Okay, good morning everybody and uh welcome to the council meeting for Wednesday, June the 24th. Uh I'd like to call this meeting to order. We are gathering on lands that have been home to First Nation people from time immemorial. We acknowledge that what we now call Richmond Hill is on the treaty lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Mississaugas and Chippewa nations of the Williams Treaty. We also recognize that we are on part of the traditional territories of the Hodino shoni and the Huron Wendat. We'd also like to acknowledge all First Nation, Inuit, and Métis people from across Turtle Island who now reside in the city of Richmond Hill. We are committed to rebuilding constructive and cooperative relationships. So, with that being said, uh if you can, I'd ask you to stand uh for our national anthem. >> [music] >> Okay, thank you very much. I don't think we have any public forum people today. Council announcements, anybody for council announcements? Councillor Tree. >> Okay, thank you so much Mayor Mayor West. So, this Saturday for the award for the annual 2026 garage sale will be hosted in Oak Ridges Community Centre. So, it will host by Jefferson Community Association. So, everyone welcome. So far, we have around 65 residents join this one. We will see you on Saturday from 10:30 to 6:00 p.m. Thank you. >> Okay, thanks so much. Regional and local Councillor DePola. >> Thank Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just want to thank everyone who came out to the community barbecue held on Saturday. We did did have over 5,000 people attend and I want to thank all of the parks Richmond Hill event staff that that helped to assisted with that endeavor. Over 50 volunteers that came out to help and and all the different community groups that participated and took part. We We with the weather and it was a great day. Just wanted to put that out there. Thank you. >> No problem. I'm sorry I wasn't able to be there, but I I assumed you saved me a burger. >> I'm not. >> Okay, sorry. All right, I'll next time. All right, uh Councillor Davidson. >> Thank you. Um tomorrow night, Thursday at Lake Wilcox Park is the last of five free concerts in the park 7:30. It's the Richmond Hill Concert Band and they've just been wonderful. It's beautiful. The the sun's sparkling on the lake. You're with your neighbors. So I hope everyone comes out and don't forget to get your free parking pass online. Thank you. >> Thanks, Councillor. Uh Councillor Thompson. >> Well, thank you very much. Uh through you, the mayor, I'd just like to give a huge shout-out to the Toronto Maple Leafs farm club, the uh Toronto Marlies for securing the Calder Cup uh in five games uh and also a big shout-out to uh hometown boy Ryan Turber who plays on the Toronto Marlies team and perhaps we'll see him up with the Leafs soon. >> Well, as I said before, I think what they should do do is just trade the Leafs current team with the Marlies and then maybe we would do better, but anyway, that's not my decision to make. All right, anybody else? Okay, I just uh I'd like to just uh remind everybody that we're uh celebrating Canada Day coming up on July the 1st and it uh the festivities will start at 2:00 at Richmond Green like they always do on Canada Day and uh this is actually one of my favorite events in Richmond Hill and uh we do a great job. We've won awards with with our Canada Day celebrations and uh it's an entire day of celebrations and you know, as as always our event staff has gone above and beyond to create a an agenda for the day that uh really appeals to just about anybody including fireworks at the end of the day. So I hope everybody can come out and celebrate Canada Day with us in in Richmond Hill. Um okay, so that being said, uh I need uh the introduction of emergency or time-sensitive matters. Seeing none, I need a motion to adopt the agenda. Councillor Solovets, uh Councillor Davidson, all those in favor, opposed, that carries. Thank you. Uh disclosures of pecuniary interest or the general nature thereof. Does anybody No? Okay. Uh adoption of previous council minutes. Uh we've got uh two council meeting on June the 10th and a special council meeting on June the 17th. We can have a two-for-one special on that. Uh Councillor Sue, Regional Councillor Di Paolo, all those in favor, opposed, that carries. Okay. So, we need uh identification of items requiring separate discussion. We have uh everything on the agenda could pass on consent except for 15.4 and 15.5, which we have a delegation for. Uh Councillor Davidson. Okay. Anything else to separate? Okay, seeing none, I need a motion to adopt the rest. Councillor Liu, Councillor Davidson, all those in favor, opposed, that carries. Thank you very much. Uh all right, so that means that we are going to be adopting on consent uh 15.1 all the way through 15.2.13. We'll hold 15.3, we'll hold 15.4, we'll hold 15.5. Uh 15.6 can pass on consent. Mr. Clerk, do you want to do the bylaws now or later? Okay, we can pass the bylaws on consent as well. And that's it. All right, so uh public hearing we have none. We have no presentations I don't think today. And we have