Strategic Planning and Budget Committee

That a closed meeting of the Strategic Planning and Budget Committee be held on November 22 2023 at 1:00 p.m. electronically, in accordance with Section 239 of the “Municipal Act, 2001”, for the purposes of considering the following subject matters: Advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose; In Favor (13) B. Vrbanovic, J. Erb, K. Redman, M. Harris, S. Shantz, S. Foxton, D. Craig, P. Wolf, C. James, R. Deutschmann, N. Salonen, C. Huinink, and K. Williams

That the Committee reconvene into Open Session. In Favor (13) B. Vrbanovic, J. Erb, K. Redman, M. Harris, S. Shantz, S. Foxton, D. Craig, P. Wolf, C. James, R. Deutschmann, N. Salonen, C. Huinink, and K. Williams

from Community and Health Services Committee: Fee For Service Requests in the Housing Stability System CSD-HOU-23-027 That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo take the following action with respect to the results of the 2023 Housing Stability System Fee for Service Request and Proposal Response Protocol (the Protocol) for the 2024 budget process as outlined in report CSD-HOU-23-027 dated November 7, 2023: a) Approve the nine service and program proposals recommended for funding in 2024 as set out Appendix A in the total amount of $3,113,493; b) Direct staff to include $3,113,493 in the 2024 Housing Services Operating Budget to fund the operating and costs of the recommended service and program proposals, with funding from the 2024 property tax levy; c) Authorize the Commissioner of Community Services and Director of Housing Services to execute any agreements, memorandums of understanding and other documents needed to implement the recommended service and program proposals, to the satisfaction of the Regional Solicitor; d) Direct Housing Services staff to enter into discussions with Marillac Residence to support a potential development of 15 units of transitional housing and 15 units of supportive housing for pregnant woman and young mothers and bring forward any recommendation to Regional Council for consideration; e) Direct Housing Services staff to enter into discussions with YWCA Cambridge to support a potential development of 20-bed 24/7 women’s emergency shelter in Cam

from Community and Health Services Committee Plan to End Chronic Homelessness CSD-HOU-23-028 That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo take the following action with respect to beginning the implementation of the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness for Regional Residents Experiencing Chronic Homelessness as set out in report CSD-HOU-23-028 dated November 7, 2023: Direct staff to begin the co-implementation of initiatives designed to address gaps identified in the Key Findings Report (CSD-HOU-23-024) with community partners, as detailed in Appendix A; Direct staff to: a) Increase the 2024 Housing Services Operating Budget by $11,124,967 to implement the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness (The Plan) funded by $3,200,000 from the Tax Stabilization Reserve and $7,924,967 from the 2024 property tax levy; b) Amend the 2024-2033 Housing capital program for the development of a hybrid shelter as outlined in this report; c) Establish a Homelessness Prevention Capital Reserve; Advocate to the Government of Canada and to the Government of Ontario for annually incremental, sustainable, and predictable funding to support both new and existing services and programs that end, prevent, and respond to experiences of homelessness; Direct staff to work with community to develop accountability and impact frameworks for the Housing Stability System; Direct staff to work with community to develop a suite of policy incentives supporting the creation of new affordable housing and/or for preventing the l

THAT the recommendations with respect to the interim Plan to End Chronic Homelessness (as described in report CSD-HOU-23-028 dated November 7, 2023) and the Fee for Service Requests in the Housing Stability System (as described in report CSD-HOU-23-027 dated November 7, 2023) be

That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo defer the motion discussed under item 10.1 to the December 13, 2023 Strategic Planning and Budget Committee meeting. In Favor (10) J. Erb, K. Redman, M. Harris, S. Shantz, S. Foxton, D. Craig, C. James, N. Salonen, C. Huinink, and K. Williams Opposed (2) P. Wolf, and R. Deutschmann

