terms of yards and setbacks to provide more flexibility in terms of what gets built and thereby allowing for more housing to be created within the established neighborhoods and it is but also the regulations are sympathetic to recognize existing build form and trying to ensure compatibility between what exists today and what gets built tomorrow thank you
7h 13.29m my second question is does this not apply to the downtown
7h 13.43m to the mayor to the mayor to the counselor the new zoning bylaw does not apply to the downtown area at this point in time there’s still outstanding appeals to the official plan and then tell such time as those appeals to be resolved we will not be bringing forward any zoning on a comprehensive basis within the downtown area thank you thank you
7h 13.77m all right seeing no for their
7h 13.83m questions or comments I’ll turn it to the clerk for the record of vote go ahead
7h 13.92m the council Galbraith support Council Kearns support counselor Nissan support counselor stolti support councilman support councilor Pennsylvania support mermaid Ward support 7 in favor that does carry
7h 14.15m unanimously turning now to the Lakeshore Music and Arts Festival event overview that has been said paraded out there is new information from staff
7h 14.35m are there any questions
7h 14.41m counts are currants
7h 14.44m thanks can I just hear from staff on the new information
7h 14.54m welcome coming up Emily Cote to the podium
7h 14.69m thank you mayor through the through you to counselor Kearns in terms of the additional information staff went back and discuss with partners and we are happy to report that we are able to put on the parade on the Saturday morning so it’ll be a different route and give him the closure is on Branch but will be able to satisfy that request
7h 15.07m thank you very much and then can you comment on the other information that was circulated about the Midway
7h 15.21m sure counselor through the mayor to you so I know that the Midway was also another discussion point I believe a couple of committee meetings ago so I there was information that was circulated around mrg’s investigating around the feasibility of including a Midway as part of their their overall Festival event so they have been back and forth in after some heavy deliberation on their end they’ve identified that given this footprint of the park that would be required to do the Midway piece they are it’s not going to be Financial feasible for them with out some significant financial support in the in the range of 50 to 80,000 dollars
7h 15.94m and can I have a follow-up
7h 15.98m so what I read in that report was that it was an offset loss of potential revenue from other providers that precluded the Midway from attending and that list of alternate providers included food trucks so how close are we going to get to providing just food options to starting to dip our toes into more of a food truck festival again
7h 16.43m do we have a cap a number
7h 16.48m it sounded like we were kind of getting close to making it more Festival food truck festival like
7h 16.59m through the mayor to you counselor onestly I can’t comment because I’m Margie is still in the process of identifying kind of how they’re going to lay out the park they I believe last week just launched their website so they’re looking for vendor information they’re working with partners and Bia so those things are kind of being decided like as we speak
7h 16.94m okay we’ll take that offline thank you
7h 17.02m seeing no further hands I will turn it to the clerk for the recorded but
7h 17.08m how’s the Galbraith support councilor Kearns support consultation support customer service support customer support councilman Pennsylvania support Mary Ward support 7 in favor
7h 17.3m that does Carrie we turning now to the pipeline to permit committee meeting of February 12th together for a consent vote they are staff presentations
7h 17.52m any questions on those
7h 17.59m any comments
7h 17.64m seeing none I’ll turn it to the clerk for the recorded vote counselor Galbraith
7h 17.72m support councilor Kearns support company on support Council support councilman support councilor benevenia
7h 17.85m support mermaid Ward support seven in favor
7h 17.91m and that does carry turning now to the motion to approve the standing committee minutes moved by councilor Nissan seconded by counselor stolti to accept the minutes of the committee of the whole meeting of February 9 and 10 the pipeline to permit Committee of February 12th
7h 18.18m all those in favor simple show of hands
7h 18.23m and he opposed seeing none that does carry we have no urgent business we have no confidential items but we do have a motion to approve the confidential closed minutes for February 9 and just a note that Council gallery has declared a Kuhn area interest in the item at one point four the confidential real estate matter of the committee of the whole closed meeting minutes for February 9 and so the minutes will be taken into separate votes so first we will vote on the confidential close Committee of the whole meeting minutes of February 9 that excludes item one point four so counselor Galbraith can vote on that one
7h 18.9m all those in favor
7h 18.95m any opposed
7h 18.99m okay that does carry and now we will vote on item one point four of the confidential closed meeting minutes for committee of the whole February 9 and counselor Galway will not vote on that one all those in favor
7h 19.21m any opposed
7h 19.24m seeing none that does carry
7h 19.29m all right we have no rise and report we have no motions from Members we have counts three Council information packages January 3rd
7h 19.43m February 6th and 13 if there are any items that counselor wishes to be brought forward and referred to committee let the office of the city clerk know before the standing committee agenda deadline which is April 1st at noon for the next April committee cycle
7h 19.7m I now have a motion to receive and file information items being considered by Council moved by councilor current seconded by councilor stolti all those in favor
7h 19.88m oh I’m sorry go ahead
