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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Minutes - 2025-02-10 S"C"FIENER I February 10, 2026, 2:00 p.m. Council Chambers - Hybrid City of Kitchener 200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7 Present: Mayor B. Vrbanovic Councillor S. Davey Councillor D. Schnider Councillor J. Deneault Councillor C. ffli lichaud— CouncillorA. Owodunni Councillor P. Singh Councillor B. loannidis Councillor M. Johnston Councillor D. Chapman Councillor S. Stretc't flffl�- • - M. May, General Manager, Community Services and Deputy Chief Administrator V. Raab, General Manager, Corporate Services J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services J. Lautenbach, Chief Financial Officer, Financial Services A meeting of City Council was held at 2:08 p.m. this date, chaired by Mayor B. Vrbanovic. Notice of this meeting had been previously given to all members of Council by the City Clerk pursuant to Chapter 25 (Council Procedure) of the Municipal Code. I The meeting began with a Land Acknowledgement given by the Mayor. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof None. . Mayoral Business and Updates - Mayor B. Vrbanovic .1 Notice of Motion - United States of America - Proposed Tarrifs - Mayor B. Vrbanovic Mayor B. Vrbanovic vacated the Chair position at this time noting he would be bringing forward a notice of motion for Council's consideration. Councillor S. Stretch assumed Chair. Mayor B. Vrbanovic brought forward a Notice of Motion in relation to the proposed tariffs being imposed by the United States of America and its' impacts to the City of Kitchener. Moved by Mayor B. Vrbanovic Seconded by Councillor S. Davey "WHEREAS the City of Kitchener and the communities within our region are home to a strong and vibrant economy, including vital small businesses, large Canadian -owned companies and diverse international firms that create good paying jobs locally; and, WHEREAS the vibrancy and success of our economy is, in part, reflective of our country's long-standing economic ties with and proximity to the United States of America; and, WHEREAS the City of Kitchener's procurement by-law establishes rules that ensure taxpayer value, protects the City's financial interests, and encourages competitive bidding in the purchasing of goods and services; and, WHEREAS in Ontario, procurement practices are required to comply with all applicable trade agreements, laws and regulations, including the practice of reciprocal non-discrimination and geographic neutrality with respect to Ontario's trading partners; and, WHEREAS Canada currently has 15 free trade agreements with 51 different countries, including the Canada -United States -Mexico Agreement which has created the largest free trade region in the world; and, N WHEREAS Canada is the top customer for goods and services exports from the United States and a critical supplier of goods and services integral to the Unites States' economy; and, WHEREAS on February 1, 2025, the President of the United States issued an executive order to impose new tariffs on Canadian imports, effective February 4, 2025; and, WHEREAS on February 1, 2025, the Government of Canada announced countermeasure tariffs against the United States, effective February 4, 2025; and, WHEREAS on February 3, 2025, the Prime Minister announced that Canada and the United States had agreed to delay respective tariffs on imported goods for a period of 30 days; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that staff be directed to examine opportunities to minimize the impact of tariffs and countermeasure tariffs on the City of Kitchener, including opportunities where it is legally permissible for the municipality to pursue a Buy Canadian preference in the procurement of goods and services; and, THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor work with the CAO and economic development staff to work in partnership with local businesses, area municipalities and associations on a shared action plan to support our local economy, in the event tariffs are levied against Canada by the United States in the short-term; and, THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor, CAO and Executive Director of Economic Development work with Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation and their municipal counterparts nationally and provincially to advocate for and support the elimination of inter-provincial trade barriers and the diversification of trading partners globally-, and, THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener call on the Province of Ontario to provide clear and timely guidance to municipalities on the status of the trade agreement with the United States, including any implications for procurement practices by municipalities, should tariffs come into effect; and, THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener, in conjunction with the Mayor and Council, as appropriate, support the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), FC 's Big Cities Mayors' 3 Caucus, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and Ontario's Big City Mayors in advocacy efforts on trade, tariffs and stimulus funding-, and, THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener support the federal, provincial and territorial governments in its Team Canada approach to trade negotiations with the United States, supporting calls for the elimination of interprovincial trade barriers within Canada, and supporting a more diversified global trade strategy; and, THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener, in addition to its own procurement strategies work with community partners including the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce, the Kitchener Downtown BIA, the Belmont Village BIA and others to encourage residents and businesses to Buy Canadian, and Buy Local where possible; and, THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that staff be directed to report back with an update on the actions of this motion, should tariffs come into effect, at the earliest possible meeting of council." 4. Strategic Session Reports 4.1 New Official Plan - Kitchener 2051 - Strategic Session, DSD -2025-061 Mayor B. Vrbanovic re -assumed Chair position at this time. The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD -2025- 061 dated February 6, 2025 regarding the new Official Plan project: Kitchener 2051. R. Bustamante introduced the report and T Donegani provided an overview of the report noting community engagement and technical studies are underway, and staff are seeking Council's input on the framing of the Official Plan. It was noted a set of community values has emerged from community engagement initiatives and these values form a bridge between the community's aspirations for the city, and the proposed Big Ideas and focus areas that will form the basis of a new Official Plan for Kitchener. Staff requested Council's feedback on the strategies being proposed to deliver on Big Ideas 1 to 3 which are Kitchener's Neighbourhoods, Economy and Environments through an interactive exercise where members of Council were requested to identify strategies they agree or disagree with, or those that require further review and discussion. M year B. Vrbanovic left the meeting at this time. Councillor S. Stretch assumed Chair position. Mayor B. Vrbanovic re-entered the meeting at this time and re -assumed Chair position. Staff then noted next steps for the development of the new Official Plan is for the proposed Big Ideas and focus areas to be refined based on input from the Kitchener 2051 Community Working Group and Council. Further, staff noted there will be community engagement on the Big Ideas and focus areas through community facilitated conversations and conversation kits followed by conversations on approaches to growth. It was also reported Staff anticipate seeking Council's endorsement on the criteria to evaluate ways to grow prior to bringing forward a draft Official Plan in early Fall of 2025. "That an in -camera meeting of City Council be held immediately following the special council meeting this date to consider six matters: a confidential information about competitive position/contracts/negotiations and labour relations matter, a confidential information about competitive position/contracts/negotiations and solicitor client privilege matter, a confidential information about competitive position/contracts/negotiations, a solicitor / client privilege and litigation or potential litigation matter, a solicitor / client privilege matter; and, a personal matter about an identifiable individual, including municipal employees as authorized by Sections 239 (2) (b) (d) (e) (f) (k) and (3) (b) of the Municipal Act, 2001, respectively." 6. Adjournment . . . . . ...... . rxClerk N