2022–2026 Term · Monday
April 14, 2025
City Council Meeting
Motions
Confirmation of Agenda
Council confirmed the April 14, 2025 meeting agenda and any additional items that were added. The motion passed.
WITH RESPECT to the April 14, 2025 City Council, we recommend that the agenda as printed, including any additional information and new business, be confirmed.
Council rejected a proposal to reduce city council from 12 to 11 members by changing to 4 wards plus 2 at-large councillors and 1 mayor. The motion failed 7-6, so the current council structure remains unchanged.
WITH RESPECT to the Report 2025 –Council Composition Review Committee, we recommend that the Council Composition model outlined in this report be approved. This would change the composition of City Council to 11 members, 1 Mayor, 2 members elected At Large and 8 members elected in 4 wards
- the existing ward boundaries be repealed and replaced with the 4 ward model that reflects the structure outlined in this report
- Administration be directed to bring forward the associated by- law to enact this change in Council composition in advance of the 2026 Municipal Election
- the Special Purpose Committee – City Council Composition Review Committee be dissolved with gratitude for their task
- any necessary by-laws be presented to City Council for ratification. Amendment - Report 2025 - Council Composition Review Committee - Final Report
Council rejected a proposal to change how councillors are elected. The motion would have increased At-Large councillors from 2 to 6 and reduced ward-elected councillors from 8 to 4, but the vote failed to pass.
WITH RESPECT to the Resolution as presented in Report 2025 - Council Composition Review Committee, we recommend that the number of Ward Councillors be amended from 11 members, 1 Mayor, 2 members elected At Large and 8 members elected in 4 wards to 11 members, 1 Mayor, 6 members elected At Large and 4 members elected, 1 per ward
Council rejected a proposal to reduce city council from 12 to 11 members by eliminating one ward and creating a new structure with a mayor, 2 at-large councillors, and 8 ward councillors across 4 wards. The motion failed with only 2 councillors supporting it.
WITH RESPECT to the Report 2025 –Council Composition Review Committee, we recommend that the Council Composition model outlined in this report be approved. This would change the composition of City Council to 11 members, 1 Mayor, 2 members elected At Large and 8 members elected in 4 wards
- the existing ward boundaries be repealed and replaced with the 4 ward model that reflects the structure outlined in this report
- Administration be directed to bring forward the associated by- law to enact this change in Council composition in advance of the 2026 Municipal Election
- any necessary by-laws be presented to City Council for ratification. Amendment - Report 2025 - Council Composition Review Committee - Final Report
Council rejected a proposal to change how the city's government is structured by eliminating the four wards and having all councillors elected city-wide instead, plus adding a Deputy Mayor position.
WITH RESPECT to the Resolution as presented in Report 2025 - Council Composition Review Committee, we recommend that the number of Ward Councillors be amended from 11 members, 1 Mayor, 2 members elected At Large and 8 members elected in 4 wards to 11 members, 1 Mayor, 1 Deputy Mayor, and 9 members elected At Large.
Council rejected a proposal to restructure the city council from its current composition to 11 members (1 mayor, 2 at-large councillors, and 8 ward councillors across 4 wards), which would have required new ward boundaries and been implemented before the 2026 election.
WITH RESPECT to the Report 2025 –Council Composition Review Committee, we recommend that the Council Composition model outlined in this report be approved. This would change the composition of City Council to 11 members, 1 Mayor, 2 members elected At Large and 8 members elected in 4 wards
- the existing ward boundaries be repealed and replaced with the 4 ward model that reflects the structure outlined in this report
- Administration be directed to bring forward the associated by- law to enact this change in Council composition in advance of the 2026 Municipal Election
- any necessary by-laws be presented to City Council for ratification.
Council dissolved the Council Composition Review Committee and thanked them for their work. The committee's task is now complete.
WITH RESPECT to Report 2025 - Council Composition Review Committee, we recommend that the Council Composition Review Committee be dissolved with gratitude for their work.
