COMBINED COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
OPERATIONS AND PLANNING &
ADMINISTRATION AGENDA

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

6:00 P.m. - 10:00 P.m.

Council Chambers, Brantford City Hall

58 Dalhousie Street, Brantford

This meeting will be held in a hybrid format (virtual and in-person). To view the livestream of the meeting, please visit the City of Brantford YouTube page. A request to delegate can be completed by visiting the City’s webpage Speaking at a Council Meeting.

To listen to the meeting over the phone, please call 1-647-374-4685 and enter the Meeting ID 962 8992 3125 or join via Zoom Meetings.

Alternative formats and communication support are available upon request. For more information, please contact the City of Brantford Municipal Accessibility Coordinator at [phone] or .

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1.

Invocation

2.

Roll Call

3.

Declarations of Conflicts of Interest

4.

Separation of Items for Consideration and Consent Items for Discussion Purposes

5.

Statutory Public Meetings

6.

Presentations/Delegations

7.

Items for Consideration/Consent

7.1

Items for Consideration

7.1.1

Funding Request for the Heritage Grant Program [Financial Impact = $50,000 annually for 2025-2027 funded from the Cultural and Built Heritage Reserve (RF0570)], 2025-45

• 1. THAT Report 2025-45, titled “Funding Request for the Heritage Grant Program”, BE RECEIVED; and
  2. THAT the Heritage Grant Program pilot period end and the program BE CONTINUED on a permanent basis; and
  3. THAT $50,000 BE FUNDED from the Cultural and Built Heritage Reserve (RF0570) annually for 2025-2027 to support the Heritage Grant Program.

7.1.2

Review and Update to Heritage Procedures and Delegated Authority [Financial Impact - None], 2025-48

• 1. THAT Report 2025-48, titled “Review and Update to Heritage Procedures and Delegated Authority”, BE RECEIVED; and
  2. THAT the necessary by-laws to implement the updates to heritage procedures and delegated authority BE PRESENTED to Council.

7.1.3

Economic Development, Tourism and Cultural Initiatives Advisory Committee Report #2025-01-29

• 1. THAT Report #2025-30 2025-2027 Public Art Initiatives (Traffic Cabinet Wraps and Utility Houses) BE RECEIVED; and
  2. THAT staff BE DIRECTED to implement a three-year Traffic Cabinet Wrap Program; and
  3. THAT up to $6,000 BE FUNDED from the Public Art Reserve annually for the Traffic Cabinet Wrap Program in 2025, 2026 and 2027; and
  4. THAT staff BE DIRECTED to implement a three-year Utility House Murals Program; and
  5. THAT up to $6,000.00 BE FUNDED from the Public Art Reserve annually for the Utility House Murals Program in 2025, 2026 and 2027; and
  6. THAT staff BE DIRECTED to investigate whether the wrapping of traffic cabinets can be undertaken by a local company, with a priority given to a local business.

7.1.4

Brantford Accessibility Advisory Committee Report #2025-01-16

• 1. THAT Report No. 2025-53 regarding the City of Brantford Accessibility Education Campaign BE RECEIVED; and
  2. THAT the 2025 Accessibility Education Campaign be APPROVED; and
  3. THAT the release of funds in the amount of $10,000 from the Council Reserve Fund for the implementation of the campaign BE APPROVED.

7.1.5

2026 Municipal Election – Alternate Voting Options [Financial Impact: None], 2025-108

• 1. THAT Report 2025-108 Municipal Election – Alternate Voting Options BE RECEIVED; and
  2. THAT City Council ENDORSE the use of online and voting tabulators for the 2026 Municipal Election.

7.2

Consent Items

7.2.1

Museum Sustainability Plan Implementation Progress Update [Financial Impact: None], 2025-12

• THAT Report No. 2025-12 regarding the Museum Sustainability Plan Implementation Progress Update BE RECEIVED.

7.2.2

2025 Climate Action Implementation Plan [Financial Impact: None], 2025-16

• THAT Report 2025-16 “2025 Climate Action Implementation Plan” BE RECEIVED.

7.2.3

2025-2029 Brantford Accessibility Plan [Financial Impact – None], 2025-84

• 1. THAT Report 2025-84 regarding the 2025-2029 Brantford Accessibility Plan BE RECEIVED; and
  2. THAT Staff BE DIRECTED to implement the Plan outlined in Section 10.0 of Report 2025-84.

7.2.4

Minutes

7.2.4.1

Combined Committee of the Whole - January 21, 2025

7.2.4.2

Brantford Heritage Committee - December 16, 2024

7.2.4.3

Economic Development, Tourism and Cultural Initiatives Advisory Committee - November 27, 2024

8.

Resolutions

8.1

Review of the Municipal Code of Conduct (Chapter 16) - Councillor McCreary

• WHEREAS The Council of the Corporation of the City of Brantford during each term of council or from time to time conducts reviews of Municipal Code Chapters bearing upon procedures and code of conduct; and

  WHEREAS Chapter 16 of the municipal code was last reviewed in 2020; and

  WHEREAS the integrity commissioner submitted his report on 25 November regarding the Code of Conduct violation of Councillor Richard Carpenter; and

  WHEREAS the Integrity Commissioner recommended that not only a penalty be imposed on Councillor Carpenter but also that “amendments be made to the Code of Conduct to provide greater clarity to members”.

