Special Council Meeting

Minutes

Monday, February 02, 2026 at 2:30 P.m. - 7:00 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 A. Owodunni
• Councillor P. Singh
• Councillor B. Ioannidis
• Councillor M. Johnston
• Councillor D. Chapman
• Councillor S. Stretch

Staff:

• D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer
• 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
• D. McGoldrick, General Manager, Infrastructure Services
• L. MacDonald, City Solicitor
• D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk
• D. Murray, Director, Technology, Innovation and Services
• C. Bluhm, Executive Director of Economic Development
• A. Fusco, Director Legislated Services / City Clerk
• L. Scian, Project Manager, Data Governance and Quality
• N. Amaral, Innovation Lab Director
• M. Blake, Committee Coordinator
• M. Mills, Committee Coordinator

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1.

Commencement

A special meeting of City Council was held at 2:39 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.

The meeting began with a Land Acknowledgement given by the Mayor.

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

None.

3.

Mayoral Business and Updates - Mayor B. Vrbanovic

None.

4.

In-camera Meeting Authorization 

• Moved by Councillor B. Ioannidis
  Seconded by Councillor A. Owodunni

  "That an in-camera meeting of City Council be held immediately following the special council meeting this date to consider three matters: one land acquisition matter, a matter of potential litigation and a position/procedure to be applied to negotiations and solicitor client privilege matter as authorized by Sections 239 (2) (c) (e) (f) and (k) of the Municipal Act, 2001, respectively."

  Carried

5.

Recess and Reconvene

The Special Council meeting then recessed at 2:45 p.m. and reconvened at 2:49 p.m. in the Conestoga Room, chaired by Mayor B. Vrbanovic with all members present, for the balance of the public agenda, specifically Items 8.1 and 8.2, under the heading of Strategic Session reports. This portion of the meeting does not have a web stream.

6.

Strategic Session Reports

6.1

Digital Kitchener and Corporate-Wide Data Strategies, COR-2026-007

Councillor J. Deneault entered the meeting at this time. 

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD2026052 regarding the Make It Kitchener Refresh.

D. Murray, Director, Technology, Innovation and Services, delivered a brief presentation outlining the CityWide Data Strategy and the Digital Kitchener initiative. L. Scian, Project Manager, Data Governance and Quality, provided an overview of the CityWide Data Strategy, including current progress and intended outcomes. A. Fusco, Director, Legislated Services, was also in attendance to respond to questions from Council. 

Council participated in a facilitated Mentimeter exercise during which members were asked what data would be most helpful in supporting their ability to respond to questions from the public, including customers, developers, investors, and builders. Members noted the importance of improved access to planning and traffic information, the ability to track reports and associated meeting outcomes, enhanced data regarding community centre usage and demographics, and clearer insight into vacancies within the housing and business sectors.  

Further, N. Amaral, Innovation Lab Director, presented an overview of the Digital Kitchener strategy. A second Mentimeter exercise invited Council to identify which customer service challenges should be prioritized for improvement through technology or Artificial Intelligence as part of the Digital Kitchener strategy. Council highlighted opportunities related to improved resident communications and increased transparency. Council was also asked where they see the greatest potential for Artificial Intelligence to meaningfully support innovation and streamline municipal operations. 

It was noted that staff will incorporate Council’s input into the further development and refinement of the CityWide Data Strategy and the Digital Kitchener strategy. 

6.2

Make it Kitchener Refresh, DSD-2026-052

The Committee considered Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-052, regarding Make it Kitchener Refresh. 

C. Bluhm, Executive Director of Economic Development, provided an overview of the report, noting that Make It Kitchener 2.0 is the City’s ten‑year economic development strategy and that November 2025 marked its midpoint review. C. Bluhm further advised that several significant and unanticipated economic shifts have emerged over the past eighteen months, including global trade and tariff pressures, elevated interest rates, declining new home sales and related construction slowdowns, rising business costs, the continued prevalence of remote work resulting in increased downtown office vacancies, reduced venture capital investment in Canadian startups, rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, and recent changes to Canada’s international student programs.

E. Protzer, City Consultant, provided a brief overview of their analysis and was in attendance to respond to questions from Council.

 

Council subsequently engaged in a prioritization exercise to rank key focus areas for the Make It Kitchener 2.0 refresh.

7.

Recess and Reconvene

The Special Council meeting then recessed at 5:00 p.m. and reconvened at  approximately 8:10 p.m. in the Council Chamber, chaired by Mayor B. Vrbanovic with all members present, for the Council Member Appointments to Boards and Committees.

8.

Council Member Appointments to Boards and Committees

Council considered the 2025-2026 Working Document for Council Appointments to Committees.

Mayor B. Vrbanovic suggested, and it was agreed, that all of the current Council appointments be re -appointed for all of the Boards and Committees, save and except the Community and Infrastructure Services Committee and Wilfrid Laurier University - Board of Governors, as changes to those appointments were requested.

It was noted that no appointments to the advisory committees were required at this time, as the current terms do not expire until 2026. 

The following appointments were brought forward and were voted on and Carried.

Standing Committees of Council

Community & Infrastructure Services Committee    

Chair - Councillor D. Schnider

Vice-Chair - Councillor M. Johnston

Finance & Corporate Services Committee 

Chair - Councillor S. Davey

Vice-Chair - Councillor B. Ioannidis

Planning & Strategic Initiatives Committee   

Chair - Councillor P. Singh

Vice-Chair - Councillor D. Chapman

Boards and Other Agencies

Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery - Board of Directors 

Councillor D. Schnider

Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)

Appointed: Councillor S. Stretch

Homer Watson House Foundation

Councillor C. Michaud

Horticultural Society - Kitchener - Board of Directors

Councillor D. Chapman

Huron Natural Area Joint Ventures Committee                 

Councillor J. Deneault

Councillor A. Owodunni

Kitchener in Bloom Committee

Councillor P. Singh

Councillor D. Schnider

Multicultural Centre of K-W Board of Directors

Appointed: Councillor S. Stretch

Oktoberfest Inc. - Advisory Council - K-W

Councillor C. Michaud 

Councillor D. Schnider

Wilfrid Laurier University - Board of Governors  

Appointed: Councillor P. Singh 

Centre in the Square Board of Directors

Councillor P. Singh

Councillor B. Ioannidis

Councillor S. Davey

9.

By-laws

9.1

Three Readings

• Moved by Councillor M. Johnston
  Seconded by Councillor S. Davey

  "That the by-laws be given third reading, namely:

9.1.a

To confirm all actions and proceedings of the Special Council for February 2, 2026.

(By-law 2026-017)

Carried

10.

Adjournment

On motion the meeting adjourned at 8:28 p.m.