Highlights of the Cornwall City Council meeting on 9 July 2024

Members of Cornwall City Council met in the Council Chambers at City Hall on 9 July 2024 for a regular fortnightly meeting. Todd Bennett was absent. CAO Mathieu Fleury addressed the council regarding the imminent threat of severe weather, particularly the remnants of Hurricane Beryl expected to affect Cornwall and surrounding counties. Environment Canada is predicting up to 100 mm of rainfall from midnight July 10 to 8 a.m. July 11, raising concerns about rapidly rising water levels and potential flooding in low-lying areas. Here are some key moments from the meeting.

Ontario 2024 Winter Games Legacy Award Presentation

At the meeting, Leo Logan Currier and Siri Neville were presented with the 2024 Ontario Winter Games (OWG) Legacy Awards. Logan, a graduate of La Citadelle, is an accomplished athlete in baseball, basketball, badminton, golf and volleyball. He will pursue a Bachelor of Commerce and Finance at the University of Ottawa. While Siri, also from La Citadelle, is a versatile athlete involved in volleyball, basketball, athletics, football and badminton. She will be studying Kinesiology at McGill University with aspirations for a Bachelor of Medicine or Physiotherapy degree. These awards, established to support the development of Ontario’s amateur athletes, recognize students who have demonstrated athletic excellence, leadership and community involvement. Each recipient receives a $1,500 scholarship.

Amendments to the Procurement Policy

Council voted to delay approval of changes to the Procurement of Goods and/or Services Policy, effective September 1, 2024. A hard copy was not provided in the packet councilors received and several councilors did not have a chance to read it. The updated policy includes new definitions, environmental and ethical considerations, and streamlined processes for emergency procurement and collaboration. It aims to improve the clarity, accountability and efficiency of municipal procurement practices. The revisions also include changes to levels of authority and electronic submission provisions, ensuring that the policy aligns with industry best practice and supports sustainable development.

Joint tender for coarse winter salt

Council approved a joint tender for the supply and delivery of winter coarse salt to Cargill Salt, Road Safety for a total tender price of $890,880 for the first year. This initiative supports procurement in cooperation with neighboring municipalities.

Purchase of three ambulances for paramedic services

Council approved the purchase of three new ambulances from Crestline Coach Limited at a total cost of $881,900.87, funded through the Land Ambulance Reserve. This decision addresses the need for reliable fleet resources due to supply chain issues that have extended the life of existing ambulances beyond their maximum reliability expectation.

Specialized and on-demand transport scheduling software

The board awarded Spare Labs Incorporated the contract for specialized on-demand transit scheduling software for $440,700. This new software will improve Cornwall Transit’s operational efficiency and customer experience by enabling better scheduling, reminders and real-time updates for users.

Climate lenses and the human rights lens in reports

Council approved adding a “Climate Action Plan Alignment” section in all future Council reports to ensure decisions are aligned with the City’s Climate Action Plan. However, the proposed human rights objective was not recommended for inclusion due to the complexity and confidentiality of related issues. Instead, staff will continue to emphasize community and quality of life benefits in their reports.

Guindon Park Beach property property

A memo provided land ownership information for proposed beach improvements at Guindon Park. The area is owned by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and has been used as a public park under a license agreement with the city since 1976. The agreement, which will expire in 2027, can be extended for another ten years. The city reached out to OPG for “in principle” support for the beach improvement project.

Height and parking restrictions

Council has received a report outlining the need for a comprehensive study on removing parking minimums and height restrictions for new developments. The study will consider environmental, social and infrastructure impacts. Due to staff shortages, a consulting firm will be retained to carry out the study, with funding to be included in the 2025 municipal budget submission.

Inconsistent generating question

As part of the investigations, the Board requested a report detailing the years the non-compliant generators were purchased and installed and when the latest TSSA standards for generators came into effect. This follows an earlier report indicating the need for upgrades to bring the generators into compliance.

Massey Commons Discussion

Councilwoman Sarah Good’s motion to do a cost assessment to convert the planned micro-units at Massey Commons to studios or one-bedroom apartments passed. Earlier in the meeting, a motion by Councilman Fred Ngoundjo was ruled out of order by City Clerk Manon Levesque and seconded by Mayor Justin Towndale. Councilman Denis Sabourin made a motion to suspend the rules, which needed a 2/3 majority and passed unanimously. Mr. Ngoundjo’s motion was read and debate began. However, a five-minute break was requested.

After the break, the optics were that there might have been a meeting in the room. However, Mayor Towndale explained that clarification had been brought to his attention regarding a procedural issue and that an Article 19.1, motion to appeal, would be the correct course of action. A motion to appeal was carried, the rules were suspended for debate, and Councilman Ngoundjo’s motion was defeated because the majority of the Council did not support the micro units at 550 Ninth Street. During the debate, Mr. Sabourin alluded to breaking news from an east side location that will impact local housing. IRCC will end its contract with DEV on July 31, requiring the 537 residents currently staying at DEV to vacate by the end of the month. As a result, some people may move out of Cornwall or face homelessness.

4% Publication of the budget objective

After considerable debate between a 4% and 3% increase, the Council finally voted in favor of a 4% target. This goal serves as a guideline for city administration and is not the final growth number. The City of Cornwall also posted on social media: “Have your say Cornwall! We’re planning the budget for 2025 and we need your input. Complete our short survey to let us know your priorities and concerns.” Visit the website at https://haveyoursaycornwall.ca.

City renew lease with Colts

Council adopted several bylaws, including a bylaw renewing the lease with the Cornwall Colts Hockey Club to use the Civic Complex, Ed Lumley Arena and the Benson Center for the 2024-2027 hockey seasons. The new three-year agreement begins in April 2024 and ends in March 2027.

The next regular meeting of Cornwall City Council is Tuesday 13 August 2024.