uh two delegations who are actually the same person. Uh that's David Tang from uh Miller Thomson LLP regarding the objection to notice of intention to designate for 1003 Young Street and then after that for 12125 Young Street. Uh so Mr. Tang is online, I think. I see him there. So if you'd like to turn on your camera and unmute yourself, Mr. Tang, we'd be happy to hear from you. Okay. Oh, there you go. Okay, there you are. I'm >> Good morning, Worship, members of Council. I'm sorry, uh takes a little [clears throat] bit of time for me to simply figure out how to how to turn on my camera and my my my feed, but uh thank you for uh for for hearing us. Um I'm I am here today and I to address you with respect to two notices of intention to designate. I'll talk about the two together because they really are the same thing. Um these are two of the Anglican Church in Canada's uh church properties at uh 10030 Young Street and 12125 Young Street, which are St. John the Baptist and St. Mary's Anglican Church respectively. Um the um the diocese, which is the registered owner of these two properties, has no objection to their designation. Um and they uh so so the intent to designate is is is appropriate. There it's really about two [clears throat] things uh that we're going to address. One of the big one really relates to the stained glass windows, which the notices of intent to designate identify as specific heritage attributes for the purposes of the designation. And you should have in your package as part of the staff's reporting to you my letter of May 13th, 2026, which sets out in a fair bit of detail the the the reasons and the rationale for for the objection at this point. But it's basically that these windows are expressions, and they're expressions of They're They're expressions which are protected pursuant to the charter and section 2B of the charter of of human of of of rights. Um the freedom of expression, and that And that right includes the right to actually both say something or express something through artistic and symbolic uh stained glass imagery, as well as to say nothing at all. In other words, not to have stained glass windows put and left in a building where the public can come and see it, and where that the the messages and the expressions that are entailed in those windows would be available and expressed continuously, and and frankly, if if they are designated permanently. Um the There There is um there is likely some thought that the fairly recent amendments to the act would would allow the diocese to remove those or to change those windows. And unfortunately, while there is there is some ability to do that, so long as these churches remain primarily used as the diocese or or that not true if the diocese chooses to either sell the property, in which case a new purchaser who may not share the theological concepts and viewpoints of the diocese may very well want to remove those windows so as not to be forced to, for example, um express the the concepts that are that are found in those windows. Uh for example, if a um if a atheist or a person of a different religious um uh tradition buys the property, they may not want to have a window, uh for example, uh that that that that effectively worships Jesus uh on on their property. So, they would be prohibited from doing that because the building might not be used primarily for religious practices, which is a condition under the act for the removal of these uh these windows. And they wouldn't be required for religious practices. And and and I would further say that the diocese itself would not be able to remove them and place those windows in other places because once again, that would not meet those various conditions. So, we are asking you not to uh in this case designate uh stained glass windows as a heritage attribute in whatsoever in the designation of these properties. Uh there's also a subsidiary issue about making it clear that uh the balance of the property uh which is not the church is not subject to the designation as well. Uh and we've asked that the uh property be designated by way of a registered reference plan uh to to St. John the Baptist uh specifically. Um so, those are my submissions. I'm happy to take any questions that council may have about this issue. I know it's a probably technical um situation here, but I'd love to uh be able to address any questions that you may have. Thank you. >> Okay, thank you so much. Uh at this point I think we'll turn it over to council um to to talk about this. Uh So, Mr. Tank, just to be clear, we've given you a little bit more time cuz you had two Is there Is there You've So, this is you're finished in terms of relation with both of the properties that you had signed up to speak about, right? >> Yeah, I think what the the the most useful thing here is if if council has any questions about this because to fully explain this in even, you know, sort of 5 or 10 minutes is is is very very difficult. Um the It is a it's a complex issue that I've set out in writing. And so, I I'd expect a dialogue is probably more effective in terms of addressing any concerns that council might have