Guelph Chamber Prez Shakiba Shayani welcomes everyone to the virtual event as the #GuelphSOTC official begins. Mayor Cam Guthrie takes the "stage" in a moment.
Mayor Guthrie welcomes everyone to a State of the City address that is "very different from previous years" He claims to be wearing jeans.
Guthrie says he will look forward to 2021, but admits it will be a "kind of crystal ball moment."
Guthrie thanks city council and staff noting that 2020 was a tough year, but everybody came together and offered great guidance and leadership for the city in a tough year.
Guthrie says he has no notes, he's just going to "blab".
The mayor begins by highlighting a couple of big capital projects that council finally approved: the Downtown Library. He notes there was controversy around costing, but at the end of the day it will move forward. Looks forward to ribbon cutting.
Guthrie flashes back to 2018 at a previous #GuelphSOTC, where he asked the business community to do their part to help sponsor the construction of the new library. (He played a video clip).
The library will convert the Baker lot from an "underperforming asset" into a performing one. He then posted a meme with a squirrel saying, "Sweeeeet."
The other capital project is the South End Community Centre, and this is a projected in the works for a long time. To illustrate, Guthrie then posts a meme with a skeleton on a bench.
Looking back at the 2021 budget, Guthrie points out that about half of the tax levy increase for this year was outside boards, which council doesn't have much control over. Also notes that council and staff didn't take a pay increase this year.
Guthrie also notes the extra $1 million that council spent to help the community recover from COVID, including the pilot to cover the cost of volunteer background checks.
One of the things that made Guthrie proud as mayor is how everyone in #Guelph stepped up over the last few months. People making masks, helping seniors get groceries, birthday parades, et al. Thanks to the citizens for those moments.
He also highlights local business like Linamar who converted to ventilators, Danby who made deep freezers, and all the research at the U of G.
Small and medium businesses were hit hard, and Guthrie says he thinks citizens have really embraced the "shop local" ideal. He asks everyone to keep it up, and keep it up after COVID too.
Another "hot topic" for Guthrie is supportive housing. He thanks the community for trying to understand what supportive housing is, and educate themselves. It's been needed for years.
Guthrie says he need to get our most vulnerable out of "tents in the forest" and into housing where they can get the help they need.
There's been a "game changer" from upper levels of government with offers for funding for supportive housing that will really help these projects come to fruition. Highlights the Parkview and SkyDev projects.
Guthrie asks the community to make sure we're not discriminating against the most vulnerable and look at this as a way to come to together as community to support the "infrastructure for people." Let's talk positively about supportive housing.
Guthrie says last summer we really awoke to the issue of racial justice. He says it wasn't being addressed, and it was under the radar. it unfortunately took the death of George Floyd to call it out and address it.
The mayor says he pleased with the work being done at the City of Guelph, and is pleased with the work being done. "We need to be accountable to change," he says.
Guthrie asks everyone to be fully engaged in the community plan, while the City works on HR matters to make sure that Guelph is a more welcoming and inclusive community. Also, Guelph has joined the Coalition of Inclusive Communities.
Silver linings in 2020? The dining district! Guthrie says he's never seen the downtown look so inviting, and recalls his speech last year when he called for a pedestrian friendly downtown.
Guthrie is playing a streeter he did with people in the dining district last summer. Lots of praise for the project. The City is now compiling a report with all the feedback for the plan with 2021.
"I think it's one of the best things we've done downtown in a long time," Guthrie on the dining district.
Guthrie notes that 2020 was the end of his two year term on the Ontario Big City Mayor's group. Had to lead the push to get economic relief for cities. (Successfully.)
Guthrie says that he and the other mayors are thankful for the help, but they're still going to be looking for more help in 2021.
Speaking of 2021, the mayor is not going to deliver a vision or to-do list for the year. His "desire" for 2021 is that Guelph is the most kind, patient and loving community in Canada. We've been showing it in 2020, but the pandemic has taken a strain.
Guthrie says he hears you when your stressed, and tired of listening to him, but embrace kindness. Especially when it comes to online dialogue.
Notes the waiver of fees for police checks as a way to give back, and as a way to get out of your funk and maybe get involved.
That's a wrap for the speech, but there will be a Q&A portion.
Everybody's mitigating to the other "room" on the Hopin site for the Q&A.
So Guthrie recorded his speech at home, but he's now in the council chambers for the Q&A. Back home his wife is working and his two kids are going to school, so he didn't want to risk tipping the bandwidth.
Shayani opens the Q&A by asking about the priorities Guthrie listed last year, starting w/increased police funding. Guthrie notes all 30 positions were filled thru 2020, and we'll see full impact next year since 2021 is 1st year full staffed.
Community Plan/Future Ready? Council passed Strat Plan. Public transit has been hit the hardest with loss of revenue, but the route review and other planning is proceeding thanks to leadership of transit staff.
Guthrie adds that GO is very committed to two-way, all-day GO trains. They've been hit by ridership drop too, but capital investments are proceeding.
Guthrie still wants to see his idea to make transit free to youths, it was ready to go for last April's CoW, but COVID ruined all of that, so it's on the backburner for now.
A question about the Urban Design Master Plan? Guthrie says UDMP for Baker Street will be coming up in July, and there will be chance for community engagement before then.
Lloyd Longfield asks about the housing crunch. Guthrie says staff are doing formal engagement now on growth. Emphasis on maximising built up areas, Clair-Maltby and York lands. Review of Official Plan on now.
Guthrie adds that he's concerned about the "drive till you qualify", and the difficulties of people who currently live in Guelph having difficulty affording a place to live here and forced to move to Fergus, Listowel and other surrounding towns.
Question about the ways U of G's business school can contribute to business development. Guthrie says that the U of G has become a hub for entrepreneurs and business, so it would be great to see more outreach to connect businesses with students looking for opportunities.
Q: How will council look in the future? Guthrie says there could be hybrid meetings, post-COVID as well as tele-presence for members not on site, or proxy voting. Notes people have been able to engage better now with this format.
Q: Improving tourism? Guthrie says tourism has to be built around destinations, and the dining district could be that. It's also now become a city-wide activity to promote tourism and just not in the hands of the tourism department.
Guthrie pushes his idea for making Market Square a 70s disco roller rink.
Business growth opportunities? Guthrie says green tech, and clean tech. It's sustainable, good paying, and Guelph is known for that already. Also, start-up tech entrepreneurs.
Q: Guthrie's role in public health guidance? Guthrie says he has no role, they're separate. He does take part in the emergency operations committee (EOC) twice a week, but the City will do whatever it has to do to ensure health and safety. WDGPH making the call though.
Guthrie asks for a virtual round of applause for the public health staff.
And it looks like that's a wrap for this year's #GuelphSOTC event.
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