June 16, 2026, at 1:00 PM

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The meeting is called to order at 1:03 PM; it being noted that Deputy Mayor S. Lewis, Councillors E. Peloza and S. Hillier were in remote attendance.

1.   Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest

That it BE NOTED that no pecuniary interests were disclosed.

2.   Consent

Moved by P. Cuddy

Seconded by D. Ferreira

That Consent Item 2.2 BE APPROVED.

Motion Passed (15 to 0)

2.2   Enhancing Public Access to Committee of Adjustment

2026-06-16 Staff Report - Enhancing Public Access to Committee of Adjustment

Moved by P. Cuddy

Seconded by D. Ferreira

That, on the recommendation of the Deputy City Manager, Housing and Community Growth, the following actions be taken with respect to Council’s resolution related to enhancing the visibility and transparency of the Committee of Adjustment:

a)    the Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to continue to administer the Committee of Adjustment with the newly established procedures at no additional cost, including posting agendas, staff reports, application materials, minutes and decisions on the existing Committee of Adjustment calendar pages, posting meeting recordings online, and including information about the Integrity Commissioner complaint process in Committee of Adjustment agendas; and

b)    the report dated June 16, 2026 BE RECEIVED for information;

it being noted that any request for additional enhancements would require referral for consideration as part of the 2027-2031 Strategic Plan and 2028-2031 Multi-Year Budget process.

Motion Passed

2.1   Diversity, Race Relations and Inclusivity Awards Policy Amendments

2026-06-16 Staff Report - (2.1) DRRIA Policy Amendments

Moved by P. Cuddy

Seconded by C. Rahman

That the staff report dated June 16, 2026, with respect to amendments to the Diversity, Race Relations and Inclusivity Awards Policy, BE REFERRED to the Civic Administration for consultation with the London Chamber of Commerce regarding the potential to recognize diversity, race relations and inclusivity achievements through the Chamber’s Business Achievement Awards program, or a similar existing recognition program.

Motion Passed (11 to 0)

3.   Scheduled Items

3.1   Not to be heard before 1:05 PM - London & Middlesex Community Housing - 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder Annual Resolutions

2026-06-16 Staff Report - (3.1) AGM-LMCH

Moved by H. McAlister

Seconded by S. Lewis

That the following actions be taken with respect to the London & Middlesex Community Housing (LMCH):

a)  on the recommendation of the City Manager, the proposed by-law as appended to the staff report dated June 16, 2026 as Appendix “A” entitled “A by-law to ratify and confirm the Annual Resolutions of the Shareholder of London & Middlesex Community Housing”, BE INTRODUCED at the Municipal Council meeting to be held on June 23, 2026;

b)  the letter dated June 5, 2026 from P. Chisholm, Chief Executive Officer, LMCH BE RECEIVED;

c)  the presentation by P. Squire, Board Chair and P. Chisholm, CEO, London & Middlesex Community Housing BE RECEIVED;

d)  the 2025 Financial Statements BE RECEIVED;

e)  the 2025 Annual Report BE RECEIVED; and

f)  the communication from the London & Middlesex Community Housing regarding the Board of Director’s Profiles, BE RECEIVED.

Motion Passed (15 to 0)

Additional Votes:

Moved by D. Ferreira

Seconded by S. Trosow

That pursuant to section 36.3 of the Council Procedure By-law, the London & Middlesex Community Housing BE PERMITTED to speak an additional five (5) minutes with respect to this matter.

Motion Passed (15 to 0)

Moved by S. Stevenson

Seconded by A. Hopkins

That pursuant to section 31.6 of the Council Procedure By-law, Councillor S. Trosow BE PERMITTED to speak an additional 2 minutes with respect to this matter.

Motion Passed (13 to 2)

3.2   Housing and Development Corporation, London - 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder Annual Resolutions

2026-06-16 Staff Report - (3.2) AGM - HDC

Moved by S. Franke

Seconded by D. Ferreira

That the following actions be taken with respect to the Housing Development Corporation, London:

a)   on the recommendation of the City Manager, the Independent Auditor’s Report of KPMG LLP for the Shareholder of Housing Development Corporation, London, dated December 31, 2025, BE RECEIVED;

b)  the 2025 Year End Report to the Shareholder BE RECEIVED; and

c)  the 2025 Financial Statements BE RECEIVED.