or questions. >> Okay. Okay, well, thank you. We certainly received your letters as well. So, thank you so much. Okay, so we'll need to turn it over to council at this point. So, um Okay, Counselor Thompson. So, you're you're Are you going to move the staff recommendation then? >> Uh yes, I I will move the recommendation. Are we >> Uh actually, yes, so good point. So, we're actually going to be Let's deal with the first one first, which is uh 15.4. >> Okay. I think my comments would be the same for for either, but uh um That's fine. We'll start with 15.4. Um There's uh I had reached out to staff in regards to this whole matter and and predominantly because of uh an affiliation that I have with uh the St. John's Church, to be honest, and that is that a relative of mine actually donated uh three of those stained glass windows to uh that particular church. Um but that said, it it gave me cause to think carefully about the question of donor intent, ownership, uh religious significance, and you know, what should happen uh to those windows if circumstances ever change. And I understand from staff that they can't really deal in hypothetical. They have to deal with what is in front of them here and now, and I I fully respect that. Um so, for that reason, um I I uh I think it it would be prudent if I just asked staff a specific question that I think, you know, gets to the meat of the matter here. And so, I'd like to ask staff to confirm for the public record that identifying the stained glass windows as heritage attributes does not actually create an absolute requirement. Um uh and that they remain actually that they would not necessarily remain in place forever, and that the Ontario Heritage Act does provide mechanisms to consider alterations where religious considerations are engaged. If they could just confirm for me. >> Mhm. So, through the [clears throat] chair, um staff can confirm that due process is built into the Ontario Heritage Act should alterations to any designated properties be proposed. And that is the core of the intent of designations. It is to ensure that conversations can continue regarding the appropriate conservation of the property itself. >> Right. Thank you for that uh and that clarification, I think, is helpful. So, I understand and appreciate the concerns raised by the diocese and I am persuaded that our role this morning is actually just to assess the heritage value of the property as it exists today. Uh that these stained glass windows are clearly part of the history, architecture, and story of these churches. And knowing these that there are mechanisms within the act to address future religious considerations, it does give me comfort that recognizing these windows as heritage attributes is both appropriate and balanced. And for those reasons, I support staff recommendations and and will uh uh support the motion or the recommendations of staff. Thank you. >> Okay, so you'll move that and then I need a seconder for that. Councillor Sullivan? Do you want to speak to it? >> Uh no, I I I simply agree with staff recommendations. Thank you. >> Okay. Okay, anybody Okay, Councillor Davidson? >> Thank you, through you, Mr. Chair. And and well well well put, Councillor Thompson. He asked similar things that I was going to ask, but is there anything um if they are if these stained glass windows are part of the heritage building, does is there anything written that says if someone wants to remove them, maybe they want them as a piece of art. Does it do the windows actually have to stay exactly where they are or can you actually I I mean, I've seen stained glass windows as a piece of art somewhere. Is can the windows not be considered almost artistic and if the next owner isn't religious and they want to take the windows out and keep them, put clear windows in, but maintain those windows, is it is it imperative that the wind the stained glass stay exactly where it is or just that they don't destroy it? >> Through the chair, again, I'm a little difficult to talk in hypotheticals, but it's again, the intent is conservation. There are multiple ways to conserve elements and architectural attributes specifically. Um how to do it can be discussed at a time when an application it actually comes in. But again, I don't want to confirm or deny what the solutions could be, but are there alternate solutions? Yes. >> So, through you, Mr. Chair, there's there's some wiggle room there, right? It's okay, great. Uh and I'm happy to hear that the diocese supports these designations cuz these things are important to our community and when you drive by, you can see the history. So, I support this and thank you. >> Okay. Uh anybody else? >> Okay, I I would just say >> Um >> in my previous life, I uh >> Um >> volunteered at one point in time to photograph all the windows in that church and uh and I in doing so, uh I got a uh a bit of a history lesson on the significance of all of those windows and and they're amazing. I mean, it's an absolutely beautiful uh part of the our community, a beautiful part of that church and the story um behind those windows is really quite rich and um so, I would certainly