Council Meeting

THAT: The minutes of the meeting held on July 14th, 2025 be confirmed.

THAT: Report SESS-16-25 related to the Built for Zero Canada: Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund Service Agreement be received for information; and further, THAT: Council direct that a by-law be prepared to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness Service Agreement for the Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy, Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund as it relates to the federal contribution of $448,000 for the creation of a new chronic homelessness prevention program.

THAT: Report PD-40-25 relating to a Community Improvement Project by Steven Rubacha and Brittany Dunlop for 105 Metcalfe Street be received for information; and further, THAT: Council approve a Heritage Design Grant and Heritage Tax Relief Grant for Application 2025-152, as submitted by Steven Rubacha and Brittany Dunlop for 105 Metcalfe Street.

THAT: Report PD-39-25 relating to Community Improvement Program Grants for 109 Ross Street be received for information; and further, THAT: Council direct that a by-law be prepared to enter into a Community Improvement Program Grant Agreement with Ayah Hamou relating to CIP Application 2024-141.

THAT: Report CMO-37-25 relating to the Proposed Amendment to the St. Thomas Official Plan for a Community Planning Permit System be received for information; and further, THAT: Council authorize staff to prepare an amendment to the St. Thomas Official Plan for a Community Planning Permit System; and further, THAT: A public meeting be scheduled for September 8, 2025 , in accordance with Ontario Regulations 543/06 and 545/06, as amended.

THAT: Report CMO-38-25 relating to Proposed Amendments to the St. Thomas Official Plan, Zoning By-law and Community Improvement Plan for Additional Residential Units be received for information; and further, THAT: Council authorize staff to prepare amendments to the St. Thomas Official Plan , Zoning By-law and Community Improvement Plan for Additional Residential Units ; and further, THAT: A public meeting be scheduled for September 8, 2025 , in accordance with Ontario Regulations 543/06 and 545/06, as amended.

THAT: Report PRF-29-25 relating to an Update on Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Funding be received for information.

THAT: Report SESS-17-25 relating to the New Child Care Start-Up Funding Grant Agreement be received for information; and further, THAT: Council endorse the use of the Start-Up Agreement to support new licensed childcare providers to enter the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system in St. Thomas-Elgin; and further, THAT: Authority be delegated to the Director of Social Services to execute these agreements, subject to provincial guidelines and annual budget allocations.

THAT: Report ES-30-25 relating to the Orange Shirt Day Flag Raising Ceremony – Road Closure Request be received for information; and further, THAT: Council authorize the closure of the road sections identified within Report ES-30-25, on Tuesday September 30, 2025, between the hours of 11:00am and 1:30pm to allow for the Orange Shirt Day Flag Raising Ceremony.

THAT: Report ES-29-25 relating to the St. Thomas Optimist Children’s Festival – Request for Animal Control By-law Exemption be received for information; and further, THAT: A temporary exemption from Section 6.1 of Animal Control By-Law 71-2011 be granted to the St. Thomas Optimist Children’s Festival event organizers to permit a reptile show at the September 13th, 2025 event at Optimist Park.

THAT: Report ES-28-25 relating to the Ac cessAbility 2025 Open House – Free Transit Request be received for information; and further, THAT: Council waive the transit fare for riders traveling to and from the Access A bility Open House at Joe Thornton Community Centre on Friday September 26, 2025.

THAT: Report ES-32-25 relating to the Veterans Memorial Crosswalk be received for information; and further, THAT: Council authorize the installation of the Veterans Memorial Crosswalk on the south leg of the Talbot Street and Moore Street intersection.

THAT: Report ES-31-25 relating to Burwell Road Widening at Talbot Street be received for information; and further, THAT : A b y- law be prepared to authorize the execution of an agreement between 2172158 Ontario Limited and the City of St. Thomas to acquire a road widening for the installation of a sidewalk.

THAT: The recommendations, directions and actions of Council in Committee of the Whole as recorded in the minutes of this date be confirmed, ratified and adopted.

THAT: Report MAAC-01-25 relating to Accessible Parking Advocacy be received for information; and further, THAT: Council support the Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee in submitting a letter to the Province advocating for clearer and increased requirements relating to accessible parking.

THAT: The Council of the City of St. Thomas proclaim August 31st, 2025 as "International Overdose Awareness Day" in the City of St. Thomas; and further, THAT: The "Nameless" flag be flown at City Hall from August 28th to September 1st, 2025; and further, THAT: A flag raising ceremony be held on August 28th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.; and further, THAT: The Jumbo monument be lit in purple from August 28th to September 1st, 2025 in recognition of "International Overdose Awareness Day".

THAT: The Council of the City of St. Thomas proclaim September, 2025 as "Crime Stoppers Awareness Month" in the City of St. Thomas; and further, THAT: The "Crime Stoppers" flag be flown at City Hall on September 8th, 2025; and further, THAT: A flag raising ceremony be held on September 8th, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.