Motion Passed (15 to 0)

4.   Items for Direction

4.1   The Centre of Opportunity: London’s Economic Development Strategy (2026–2030) and Implementation Plan

2026-06-16 Staff Report - London

Moved by D. Ferreira

Seconded by A. Hopkins

That, on the recommendation of the City Manager, the following actions be taken with respect to the report dated June 16, 2026, with regard to “The Centre of Opportunity: London’s Economic Development Strategy (2026-2030) and Implementation Plan”:

a)    “The Centre of Opportunity: London’s Economic Development Strategy (2026-2030) and Implementation Plan”, as appended to the staff report as Schedule “A”, BE ENDORSED;

b)    the Strategy summary, as appended to the staff report as Schedule “B”, BE RECEIVED for information;

c)    the following funding BE AUTHORIZED to support immediate implementation actions identified within The Centre of Opportunity: London’s Economic Development Strategy (2026–2030) and Implementation Plan, as outlined in this report:

1)    up to $200,000 in one-time funding from the remaining balance of Business Case P-46; and

2)    up to $150,000 in one-time funding from the Economic Development Reserve Fund;

d)    the funding for c) 2) above, BE APPROVED as set out in the Sources of Financing Report, as appended to the staff report as Schedule “C”;

e)    any associated additional funding requests BE REFERRED for consideration as part of the 2027-2031 Strategic Plan and 2028-2031 Multi-Year Budget process; and

f)    the Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to report back to a future meeting of the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee on Indigenous-led engagement outcomes;

it being noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee received communications from the following individuals with respect to this matter:

  • a communication from M. Wallace, Executive Director, London Development Institute;

  • a communication from A. Shepard, President and Vice-Chancellor, Western University;

  • a communication from K. Morrison, Executive Director, Old East Village BIA; and

  • a communication from K. Nielsen, Board Chair and V. Smith, Interim Executive Director, Downtown London

it being further noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee heard verbal delegations from M. Wallace, Executive Director, London Development Institute, K. Morrison, Executive Director, Old East Village BIA and V. Smith, Interim Executive Director, Downtown London with respect to this matter.

Motion Passed (14 to 1)

Additional Votes:

Moved by A. Hopkins

Seconded by P. Cuddy

That the delegation requests from M. Wallace, Executive Director, London Development Institute, K. Morrison, Executive Director, Old East Village BIA and V. Smith, Interim Executive Director, Downtown London BE APPROVED to heard at this time.

Motion Passed (15 to 0)

Moved by S. Trosow

Seconded by H. McAlister

That pursuant to section 31.6 of the Council Procedure By-law, Councillor C. Rahman BE PERMITTED to speak an additional 2 minutes with respect to this matter.

Motion Passed (14 to 0)

4.2   Downtown Reimagined: City of London Downtown Plan

2026-06-16 Staff Report - Downtown Reimagined City of London Downtown Plan-Complete

Moved by D. Ferreira

Seconded by H. McAlister

That, on the recommendation of the Deputy City Manager, Housing and Community Growth, the following actions be taken with respect to London’s Downtown Plan:

a)   the above-noted staff report and Appendix “A”: “Downtown Reimagined: City of London Downtown Plan” BE RECEIVED for information;

b)   the actions identified in this Plan, that can be accommodated within existing approved budgets, BE IMPLEMENTED;

c)   the Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to report back to a future Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee in Q4 2026 with a progress update on the quick-start actions and a proposed work plan for 2027; and

d)   the implementation of Downtown Plan actions requiring additional investment and associated funding requests BE REFERRED for consideration as part of the 2027-2031 Strategic Plan and 2028-2031 Multi-Year Budget process;

it being noted the Civic Administration will continue to undertake an enterprise-wide approach to monitoring, reviewing, and implementing actions within approved budgets to support the downtown area, while identifying future opportunities for Downtown Plan implementation;

it being further noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee received a presentation from M. Rowe, President and CEO and J. Barrett, Managing Director, Canadian Urban Institute with respect to this matter;

it being pointed out that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee received communications from the following individuals with respect to this matter:

  • a communication from K. Morrison, Executive Director, Old East Village BIA;

  • a communication from D. Brown and W. Thomas, Coordinators, Midtown Community Organization (MCO);

  • a communication from K. Nielsen, Board Chair and V. Smith, Interim Executive Director, Downtown London;

  • a communication from AM Valastro;

it being further pointed out that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee heard verbal delegations from M. Wallace, Executive Director, London Development Institute, K. Morrison, Executive Director, Old East Village BIA and V. Smith, Interim Executive Director, Downtown London.