and I think that, you know, notwithstanding what the the the deputant said to us and I I understand that, but it really is a hypothetical situation down the road at some point and I think you've said it well, Councillor, that, you know, this is designation is a an opportunity for us to make sure that we are anchoring heritage really significant heritage buildings like this is certainly one of them uh in our >> Um >> community and anchoring them firmly to the ground, but that does not mean that at some future point in time uh the you know, we can't have a discussion and and we certainly would never want to see a building like that or any of our other churches if at some point in the future, it was being used in a different way from being used in a different way because frankly, the best way to to preserve a heritage building is to always have it being used in a vibrant way that the owners are caring for it. So, I can't see a scenario where that would that that hypothetical situation that the deputy was talking about would actually play out and there would be an insurmountable barrier to finding a a realistic solution. I just don't see that. Um, but anyway, I would I would say um you know, the last thing I would say about this is that none of us on council really want to be in the situation that we're in right now where the provincial government has changed the rules uh and given us a very short timeline to either designate some of these historical assets that we have in Richmond Hill or lose them forever. And I can tell you right now that if we don't because of that situation that we find ourselves in if we don't get serious about the the one the the assets that are vitally important to us in Richmond Hill and and designate them, um we're going to lose everything. And I mean, there are so many uh buildings that are going to fall off the registry at the end of this process which is coming up very soon. And the future of those assets will be entirely out of the jurisdiction of the city's hands and there will be uh potentially uh historical buildings that have been so important to Richmond Hill and and other communities across Ontario that are going to fall off the table if the if the owner so chooses. And I I I actually have said before and I'll say again, I think this was a a very poorly thought out move on the the part of the Ontario government and and you know, at the end of the day I think this was all done with the with the idea to create more housing, but uh this isn't going to create more housing. It's just going to mean that historical assets are going to fall off the table, which is a is a crying shame as far as I'm concerned. But, anyway, um that being said, uh we have a motion on the table. Uh so, all those in favor opposed, that carries. Thank you very much. Uh so, we'll bring up 15.5, I guess, is the next item to be uh dealt with. So, Councillor Soloway, do you want to move that? >> Uh yes, Mr. Chair. Thank you. I will move it, and I want to thank staff for their work on both these files. Thank you very much uh for all the work. And um as chair of the of HRH, I'm I'm I'm really I'm I'm really happy to see this come forward. Um as the mayor said, we we need to do everything as everything we can as a municipality to ensure that these um historic buildings and sites and properties are protected. So, I will move these recommendations. I'm in full agreement. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Yeah, I need a seconder for that. Councillor Thompson. Any more discussion? Okay, seeing none, all those in favor opposed, that carries. Thank you very much. Uh okay. So, we also had 15.3 pulled by Councillor Davidson about the Richmond Hill Library operating agreement. So, Councillor Davidson, you'll move the >> I'll move it. Yeah. Thank you. Um actually, I just want to make a comment through you, Mr. Chair, that um I think most people now realize that that running the library and being part of the city is very complex, and there was a financial arrangement that was very complex with many layers, and uh so much work has been done in the last year or two to make sure that the city, which owns the buildings and everything, has input and is in some ways financially responsible, but also maintaining the independence of the library, which nobody wants any library to be politically influenced or anything else. So, I know it's just one line here, but I just want the public to know how hard the city works with the library because we all agree we want the library to be strong, independent, make decisions that are related to what do we have at the library and what are the policies, but the overarching financial side is very much tied to the city. So, this new agreement includes some very hard work about making sure fiscal responsibility, transparency, but independence of the library. So, I I know what people might not be that interested, but it's a huge deal. We they really fixed some major problems. So, thank you to um the library staff, thank you to senior staff, thank you to everybody who made this work because when I came on the library board, I was like, "Oh man, I don't know