Council Meeting Agenda

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Council Chambers - Hybrid
City of Kitchener
200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7

People interested in participating in this meeting can register online using the delegation registration form at www.kitchener.ca/delegation or via email at [email protected]. Please refer to the delegation section on the agenda below for registration in-person and electronic participation deadlines. Written comments received will be circulated prior to the meeting and will form part of the public record.

 

The meeting live-stream and archived videos are available at www.kitchener.ca/watchnow

 

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1.
COMMENCEMENT

 

The meeting will begin with a Land Acknowledgement given by the Mayor and the singing of “O Canada.”

2.
MINUTES FOR APPROVAL

 

Minutes to be accepted as circulated to the Mayor and Councillors (regular meeting held March 23, 2026, and special meetings held March 23 and March 30, 2026) - Councillor D. Schnider

3.
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF

 

Members of Council and members of the City’s local boards/committees are required to file a written statement when they have a conflict of interest. If a conflict is declared, please visit www.kitchener.ca/conflict to submit your written form.

4.
COMMUNICATIONS REFERRED TO FILE

 

5.
PRESENTATIONS - NIL

 

6.
DELEGATIONS

 

Pursuant to Council’s Procedural By-law, delegations are permitted to address the Committee for a maximum of five (5) minutes. All Delegations where possible are encouraged to register prior to the start of the meeting. For Delegates who are attending in-person, registration is permitted up to the start of the meeting. Delegates who are interested in attending virtually must register by 5:00 p.m. on April 13, 2026, in order to participate electronically.

7.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

 

7.1
HERITAGE KITCHENER - APRIL 7, 2026

 

7.1.a
Heritage Helping Housing Building Grant, Architectural Conservancy Ontario

 

"That the City of Kitchener call on the Province of Ontario to implement a new housing-focused Heritage Helping Housing Building Grant of $10 million per year to encourage the creation of additional housing units within heritage buildings; and further,

That staff be directed to forward a copy of this resolution be sent to Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, The Honourable Rob Flack, the Minister of Finance, the Honourable Peter Bethlenfalvy, the Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, the Honourable Graham McGregor and John Ecker, Chair, Ontario Heritage Trust, AMO, all Ontario MPPs and to all municipalities across the province.

7.1.b
Heritage Permit Application, HPA-2026-V-006 - 11 Maynard Avenue, DSD-2026-122

 

That pursuant to Section 42 of the Ontario Heritage Act, Heritage Permit Application HPA-2026-V-006 to permit the demolition and reconstruction of a detached accessory building located at the property municipally addressed as 11 Maynard Avenue be approved in accordance with the supplementary information submitted with this application and subject to the following condition, as outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-122:

  1. That final building permit drawings be reviewed and heritage clearance provided by Heritage Planning staff prior to the issuance of a building permit.

7.1.c
Notice of Intention to Designate - 1254 Union Street, DSD-2026-129

 

That pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be directed to publish a Notice of Intention to Designate the property municipally addressed as 1254 Union Street as being of cultural heritage value or interest, as outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-129.

7.1.d
Notice of Intention to Designate - 8-24 King Street East, DSD-2026-139

 

That pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be directed to publish a Notice of Intention to Designate the property municipally addressed as 8-24 King Street East as being of cultural heritage value or interest, as outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-139.

7.1.e
Status Updates - Bill 23 Municipal Heritage Register Review, DSD-2026-125

 

That pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the cultural heritage value or interest be recognized and designation be pursued for the following properties, as outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-125:

  • 87 Margaret Avenue
  • 304 Louisa Street
  • 1970 Fischer Hallman Road
  • 29 Shanley Street
  • 285 Simeon Street

7.2
FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE - MARCH 30, 2026

 

7.2.a
Downtown and Belmont BIA 2026 Budgets, FIN-2026-106

 

That the 2026 Budgets for the Downtown Kitchener Business Improvement Area (BIA) and the Belmont Business Improvement Area (BIA) be approved pursuant to Section 205 (2) of the Municipal Act, 2001, as outlined in Financial Services Department report, FIN-2026-106.

7.2.b
2026 Community Grants Tier 2, CSD-2026-118

 

That 2026 community grants (Tier 2) in the amount of $264,012 be approved as outlined in Attachment A to Community Services Department report, CSD-2026-118.

7.2.c
Review of Council Policy FIN-GRA-2007, DSD-2026-092

 

That Council Policy FIN-GRA-2007 - Development Application Fees and Building Permit Fees for Affordable Rental Housing, be amended by the “Revised Council Policy” attached to Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-092, as Appendix ‘A’.

7.2.d
Development Charges Financial Update, FIN-2026-145

 

That the City’s Development Charges By-law 2022-071 be amended as per Attachment D to report Financial Services Department report, FIN-2026-145, extending the term of the by-law for a period of up to 5 years.

7.2.e
Development Charges Debt Reallocation, FIN-2026-135

 

That the $19,058,000 of development charges debt issued for Upper Hidden Valley Sewage Pumping Station and Forcemain be reallocated to the previously approved Cowan Recreation Centre gymnasium for which debt had been planned to be issued in the Spring of 2026, as outlined in Financial Services Department report, FIN-2026-135; and,

That the appropriate transfers from the Indoor Recreation Development Charges Reserve Fund to the Sanitary Sewer Development Charges Reserve Fund be completed to reflect the reallocated debt.