Additional Votes:

Moved by A. Hopkins

Seconded by P. Van Meerbergen

That the delegation requests from M. Wallace, Executive Director, London Development Institute, K. Morrison, Executive Director, Old East Village BIA and V. Smith, Interim Executive Director, Downtown London BE APPROVED to heard at this time.

Motion Passed (15 to 0)

Moved by S. Stevenson

Seconded by P. Van Meerbergen

That the Committee recess at this time, for 10 minutes.

Motion Passed (15 to 0)

The Committee recesses at 4:02 PM and reconvenes at 4:15 PM.

Moved by S. Trosow

Seconded by S. Stevenson

That the staff report dated June 16, 2026, entitled “Downtown Reimagined: City of London Downtown Plan”, BE REFERRED to a future meeting of the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee to allow the Civic Administration to undertake additional consultation with downtown community partners with respect to the concerns raised and report back with the results of such consultation and any recommended amendments to the Downtown Plan and implementation approach.

Motion Failed (3 to 11)

Moved by A. Hopkins

Seconded by S. Franke

That pursuant to section 33.8 of the Council Procedure by-law, the Committee BE PERMITTED to proceed beyond 6:00 PM.

Motion Passed (14 to 0)

Moved by D. Ferreira

Seconded by H. McAlister

That the following part BE APPROVED:

b)   the actions identified in this Plan, that can be accommodated within existing approved budgets, BE IMPLEMENTED;

Motion Passed (11 to 2)

Moved by D. Ferreira

Seconded by H. McAlister

That the remainder of the motion BE APPROVED:

That, on the recommendation of the Deputy City Manager, Housing and Community Growth, the following actions be taken with respect to London’s Downtown Plan:

a)   the above-noted staff report and Appendix “A”: “Downtown Reimagined: City of London Downtown Plan” BE RECEIVED for information;

c)   the Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to report back to a future Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee in Q4 2026 with a progress update on the quick-start actions and a proposed work plan for 2027; and

d)   the implementation of Downtown Plan actions requiring additional investment and associated funding requests BE REFERRED for consideration as part of the 2027-2031 Strategic Plan and 2028-2031 Multi-Year Budget process;

it being noted the Civic Administration will continue to undertake an enterprise-wide approach to monitoring, reviewing, and implementing actions within approved budgets to support the downtown area, while identifying future opportunities for Downtown Plan implementation;

it being further noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee received a presentation from M. Rowe, President and CEO and J. Barrett, Managing Director, Canadian Urban Institute with respect to this matter;

it being pointed out that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee received communications from the following individuals with respect to this matter:

a communication from K. Morrison, Executive Director, Old East Village BIA;

a communication from D. Brown and W. Thomas, Coordinators, Midtown Community Organization (MCO);

a communication from K. Nielsen, Board Chair and V. Smith, Interim Executive Director, Downtown London;

a communication from AM Valastro;

it being further pointed out that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee heard verbal delegations from M. Wallace, Executive Director, London Development Institute, K. Morrison, Executive Director, Old East Village BIA and V. Smith, Interim Executive Director, Downtown London.

Motion Passed (13 to 0)

Moved by A. Hopkins

Seconded by S. Franke

That pursuant to section 31.6 of the Council Procedure By-law, Councillor D. Ferreira BE PERMITTED to speak an additional 3 minutes with respect to this matter.

Motion Passed (11 to 3)

Moved by D. Ferreira

Seconded by A. Hopkins

That pursuant to section 31.6 of the Council Procedure By-law, His Worship Mayor J. Morgan, BE PERMITTED to speak an additional 2 minutes with respect to this matter.

Motion Passed (13 to 1)

4.3   Request for Province-Wide Deposit-Return for Non-Alcoholic Beverage Containers - Councillors S. Franke and H. McAlister

2026-06-16 Submission - Deposit Return for Containers-Franke and McAlister

Moved by S. Franke

Seconded by H. McAlister

That the Mayor and Councillor A. Hopkins BE REQUESTED to advocate, through the Ontario Big City Mayors Caucus and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario for a province-wide deposit-return program for non-alcoholic beverage containers; it being noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee received communications from Councillor A. Hopkins and K. Scaldwell, President, Canadian Beverage Association with respect to this matter.

Motion Passed (10 to 1)

5.   Deferred Matters/Additional Business

None.

6.   Confidential 

None.

7.   Adjournment

Moved by P. Van Meerbergen

Seconded by H. McAlister

That the meeting BE ADJOURNED.

Motion Passed

The meeting adjourned at 6:27 PM.