how they're going to undo this." And they have figured it out and all sides seem to be satisfied. Um perhaps we need to send the um the um the the CEO and and our our city manager to far reaches of the Middle East to work out very complex things, but um it's really a job well done. So, that's that's all I wanted to say and let the public know they're in good hands with the library. So, thank you. >> Thank you so much. Okay, I need a seconder for that. Oh, sorry. Uh CAO uh city manager >> Uh through you um Mr. Mayor, if I may take this opportunity to recognize uh Bruce Gorman uh the CEO of the library is with us today. And um you know, Bruce and I have worked very hard, but I want to take the opportunity to say it is it is one of the most complex agreements uh that I've worked on in my career. Uh a lot of negotiation and I want to take the opportunity in front of council to thank all of the city staff that were involved in getting us here uh today. I think what you have in front of you is a very good agreement. It's clear. It's concise. It depicts our level of service and it moves us forward as partners together in the future. So, I just wanted to take that opportunity to publicly thank staff and and thank council. >> Thank you. Okay, I need a second or reach out to Councillor Di Paola. You want to second it? >> Yeah, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Happy to second the peace treaty resolved by the city and the library and uh I I think as you well said by our our city manager, this operating agreement's going to really be a step in the right direction. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay, uh anybody else? Okay, I I again, I would just like to say that too. I I know that the city manager and I have been um talking about this as this process has unfolded, and I I actually I thank you uh Councillor Davidson for pulling this because I actually uh uh in the hecticness of of a council meeting, I actually uh I'm glad that we're pausing for a moment and and um acknowledging that because the library has always in Richmond Hill been a really great and dynamic space, and I I'm constantly amazed every time I walk into the library, the number of people that are using it and the the range of people that are using it, and I I always reflect back on the, you know, the time when I was a kid and I was being shushed all the time by the, you know, by the librarian, but in libraries at least in Richmond Hill and I think other places, too, uh libraries are not bad anymore. They are They are community centers that are focused around learning and and and you know, learning things about your community, learning things about a variety of different things, and it amazes me that the range of people that use the library. Um I I don't I shouldn't even admit this, but I only recently got a library card, and I cannot believe that I know. I can't believe that I lived without it. Um I've been to the library millions and millions of times, but I've never actually Anyway, um but I will say that um this uh the agreement that we had in the last term of council was not ideal. And um and I think that this agreement uh cleans that up and it's one of the you know, one of the things that we've cleaned up from the previous term of council that I think makes more sense and I it it is really as you said Counselor Davidson, really important that the library um is uh has that kind of academic independence from the city. I I've it's it's embedded in the library act, but I think it's really important that we are absolutely of the library, but the library operates uh it somewhat independently of the city itself. However, having said that, they're an incredibly important partner and um and CEO Gorman, I really appreciate since you've been uh leading that charge um that that is even been more uh solidified than we've seen in the past. So, thank you very much. I'm really looking forward to uh seeing the result of the uh renovation at the central library and uh as a matter of fact, that renovation and that renewal and all the stuff that's going to happen around David Barrow Square right outside your doorstep is going to happen at the same time and uh it's going to create an even more vibrant space. Uh and not forgetting the other great libraries in in uh Richmond Hill, Oak Ridges is awesome. I was actually dating a very pretty girl uh a long, long time ago in high school and she worked at the Richvale library and I got to go to the grand opening of the Richvale library. And by the way, I married that really pretty girl, too. So, it it all turned out well on all fronts. So, anyway, so thank you very much everybody for that and there's no other questions, I will uh ask for call the vote. All those in favor, opposed, that carries. Thank you very much everybody. All right. So, um I think sadly that brings us to the end of our get-together today. So, I will ask for a confirmatory bylaw and Counselor Liu's looking like he really wants to do that. Okay, and Councillor Thompson, all those in favor, opposed, that carries. And finally, a motion to adjourn, Councillor Siluvitz, Councillor Tree, all those in favor.