  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

  1. THAT a task force BE CREATED with a mandate to review Brantford Municipal Code Chapter 16 – Code of conduct for members of the Council of the Corporation of the City of Brantford and of its Local Boards; and
  2. THAT the task force will BE COMPRISED of three members: those being Mayor Kevin Davis and two additional members of council to be named by Mayor Davis; and
  3. THAT the task force will BESUPPORTED by Clerk's Office staff and utilize the resources of the integrity commissioner; and
  4. THAT the task force will PRESENT its final report to City Council on or before the 27^th of May, 2025.

      

8.2

Honorarium of Committee of Adjustment Members - Councillor McCreary

• WHEREAS City Council in December 2014 approved that an honorarium shall be paid to the members of the City of Brantford's Committee of Adjustment in the amounts listed below:

  • $70 per meeting for the Chair,
  • $50 per meeting for all other members; and

  WHEREAS a review of this Honorarium has not occurred since its inception in 2014.NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

  1. THAT staff BE DIRECTED to survey surrounding municipalities on the honorariums paid to their Committee of Adjustment members and bring back a report to the appropriate Committee of the Whole meeting with their findings and recommendations relating to an appropriate honorarium for the Committee members; and
  2. THAT the Honorarium By-law BE UPDATED to reflect the Honorarium Rates paid to Committee of Adjustment members.

9.

Notices of Motion

9.1

Declaration of a Food Insecurity Emergency in the City of Brantford - Councillor Samwell

• WHEREAS food insecurity refers to the inability to obtain sufficient nutritious food due to financial constraints or other barriers, and poses a serious public health risk due to its association with higher rates of diseases and chronic health conditions; and

  WHEREAS according to the 2024 Vital Signs Report, 1 in 6 Brantford area households experienced food insecurity in 2023; and

  WHEREAS the primary cause of food insecurity is the lack of sufficient income to obtain food, housing and other basic needs; and

  WHEREAS the City of Brantford provides support to low-income households through the administration of Ontario Works, homelessless programs, affordable housing programs, child care subsidy, and funding to school nutrition and emergency meal programs; and

  WHEREAS a wide range of community agencies, service providers and faith groups are working to provide food and basic needs to Brantford residents including the Brantford Food Bank, Soup for the Soul, Brant Food for Thought, St. Vincent de Paul, Child Hunger Brant, and the Salvation Army, just to name a few; and

  WHEREAS many Brantford residents rely upon provincial and federal income programs including Ontario Works (OW), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Old Age Security (OAS), Employment Insurance (EI), and Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS); and

  WHEREAS the income provided through provincial and federal programs has not kept up with rising costs of food, housing and other basic needs; and

  WHEREAS social assistance rates for Ontario Works recipients have been frozen since 2018, with no increase or inflation-based adjustment despite the increased costs of living; and

  WHEREAS the maximum single person monthly Ontario Works benefit for basic needs is $343 and $390 for shelter, totaling $733 per month; and

  WHEREAS the CMHC Average Market Rent (AMR) for a bachelor apartment in Brantford is $984 and for a one bedroom is $1,215; and

  WHEREAS food banks and food programs, once thought to be a temporary support to people experiencing food insecurity, are now an ongoing part of the social safety net for many families; and

  WHEREAS the number of individuals using the Brantford Food Bank has increased by 86% over the past four years, from 5,543 unique individuals in 2021, to 10,332 unique individuals in 2024, with 34% of those supported being children.

  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

  1. THAT Brantford City Council declare a food insecurity emergency in the City of Brantford
  2. THAT the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada BE REQUESTED, in accordance with their respective mandates, to:
     1. Increase the rates of income support programs to ensure they are adequate to address the basic needs of individuals and families; and
     2. Increase direct funding to local organizations providing food and other basic needs to families; and
     3. Increase funding to school nutrition programs, and commit to expanding school nutrition programs; and
     4. Increase investment is affordable housing solutions; and
     5. Act to address the causes of food insecurity by establishing a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income; and
     6. Review the feasibility of additional income support measures, including the Groceries and Essentials Benefit and increases to minimum wage; and
     7. Include the reduction of food insecurity as a component of all appropriate government policies; and
  3. THAT a copy of this Resolution BE FORWARDED to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), Federation of Municipalities of Canada (FCM), Ontario Municipal Social Services Association (OMSSA), all Ontario Municipalities, Member of Provincial Parliament Brantford-Brant, Member of Parliament Brantford-Brant, Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, M.P., Jagmeet Singh, Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada, M.P, Yves-Francois Blanchet, Leader of the Bloc Québécois, M.P. Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada, M.P.P. Marit Stiles, Leader of the New Democratic Party of Ontario, Bonnie Crombie, Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, M.P.P. Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario, the Ontario Public School Boards Association, and the Canadian School Boards Association.

9.2

Enhancing Facility Rental Terms of Use - Councillor Van Tilborg

• WHEREAS the Brantford Minor Hockey Association’s U15 99ers team is under investigation for serious allegations of bullying, including disturbing messages involving acts of violence; and

  WHEREAS this investigation is being conducted by an Independent Third Party (ITP), a fully independent group of experts appointed to handle all Hockey Canada maltreatment complaints; and

  WHEREAS such investigations typically take between 113 and 136 days to conclude; and

  WHEREAS the City of Brantford is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all employees and patrons; and

  WHEREAS the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre’s Facility Terms and Conditions explicitly prohibit unacceptable behavior, including the use of profanity, discriminatory statements, harassment, or threats as outlined in section 264.1 of the Criminal Code;

  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff be DIRECTED to collaborate with investigators and REPORT back to Council with recommendations to strengthen facility rental terms of use, ensuring all patrons are protected from bullying and harassment.

10.

Adjournment