7h 19.92m thanks I just wanted to comment to the receive and file items there are a lot in here there are all of the correspondence related to the item about the development charges and I just wanted to acknowledge that I have read all of them including those received this morning which I think will also become part of the receive and file and I just want to thank everyone who took their time out of their day to learn more about that and to be engaged with the decision of council today
7h 20.37m all right any other speakers
7h 20.43m okay it’s been moved by councilor Kern’s seconded by councilor stolti all those in favor
7h 20.52m any opposed
7h 20.55m seeing none that does carry are there any notices of motion
7h 20.64m accounts are currants thank you very much I’m just going to give everyone a heads up now we’ll work with staff to craft this but I will be bringing a notice of motion that anyone who is a registered lobbyists will not be able to serve on an advisory
7h 20.88m sorry on a
7h 20.91m committee to council so I will work through that but that should come soon
7h 21.05m okay thank you for that any
7h 21.13m other notices of motion seeing none I have a motion to approve the bylaws move by councilor been Taverna seconded by counselor Galbraith to enact and pass the following bylaws which are introduced entitled and numbered as indicated below
7h 21.38m six 2026 a bylaw to amend regulation of traffic
7h 21.48m a 7 2026 a bylaw to amend changes to speaking times and sections 49.12 and 49.3 of the procedure bylaw a bylaw to designate the Burlington Avenue Ontario Street Heritage Conservation District and adopt the Burlington Avenue Ontario Street Heritage Conservation District plan a bylaw to repeal by law 2020 as amended and replace it with the new residential zoning bylaw only as it applies to certain residential Zone lands and an amendment with the revised schedule as of February 20th
7h 22.12m and a biological appeal the zoning Bala as amended and replace it with the residential bold link zoning by law near Rail as amended with the revised schedule of February 27th
7h 22.33m all right
7h 22.35m any questions or comments on those
7h 22.42m all right seeing none I will turn it to the clerk
7h 22.47m for the recorded vote
7h 22.5m Council Galbraith
7h 22.52m support Council currents support Kelsey Nissan
7h 22.58m its Heritage so support
7h 22.63m councilman Pennsylvania support mermaid Ward support 7 in favor
7h 22.77m we now have a confirmatory by law move by councilor been Tavernier seconded by councilor Nissan to enact and pass by law 12 2026 being a bylaw to confirm the proceedings of counsel at our meeting held today Monday March 2nd being read a first second and third time
7h 23.06m and I’ll turn it to the clerk for the recorded vote on that item
7h 23.13m Council Galbraith support Council Kearns support company sautee support councilman councilman Sylvania support Meed Ward support 730
7h 23.33m turning now to statements by members you have three minutes each and Shawna you’re on the board first go ahead thank you I just have a couple the first one maybe mentioned by others who actually represent that committee but the reason I mention it is that on March 7th from 10 to 12 at tensley Woods Community Center room 3 which is in Word four we’re happy to welcome Burlington’s Mundelein committee
7h 23.73m who will be giving a community an opportunity to learn more about our Twin City in Japan the morning will be filled with fun activities for all ages including face painting calligraphy origami and more
7h 23.91m I want to mention a couple of events that are focusing in Ward 4 on International women’s month
7h 24m uh we have on Sunday March 8th from 11 to 4 the Burlington Women’s Expo is going to be proudly celebrating International women’s day the event promises to be uplifting day dedicated to women community and connection discover amazing women-owned businesses unique shopping opportunities networking with local entrepreneurs and enjoying an empowering atmosphere design to inspire that will be at the Holiday Inn in Canada with Suites on South Service Road
7h 24.4m the second one also at the Holiday Inn in Candlewood Suites will be put on by Halton women’s Place their hosting their 15th annual International women’s day luncheon this event on March 5th featuring The Inspired guest speaker Fallon feroni presenting that correctly I hope
7h 24.65m there’ll be a vendor Marketplace of women-led businesses a hot buffet lunch please join Holton women’s place as they celebrate the achievements of women and girls
7h 24.78m moving on to other areas in Ward 4 we have Port Nelson United Church back by popular demand is going to be their Montfort dinner night on Friday March 6th at 6 p.m. enjoy delicious food and evening of fun and includes a silent auction and all over this is a fundraiser to support the youth group who’s traveling to the 26 World Scout Jamboree in Poland in 2027
7h 25.14m and just to sum up the last Saturday of each month I continue to host my coffee chat at the Hub in Burlington Center this past Saturday’s event was very well attended there were some particular topics of which I shall not name that were very hot topics for discussion I enjoyed hearing from so many word for residents thank you for everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to pop in the next one will be on Saturday March 28th from 10 to 12 any more information about the events I’ve listed will be available on the word for website and newsletter so please get in touch at Ward for burlington.ca for the link on more details thanks
7h 25.76m answer Nissan
7h 25.79m thank you worship
7h 25.81m I have a couple drop instructions coming up I’m going to announce one now and then one by the time of the next council meeting so March 28th went to 30 I am encroaching on to Venus territory at the 14th but it’s just a great spot with great big old so we’re doing it there so once a 30 March 28th no appointment necessary drop by and for more info just email award three at burlington.ca
7h 26.27m used hockey equipment drive at Mountainside Recreation Center on Saturday March 7th from 9 to 2 p.m.
