Cambridge public meetings in 2023
16 substantive meetings from 2023, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Planning - Statutory Public Meeting
The Planning Committee received the public meeting report for 777 Laurel Street but referred the application back to staff for a subsequent report. Staff were directed to meet with the developer and residents to address concerns and obtain feedback.
- Referred application OR05/23 for 777 Laurel Street back to staff for a subsequent report and recommendation (8-0)
- Directed staff to schedule a meeting between the developer and residents regarding 777 Laurel Street (8-0)
- Received all presentations and correspondence from the meeting (8-0)
Council Meeting
Council approved a zoning amendment for an indoor electric go-karting facility at Cambridge Centre Mall and a residential subdivision at 20 Ripplewood Road. The city also established a voting method and funding for a Ward 1 by-election and updated the fireworks by-law.
- Approved internet voting and paper ballot for Ward 1 vacancy and transferred $50,000 from Rate Stabilization Reserve (7-0)
- Amended Fireworks By-law 40-04 to set 11 p.m. as the end time for fireworks (7-0)
- Appointed Karl Herod, Jay Burnett, Jeremy Brubacher, and Mark Longo to advisory committees (7-0)
- Approved storefront alteration at 33 Main Street (7-0)
- Approved Zoning By-law Amendment and recommended draft approval of Plan of Subdivision for 20 Ripplewood Road (6-1)
- Approved Zoning By-law Amendment for indoor electric go-karting at 355 and 395 Hespeler Road (7-0)
- Adopted Consent Agenda items including Traffic and Parking Bylaw Updates and Part Lot Control Exemption for 416 Dundas Street South (7-0)
Special Council Meeting - Workshop
Council held a workshop featuring a Heritage Workshop Presentation. The only formal action taken was to receive the presentations and correspondence from the session.
- Approved motion to receive all presentations and correspondence (6-0)
Special Council Meeting
Council convened a special meeting and entered a closed session to receive confidential verbal updates. No substantive decisions were made in open session.
- Approved motion to enter closed session for park security and local improvement updates (6-0)
- Approved motion to return to open session (6-0)
- Approved motion to adjourn meeting (6-0)
Planning - Statutory Public Meeting
Council received public meeting reports for four separate Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendment applications. In each instance, the council decided to refer the application back to staff for a subsequent report and recommendation.
- Referred Official Plan Amendment for 110 Royal Oak Road (OP01/23) back to staff (8-0)
- Referred Zoning By-law Amendment for 39 Lowrey Avenue North (R09/23) back to staff (8-0)
- Referred Zoning By-law Amendment for 82-88 Beverly Street (R10/23) back to staff (8-0)
- Referred Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments for 30 Lauris Avenue (OR03/23) back to staff (7-0)
Council Meeting
Council approved a residential subdivision and 14-storey apartment building on Main Street. They also authorized a new Administrative Penalty System for parking and non-parking by-laws and allocated additional funding for the city's 50th anniversary.
- Approved Official Plan Amendment and Zoning for 14-storey apartment and 210-unit subdivision at Main Street (Upper Greengate) (8-0)
- Approved Administrative Penalty System for parking and non-parking by-laws effective October 11, 2023 (8-0)
- Approved Zoning By-law Amendment for 454 Dobbie Dr to permit zero setbacks and remove landscape strip (8-0)
- Approved up to $50,000 from Municipal Accommodation Tax Reserve Fund for 50th Anniversary Fund (8-0)
- Approved noise by-law exemption for Gaslight District Grand Opening Event (8-0)
- Endorsed Municipal Compliance Strategy Overview (8-0)
- Approved installation of Level 2 Pedestrian Crossover on Speedsville Road at Mill Run Trail (8-0)
- Approved Heritage Permit for 99 Wentworth Avenue (Victoria Park) (8-0)
Council Meeting
Council authorized a total construction budget increase of $1,310,299 for the Fountain Street Soccer Complex, to be funded by Conestoga College and the Capital Works Reserve Fund. The board also appointed three citizens to advisory committees and passed two part lot control exemption by-laws.
