City of Waterloo Council Summary November 4, 2024
** The council summary below provides a snapshot of the major items presented at Monday’s council meeting. The council meeting webcast is available on the City of Waterloo YouTube page. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.
Committee volunteers report on their work to help shape the City of Waterloo
Committee Night is an annual opportunity for Committees of Council to provide an overview of their activities from the previous year and what they plan for the year ahead. Dozens of volunteers gathered in Council Chambers to share their committee contributions to City work.
Members of the Sustainability Advisory Committee, Municipal Heritage Committee, Waterloo Economic Development Advisory Committee, Creative Sector Advisory Committee and Waterloo Park Advisory Committee presented their work in 2024. This work included advising Council in matters relating to environmental sustainability, protection and preservation of historic buildings and cultural sites, economic development projects and initiatives, the local cultural scene and creative sector, and the Waterloo Park Plan.
Future work for these committees includes: identifying sustainability indicators for city services; continuing to support strategic land development; affordable housing; and the update to the City's Official Plan. They will assist with a revised City of Waterloo Culture Plan/Creative Sector Strategy, Economic Development Strategy, the development and delivery of the new Amplify Creative Summit, and advising on safety, accessibility and mobility improvements to Waterloo Park.
In 2024 Council saw the Age-Friendly Cities Committee become an advisory committee to staff, working with other local groups and committees to promote active aging specifically in the City of Waterloo. This past year, their work included identifying and connecting with Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities, and providing feedback on the City’s Municipal Lands for Affordable Housing project and Get READI Plan. Future work includes advising and engaging on the City's Age-Friendly Action Plan.
Inter-agency committees are formed as partnerships between the City and other organizations to facilitate collaboration and joint efforts in areas of shared interest or responsibility. Town and Gown committee, with partners across the community and with local post-secondary institutions, collaborated with City staff, Uptown BIA businesses and student leaders to build relationships by welcoming over 5,000 students to WaterlooFest. The committee also created a Student Guide to Housing (a follow-up to the 2023 Student Accommodations Report), with future work to come on student food security and international student support.
The City of Waterloo recognized 20 years of lived experience guidance from the Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) toward making our community more inclusive and accessible. GRAAC was praised by Waterloo Council and staff for their work to consult with and guide staff on accessibility initiatives, including the past year’s work to advise on the Eby Farm Playground phase 2 expansion, universal autonomous washroom, Facility Accessibility Design Standards, and advocating for accessibility in affordable housing. More details on GRAAC’s 20 years of lived experience guidance is available in a news release celebrating GRAAC’s 20th anniversary.
90 per cent of business plan initiatives from City’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan are on track
Staff presented the annual progress report on the City of Waterloo's 2023-2026 Strategic Plan. The report is a balance of qualitative and quantitative factors, including the status of the 2024-2026 Business Plans and Community Conversations.
Of the 87 initiatives contained in the City’s 2024-2026 Business Plans, a total of 78 initiatives (90 per cent) are underway and on track, while three initiatives have already been completed. This is a significant accomplishment given that staff have had less than a year to work on them. Six initiatives are in progress but delayed, and no initiatives are on hold or cancelled.
Community Conversations are based on the idea that implementation of the strategic plan relies on regular engagement with the community, to show how the feedback received to develop the strategic plan has been incorporated into staff work, and to have conversations on further actions to continue to address the City's five strategic priorities. The pilot Community Conversation was held with City staff from across the organization in October 2023. It was an opportunity to strengthen the connection between the day-to-day work of staff and the strategic plan.
The first of five public Community Conversations was held in June 2024, and focused on Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action. More than 40 individuals from across the community including non-profits, businesses, staff, community members, and members of Council attended the event. The second Community Conversation will focus on sustainable infrastructure and will be held in November 2024, with three further Community Conversations to be held throughout 2025.
Highlights of several business plan initiatives will be shared through the City’s social media accounts in the coming weeks.
-30-
Media contact:
Cari Van Niekerk
Director, Corporate Communications
cari.vanniekerk@waterloo.ca