Council approved a municipally-owned site north of the Salvation Army on Cumberland Street for a Temporary Shelter Village. The Director of Strategy & Engagement is given authority to make operational decisions and sign agreements needed to set up and run the project.
WITH RESPECT to Report 057-2025-Growth-Strategy & Engagement, we recommend that a portion of the Municipally owned land adjacent and North of the Salvation Army on Cumberland Street, Thunder Bay, be approved as the site for the Temporary Village Initiative
- the Director, Strategy & Engagement have delegated authority to make decisions regarding operationalizing the Temporary Shelter Village Initiative
- the Director, Strategy & Engagement be authorized to execute documents for the Temporary Shelter Village Initiative and for the duration of the project, on terms satisfactory to the City Solicitor and City Manager
- any necessary by-laws be presented to City Council for ratification. 11:00 p.m. Resolution
Council voted on whether to continue meeting past 11:00 p.m. to finish business. The motion failed, so the meeting ended at that time.
We recommend that the hour being 11:00 p.m. we continue with the business at hand.
Council rejected a proposal to use city-owned land north of the Salvation Army on Cumberland Street as a site for a temporary shelter village. The motion would have given the Director of Strategy & Engagement authority to operate the project and sign agreements.
WITH RESPECT to Report 057-2025-Growth-Strategy & Engagement, we recommend that a portion of the Municipally owned land adjacent and North of the Salvation Army on Cumberland Street, Thunder Bay, be approved as the site for the Temporary Village Initiative
- the Director, Strategy & Engagement have delegated authority to make decisions regarding operationalizing the Temporary Shelter Village Initiative
- the Director, Strategy & Engagement be authorized to execute documents for the Temporary Shelter Village Initiative and for the duration of the project, on terms satisfactory to the City Solicitor and City Manager
- any necessary by-laws be presented to City Council for ratification.
Council approved using land at 1111 Fort William Rd. (owned by the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority) as the site for a temporary shelter village. The city will negotiate a lease agreement and the Director of Strategy & Engagement has authority to make decisions about setting up and running the shelter village.
WITH RESPECT to Report 057-2025-Growth-Strategy & Engagement, we recommend that a portion of the lands owned by the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority (LRCA) and municipally known as 1111 Fort William Rd., Thunder Bay, be approved as the site for the Temporary Village Initiative, subject to the execution of an acceptable lease agreement, approval from the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks if required, and final approval of the LRCA’s Board of Directors
- Administration proceed to negotiate the required lease agreement with the LRCA
- the Director, Strategy & Engagement have delegated authority to make decisions regarding operationalizing the Temporary Shelter Village Initiative
- the Director, Strategy & Engagement be authorized to execute documents for the Temporary Shelter Village Initiative and for the duration of the project, on terms satisfactory to the City Solicitor and City Manager
- any necessary by-laws be presented to City Council for ratification Temporary Village Initiative - Site Location – Referral
Council is asking city staff to compare two potential sites—the LRCA site and Kam River Heritage Park—for a temporary village location, with a final recommendation due April 28, 2025. Any related bylaw changes will come back to council for approval.
WITH RESPECT to Report 57-2025-Growth-Strategy & Engagement, we recommend that the report referred to Administration to conduct a relative comparison of the LRCA site and the Kam River Heritage Park site as the location for the temporary village
- Administration provide a final recommendation on April 28, 2025
- any by-laws be presented to City Council for ratification. 12:00 a.m. Resolution
Council voted to continue meeting past midnight to complete the business on their agenda.
We recommend that the hour being 12:00 a.m. we continue with the business at hand.
Council asked Administration to compare two potential sites (LRCA and Kam River Heritage Park) for a temporary village and provide a recommendation by April 28, 2025. Any new bylaws needed will come back to Council for approval.
WITH RESPECT to Report 57-2025-Growth-Strategy & Engagement, we recommend that the report referred to Administration to conduct a relative comparison of the LRCA site and the Kam River Heritage Park site as the location for the temporary village
- Administration provide a final recommendation on April 28, 2025
- any by-laws be presented to City Council for ratification.