- Approved $1,310,299 construction budget increase for Fountain Street Soccer Complex (9-0)
- Authorized $290,000 funding increase to replenish project contingency for soccer complex (9-0)
- Appointed Ryleigh McDermid and Linda Foster to Environmental Advisory Committee (9-0)
- Appointed Rosemary Minella to Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee (9-0)
- Passed By-law 23-044 for Part Lot Control Exemption - Block 11, Plan 58M-686 (9-0)
- Passed By-law 23-045 for Part Lot Control Exemption - Block 15, Plan 58M-686 (9-0)
- Adopted Consent Agenda items including 2023 Operating Financial Update and Capital Status (9-0)
Planning - Statutory Public Meeting
The Planning Committee received reports on four separate zoning and official plan amendment applications. In all four cases, Council voted to refer the applications back to staff for subsequent reports and recommendations.
- Referred 20 Ripplewood Road zoning amendment (R05/23) back to staff (8-0)
- Referred 355 and 395 Hespeler Road zoning amendment (R07/23) back to staff to include food safety and go-kart emission issues (8-0)
- Referred 250 Allendale Road zoning amendment (R06/23) back to staff (8-0)
- Referred City Wide Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments for Additional Residential Units (OR02/23) back to staff (8-0)
- Approved receipt of all presentations and correspondence (8-0)
Special Council Meeting
Council met in a special closed session to consider a confidential verbal human resource update regarding labour relations or employee negotiations. No decisions were recorded in the open session.
- Approved motion to convene in Closed Session for labour relations/employee negotiations (8-0)
- Approved motion to rise from Closed Session and reconvene in Open Session (8-0)
- Approved motion to adjourn the meeting (8-0)
Special Council Meeting - Workshop
Council held a workshop to receive a presentation on the Economic Development Review and Action Plan. The only substantive action taken was to receive and file the presentations and correspondence from the meeting.
- Received and filed all presentations and correspondence from the workshop (9-0)
Special Council Meeting - Workshop
Council conducted a Strategic Planning Validation Session. The only formal action taken was to receive and file the presentation and correspondence related to the session.
- Received and filed presentation and correspondence from the Council Workshop (7-0)
Council Meeting
Council approved the heritage designation of Forbes Park and granted noise exemptions for BIA events. A motion calling for provincial action on homelessness was defeated, and a request for an Official Plan Amendment fee waiver was denied.
- Approved heritage designation of 16 Kribs Street (Forbes Park) (9-0)
- Approved noise by-law exemptions for 2023 Downtown Cambridge and Hespeler Village BIA events (9-0)
- Directed staff to provide recommendations for installing public drinking fountains in core areas (9-0)
- Defeated motion calling on Provincial Government for urgent homelessness funding and action (3-6)
- Denied application fee waiver for Official Plan Amendment at 110 Royal Oak Road (2-7)
- Approved consent agenda including cemetery internment services extension (9-0)
Council Meeting
Council approved a zoning and official plan amendment for 170 townhouse dwellings at River Mill Phase 5. The 2022 audited financial statements were approved, and the 2024 budget timeline and guidelines were established. Council also authorized a renewed funding agreement for the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre.
- Approved Official Plan and Zoning amendments for 170 townhouses at River Mill Phase 5 (8-1)
- Approved 2022 audited consolidated financial statements (9-0)
- Approved 2024 budget timeline and guidelines (9-0)
- Authorized $70,000 for Hespeler Pedestrian Bridge archaeological assessment (8-0)
- Authorized renewed 3-year funding agreement for Waterloo Region Small Business Centre (9-0)
- Appointed 8 citizens to the Placemaking Working Group (9-0)
- Transferred $181,000 Cambridge Public Library Board surplus to reserves (9-0)
- Received Integrity Commissioner report on Committee of Adjustment Code of Conduct (9-0)
Special Council Meeting - Workshop
Council held a workshop to discuss the Parks Master Plan and levels of service. The only formal action taken was to receive and file the associated presentations and correspondence.
- Received and filed all presentations and correspondence from the workshop (7-0)
Special Council Meeting - Workshop
Council held a workshop to review a presentation regarding Schedule A Events. The only substantive action taken was to receive and file the presentations and correspondence from the meeting.
- Received and filed all presentations and correspondence from the May 23, 2023, Council Workshop (9-0)
Special Council Meeting
Council approved the appointment of KPMG as the auditors for GrandBridge Corporation for the 2023 fiscal year. A confirmatory by-law was also passed to confirm council proceedings.
- Approved appointment of KPMG as Auditors for GrandBridge Corporation for fiscal year 2023 (9-0)
- Passed By-Law 23-038 to confirm council proceedings (9-0)