amended: WHEREAS the Region of Waterloo is committed to advancing Truth and Reconciliation and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; AND WHEREAS First Nations, Inuit and Métis, African, Caribbean, Black identifying, racialized and historically under-recognized communities continue to face systemic barriers and discrimination; AND WHEREAS Organizations led by and serving these priority communities, know and understand the complex needs of their communities best, but have been traditionally under-resourced and under-funded to effectively respond; AND WHEREAS a Community Capacity Building Fund was created in response to this need and funding was distributed in 2023 alongside the Upstream Fund using budget capacity available in the Equity Fund; AND WHEREAS the Equity Fund is fully committed for a range of programs in 2024; AND WHEREAS the distribution of funding in 2023 has resulted in increased capacity for organizations led by priority-communities to support achievement of the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan’s goals; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: THAT the Regional Municipality of Waterloo direct staff to include in the 2024 Operating Budget a provision of $1,000,000 to establish an annual Community Capacity Building Fund with funding from the property tax levy, and THAT staff report back in Q1 2024 with the proposed terms of reference for the Community Capacity Building Fund, incorporating the learnings from the Upstream Fund evaluation, and a timeline for application and award

amend the motion so that $1,000,000 is included in the 2024 Operating Budget In Favor (10) J. Erb, K. Redman, S. Shantz, S. Foxton, P. Wolf, C. James, R. Deutschmann, N. Salonen, C. Huinink, and K. Williams Opposed (2) M. Harris, and D. Craig

WHEREAS an increase of the adult Grand River Transit monthly pass from the proposed $96 to $99 per month would generate as much revenue as the proposed cash fare increase from $3.75 to $4; and WHEREAS a corresponding increase of the discount rate to 52% for the Affordable Transit Program monthly pass would maintain its cost under $48 per month; and WHEREAS an increase of the Grand River Transit monthly pass to $99 per month amounts to less than the cost of one fare per day; and WHEREAS an increase of the Grand River Transit monthly pass to $99 per month is more in line with the cost of a bus pass in similar municipalities; and WHEREAS maintaining the Grand River Transit cash fare at $3.75 for the duration of 2024 will avoid putting greater financial strain on those who pay transit by cash; and THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Grand River Transit cash fares be maintained at $3.75 for the duration of 2024 and that the Grand River Transit monthly pass cost be further increased to $99 effective July 1, 2024; and THAT the discount level on the monthly pass for customers eligible to the Affordable Transit Program be increased to 52%; and THAT the 2024 User Fee and Charge By-law be prepared accordingly. In Favor (5) S. Shantz, S. Foxton, P. Wolf, R. Deutschmann, and C. Huinink Opposed (7) J. Erb, K. Redman, M. Harris, D. Craig, C. James, N. Salonen, and K. Williams

That a closed meeting of Council be held on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. in accordance with Section 239 of the “Municipal Act, 2001”, for the purposes of considering the following subject matters: 1) Receiving advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege related to a potential litigation 2) Receiving information received in confidence from the provincial government related to a proposed acquisition of lands In Favor (12) J. Erb, K. Redman, M. Harris, S. Shantz, S. Foxton, D. Craig, P. Wolf, C. James, R. Deutschmann, N. Salonen, C. Huinink, and K. Williams

That the meeting adjourn at 6:02 p.m. In Favor (12) J. Erb, K. Redman, M. Harris, S. Shantz, S. Foxton, D. Craig, P. Wolf, C. James, R. Deutschmann, N. Salonen, C. Huinink, and K. Williams

That a closed meeting of the Strategic Planning and Budget Committee be held on November 22 2023 at 1:00 p.m. electronically, in accordance with Section 239 of the “Municipal Act, 2001”, for the purposes of considering the following subject matters: 1. Advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose; In Favor (13): K. Redman, D. Craig, R. Deutschmann, J. Erb, S. Foxton, M. Harris, C. Huinink, C. James, N. Salonen, S. Shantz, B. Vrbanovic, K. Williams, and P. Wolf

That the Committee reconvene into Open Session. In Favor (13): K. Redman, D. Craig, R. Deutschmann, J. Erb, S. Foxton, M. Harris, C. Huinink, C. James, N. Salonen, S. Shantz, B. Vrbanovic, K. Williams, and P. Wolf