THAT: The Council of the City of St. Thomas proclaim September 12th to 21st, 2025 as "Welcoming Week" in the City of St. Thomas; and further, THAT: The St. Thomas Elgin Local Immigration Partnership flag be flown at City Hall for the week from September 15th to 21st, 2025; and further, THAT: A flag raising ceremony be held on September 15th, 2025.

THAT: The Council of the City of St. Thomas proclaim September, 2025 as "Big Brother Big Sister Month" in the City of St. Thomas; and further, THAT: The Big Brother Big Sister flag be flown at City Hall from September 15th to 21st, 2025; and further, THAT: The Jumbo monument be lit in teal from September 15th to 21st 2025 in recognition of "Big Brother Big Sisters Month".

THAT: The Jumbo monument be lit in blue for the week of September 22nd to 28th, 2025 in recognition of "Prostate Cancer Awareness Month".

THAT: The Council of the City of St. Thomas proclaim October 19th to 25th, 2025 as "Ontario Public Library Week" in the City of St. Thomas; and further, THAT: The Libraries for Life flag be flown at City Hall from October 21st to 25th, 2025.

THAT: Council authorize a grant of $3,122.87 to the Railway City Music and Arts Festival to cover the remainder of the user fees for the use of Pinafore Park.

THAT: Staff be directed to investigate potential sites (in public or private ownership) within the City that could be presented to not-for-profit operators as alternative emergency shelter locations; and further, THAT: Staff be requested to confer with management of the INN about their desirability to close the existing site and their capacity to relocate and operate at alternative sites; and further, THAT: Any potential alternative emergency shelter site recommended fit the following criteria: - be located 200 metres from schools and daycare facilities - be located outside the Downtown Business Improvement Area (commonly known as the DDB area) - comply with the city's zoning by-laws and official plan - contain or could be converted to contain a green space setting including a covered shelter facility with washrooms, for protection from environmental factors along with a secure space for the storage of personal possessions; and further, THAT: All presented alternative emergency shelter sites further enhance and support the services provided by existing community partners including by offering the following: - primary care services - mental health services - addiction care and support - social services and employment support - supportive housing access; and further, THAT: Alternative site land acquisition and construction budget be set at $995,000 and funded from the Infrastructure Reserve; and further, THAT: Alternative sites for an emergency shelter be provided to Council fo

THAT: Leave be granted to bring in the following by-laws: 1. A by-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council meeting held on the 11th day of August, 2025. 2. A by-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute and affix the Seal of the Corporation to a certain agreement between the Corporation of the City of St. Thomas and Dr. Laura McCracken. (Health Recruitment Partnership Incentive Funding) 3. A by-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute and affix the Seal of the Corporation to a certain agreement between the Corporation of the City of St. Thomas and Dr. Michael Pellizzari. (Health Recruitment Partnership Incentive Funding) 4. A by-law to amend By-Law 50-88, being the Zoning By-law for the City of St. Thomas. (Remove the holding symbol - 4 West Pearl Street - Geography 312 Inc., File No. 2-07-25) 5. A by-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute and affix the Seal of the Corporation to a certain agreement between the Corporation of the City of St. Thomas and St. Thomas Elgin Food Bank (File No.: SPC 12-25 - 24 John Street - barrier free ramp and loading dock) 6. A by-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute and affix the Seal of the Corporation to a certain agreement between the Corporation of the City of St. Thomas and the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund) 7. A by-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute and affix the Seal of the Corporation to a certain agreement between the Corporation of the C

THAT: The by-laws be now read a first time,

THAT: The report of Council in Committee of the Whole on the following by-laws be received and adopted, the same be read a third time, engrossed, signed by the Mayor and Clerk, sealed and numbered. 1. A by-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council meeting held on the 11th day of August, 2025. (B/L 80-2025) 2. A by-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute and affix the Seal of the Corporation to a certain agreement between the Corporation of the City of St. Thomas and Dr. Laura McCracken. (Health Recruitment Partnership Incentive Funding) (B/L 81-2025) (A/G 34-2025) 3. A by-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute and affix the Seal of the Corporation to a certain agreement between the Corporation of the City of St. Thomas and Dr. Michael Pellizzari. (Health Recruitment Partnership Incentive Funding) (B/L 82-2025) (A/G 35-2025) 4. A by-law to amend By-Law 50-88, being the Zoning By-law for the City of St. Thomas. (Remove the holding symbol - 4 West Pearl Street - Geography 312 Inc., File No. 2-07-25) (B/L 83-2025) 5. A by-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute and affix the Seal of the Corporation to a certain agreement between the Corporation of the City of St. Thomas and St. Thomas Elgin Food Bank (File No.: SPC 12-25 - 24 John Street - barrier free ramp and loading dock) (B/L 84-2025) (A/G 36-2025) 6. A by-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute and affix the Seal of the Corporation to a certain agreement between the Corporation of the Cit

THAT: This meeting be closed to deal with a proposed or pending acquisition of land, three labour relations matters and a position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiation

THAT: Council now rise from Closed Session (6:55 p.m.)

THAT: We do now adjourn (6:55 p.m.)