7h 26.4m support the used hockey equipment drive to help indigenous youth in Northern Community communities play the game they love when access to equipment might otherwise make it impossible
7h 26.58m for more information reach out to my office we’ll send you send you the link following there is a t and tour which sounds nice that the Ireland House museum Sunday March 22nd 1 to 3:30 go out there have a nice tea time with us going and sweet treats I will definitely need that thank you
7h 26.92m councilor benevenia
7h 26.98m thank you mayor and the interest of time I was going to mention one of my four droppings this month coming up March 6th at 14 owes on Guelph Line Upper Middle Road at 9:00
7h 27.21m and I just want to remind everybody we have 100 and 20 days to go before live on the Apollo starts and that’s our driveway live driveway series music we have we will have six of them this year thank you
7h 27.48m counter currents
7h 27.51m thanks so much upcoming Ward to community updates our scheduled for March 17th I actually should check why my office did that on Saint Patrick’s day since I’m Irish and April 22nd at 7 p.m. which is hybrid room 247 everybody knows it’s coming up room 247 the first Burlington Community traffic Forum will be hosted by counselor Sherman and I and it’ll take place on April 1st which is also April Fool’s Day but that’s the only day we could do it 6:30 p.m. at the art gallery the event will bring residents together with solution experts and agencies to address traffic congestion and Mobility concerns in the city more details will be shared soon and Community participation is widely encouraged our award to walking tour will take place on April 26th that 10:38 a.m. to meet at City Hall and we will talk about developments in your community anything else on April 26th
7h 28.46m okay
7h 28.49m there might be a park thing the next Burlington Public Library Central Branch will offer weekly income tax clinics starting today March 2nd trained volunteers will prepare an e-file a simple tax return on a first-come first-serve basis so thank you if you can attend that be packed we have the Celtic Tenors March 5th Southern Ontario Lyric Opera on March 7th and then partnership with Burlington green and the y-not theater What You Won’t Do for Love Will feature David Suzuki and Tara coolas on Sunday March 8th the art gallery has some upcoming events to know March break Pottery workshop for teens will be on March 17th hand building will be on March 19th and natural dies is a three week course on Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. and March 12th to March 26th maybe Port Nelson Park will have a little party just so no one gets confused but hopefully we can get something going there soon enough determined thank you TVD
7h 29.54m there’s no one else on the board all right I have a couple of items for folks lots of opportunities for public engagement with me on a variety of issues so first number of town halls that are coming up March 10th Hall at the Alton Community Center with councilor been tavernia March 25th the town hall at the new Applebee Branch library with counselor Sherman
7h 29.99m march sorry April 28th the mayor’s town hall with Council Galbraith at the cell Pavilion and we will be talking about state of the city as well as any questions that you have I know traffic will be top of mine Public Safety always is an issue development charges may come up I’m happy to chat with you about that too whatever is on your mind so we’ll we’ll share a little bit about what’s happening across the city as well as some Ward and Regional specific matters
7h 30.53m I also have my drop-ins these are no appointment necessary I come to you in the community so drop by March 26th Robert Bateman Community Center 11:30 till 1:30 just come by and tell me what’s on your mind
7h 30.81m and the second April 30th drop-in at the Burlington Center Mall 11:30 till 1:30 these are always really well attended and I appreciate the opportunity to chat with folks
7h 31m the spring telephone town hall is scheduled for April 14th 7 to 8:30 at night where you can get your questions answered from the comfort of your own living room
7h 31.2m and April 15th key to the city ceremony at LaSalle Pavilion the nominations are open on the city website so if you know a resident who is deserving of extra honor in the city please recommend them and fill out that form and finally the last mayor’s speakers series of the year is April 21st that will be at the Burlington Performing Arts Center from 6 to 8:30 with a focus on community well-being and safety so hope to see you at any and all of those and of course you can always reach out to me directly at mayor at Burlington dot CA
7h 31.88m all right seeing no
7h 31.92m further comments I do have a motion to adjourn move by counselor Sherman seconded by counselor stolti all those in favor
7h 32.08m that does carry there’s any opposed know that’s a scary our meeting is adjourned thanks everyone