Deferral from Community and Health Services Committee: Fee For Service Requests in the Housing Stability System CSD-HOU-23-027 That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo take the following action with respect to the results of the 2023 Housing Stability System Fee for Service Request and Proposal Response Protocol (the Protocol) for the 2024 budget process as outlined in report CSD-HOU-23-027 dated November 7, 2023: a) Approve the nine service and program proposals recommended for funding in 2024 as set out Appendix A in the total amount of $3,113,493; b) Direct staff to include $3,113,493 in the 2024 Housing Services Operating Budget to fund the operating and costs of the recommended service and program proposals, with funding from the 2024 property tax levy; c) Authorize the Commissioner of Community Services and Director of Housing Services to execute any agreements, memorandums of understanding and other documents needed to implement the recommended service and program proposals, to the satisfaction of the Regional Solicitor; d) Direct Housing Services staff to enter into discussions with Marillac Residence to support a potential development of 15 units of transitional housing and 15 units of supportive housing for pregnant woman and young mothers and bring forward any recommendation to Regional Council for consideration; e) Direct Housing Services staff to enter into discussions with YWCA Cambridge to support a potential development of 20-bed 24/7 women’s emergency shelt

Referral from Community and Health Services Committee Plan to End Chronic Homelessness CSD-HOU-23-028 That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo take the following action with respect to beginning the implementation of the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness for Regional Residents Experiencing Chronic Homelessness as set out in report CSD-HOU-23-028 dated November 7, 2023:  Direct staff to begin the co-implementation of initiatives designed to address gaps identified in the Key Findings Report (CSD-HOU-23-024) with community partners, as detailed in Appendix A;  Direct staff to: a) Increase the 2024 Housing Services Operating Budget by $11,124,967 to implement the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness (The Plan) funded by $3,200,000 from the Tax Stabilization Reserve and $7,924,967 from the 2024 property tax levy; b) Amend the 2024-2033 Housing capital program for the development of a hybrid shelter as outlined in this report; c) Establish a Homelessness Prevention Capital Reserve;  Advocate to the Government of Canada and to the Government of Ontario for annually incremental, sustainable, and predictable funding to support both new and existing services and programs that end, prevent, and respond to experiences of homelessness;  Direct staff to work with community to develop accountability and impact frameworks for the Housing Stability System;  Direct staff to work with community to develop a suite of policy incentives supporting the creation of new affordable housing and/or f

That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo defer the motion discussed under item 10.1 to the December 13, 2023 Strategic Planning and Budget Committee meeting. In Favor (10): K. Redman, D. Craig, J. Erb, S. Foxton, M. Harris, C. Huinink, C. James, N. Salonen, S. Shantz, and K. Williams Opposed (2): R. Deutschmann, and P. Wolf

As amended: WHEREAS the Region of Waterloo is committed to advancing Truth and Reconciliation and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; AND WHEREAS First Nations, Inuit and Métis, African, Caribbean, Black identifying, racialized and historically under-recognized communities continue to face systemic barriers and discrimination; AND WHEREAS Organizations led by and serving these priority communities, know and understand the complex needs of their communities best, but have been traditionally under-resourced and under- funded to effectively respond; AND WHEREAS a Community Capacity Building Fund was created in response to this need and funding was distributed in 2023 alongside the Upstream Fund using budget capacity available in the Equity Fund; AND WHEREAS the Equity Fund is fully committed for a range of programs in 2024; AND WHEREAS the distribution of funding in 2023 has resulted in increased capacity for organizations led by priority-communities to support achievement of the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan’s goals; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: THAT the Regional Municipality of Waterloo direct staff to include in the 2024 Operating Budget a provision of $1,000,000 to establish an annual Community Capacity Building Fund with funding from the property tax levy, and THAT staff report back in Q1 2024 with the proposed terms of reference for the Community Capacity Building Fund, incorporating the learnings from the Upstream Fund evaluation, and a timeline for application and a

To amend the motion so that $1,000,000 is included in the 2024 Operating Budget In Favor (10): K. Redman, R. Deutschmann, J. Erb, S. Foxton, C. Huinink, C. James, N. Salonen, S. Shantz, K. Williams, and P. Wolf Opposed (2): D. Craig, and M. Harris

That the meeting adjourn at 6:02 p.m. In Favor (12): K. Redman, D. Craig, R. Deutschmann, J. Erb, S. Foxton, M. Harris, C. Huinink, C. James, N. Salonen, S. Shantz, K. Williams, and P. Wolf