7.2.f
Update on Accelerating Commercial Business Approval Review, DSD-2026-078

 

That Staff be directed to continue the implementation of the ‘Accelerating Commercial Business Approvals’ Initiative as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD-2026-078.

7.2.g
Use of Corporate Resources for Campaign Purposes during an Election Year Policy, COR-2026-133

 

That the Use of Corporate Resources for Campaign Purposes during an Election Year Policy (ADM-ELE-226) attached as Appendix A to Corporate Services Department report COR-2026-133, be approved; and further,

That the Council Expense Reimbursement and Reporting Policy (GOV-COU-025) attached as Appendix B to Corporate Services Department report COR-2026-133, be amended.

7.2.h
Governance Review - Terms of Reference for Advisory Committees, COR-2026-131

 

That the Terms of References attached as Appendix A to Corporate Services Department report COR-2026-131 be approved, amended and repealed; and,

That the revisions to the Appointments to Boards and Committee Policy (GOV-BOA-063) and the Honorarium and Reimbursement for Advisory Committee and Quasi-Judicial Committees of Council (GOV-BOA-2037), attached as Appendix B to Corporate Services Department report COR-2026-131 be approved; and further,

That staff be directed to report back in 2027 in accordance with Corporate Services Department report COR-2026-131, on recommendations to modernize the traditional advisory committee model, considering emerging models that address engagement principles, and reduce duplication with existing processes.

7.2.i
Rental Renovation Licensing By-law, COR-2026-045

This item has attachments. 
1.Attachement 1 - Amendment Councillor Chapman.pdf
2.Written Submission - Sarah Molnar.pdf
3.Written Submission - JT Macleod.pdf

That the Rental Renovation Licensing By-law be approved in the form shown attached to Corporate Services Department report COR-2026-045 as Appendix “A”; and,

That the fees set out in Appendix “B” of Corporate Services Department report COR-2026-045 be approved; and further,

That the request for two (2) Full Time Equivalents (FTE’s) to support the administration, inspection, and enforcement of the Rental Renovation Licensing By-law be approved.

NOTE: The Finance and Corporate Services Committee deferred consideration of an amendment proposed by Councillor D. Chapman related to potential changes to the Rental Renovation Licensing By-law to the April 13, 2026 Council meeting for further consideration. The proposed amendment has been included within attachment 1 to this item.

8.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - NIL

 

9.
NEW BUSINESS

 

9.1
- MAYORAL BUSINESS AND UPDATES - MAYOR B. VRBANOVIC

 

9.2
Notice of Motion - S. Stretch - Localized Traffic Impacts at Victoria St N and Ahrens St W

 

Councillor S. Stretch has given notice to introduce the following motion for consideration this date:

"WHEREAS localized traffic impacts are being experienced along Victoria Street North at Ahrens Street West during train arrival and departure times at the existing Kitchener Go/VIA station;

WHEREAS Region of Waterloo staff have acknowledged that the Region is responsible for sidewalk snow clearing along the Regional and Metrolinx properties on Victoria Street; 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that staff be directed work with Regional Staff to review temporary and permanent modifications to the signalized intersection at Victoria Street North and Ahrens Street West, including but not limited to potential left turn restrictions and stop bar placement to improve traffic flow and intersection operations; and,

THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that staff be directed to work with Regional Staff to improve winter maintenance along the Regional and Metrolinx properties prior to Winter 2026."

9.3
Notice of Motion - S. Stretch - Community Communications Plan around Transit Hub and GO Expansion

 

Councillor S. Stretch has given notice to introduce the following motion for consideration this date:

"WHEREAS improved local and inter-regional transit provides an overall net benefit for Kitchener residents;

WHEREAS Progress toward dedicated GO rail service on the Kitchener Line is underway following a 2025 agreement in principle with CN, alongside recent service enhancements, including 18 new weekend trips and the first ever weekend service to Kitchener; 

WHEREAS construction of the Kitchener Central Transit Hub (KCTH) and GO Expansion will be a multi-year project and will have multi-year localized community impacts during construction including, but not limited to noise, active transportation and traffic disruption and detours;

WHEREAS The impact to the community immediately surrounding the build site and impacted by this construction should receive honest and direct communication;

WHEREAS proactive project updates and communication are important factors in ensuring residents, businesses, neighbourhood associations and elected officials are informed during significant capital construction projects;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that staff be directed to coordinate with the Region of Waterloo and Metrolinx on a communications plan and to set community meetings before 2027 and ongoing to inform and connect with residents, businesses, neighbourhood associations and elected officials throughout the multi-year construction process."

10.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

 

11.
STAFF REPORTS

 

12.
BY-LAWS

 

12.1
THREE READINGS

 

12.2
LATE STARTER BY-LAWS TO BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA, PENDING APPROVAL OF THE REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEES

 

13.
ADJOURNMENT

 
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