April 3, 2023
Council spent most of the meeting wrestling with the Thunder Bay Public Library Board's composition, ultimately approving changes that will expand it to nine members with additions of one city councillor and one citizen representative—the bylaw will be finalized April 24th. The Library Board overhaul came after defeating a separate proposal to add school board representatives, with Council opting instead for citizen appointments. Council also approved an updated Work Life Initiatives policy covering work-from-home arrangements and instructed staff to report back on workplace safety risks for remote workers by late June. In other business, Council ratified a contract with Northcore for streetscape renewal work on Court Street and Red River Road.
March 27, 2023
Council directed staff to compile a list of city-owned properties, including parks, that could be sold to raise revenue, with a report due by September 18, 2023—a 9-3 vote that signals the city is exploring asset sales to address budget pressures. Council also approved updated municipal fees and charges that will increase what residents and businesses pay for various city services. The meeting was otherwise procedural, with council confirming agendas and approving meeting minutes from earlier sessions.
March 6, 2023
Council restructured city management by eliminating the separate City Treasurer position and approved infrastructure improvements at the Canada Games Complex along with a condenser upgrade at Fort William Gardens. The meeting also included updates to water supply regulations and adjustments to the property tax and water credit program for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. All motions passed without opposition, though the decision to eliminate the Treasurer role represents a significant change to city administration.
February 6, 2023
Thunder Bay Council approved a tight 2023 budget that cuts $1 million in spending through service reductions across multiple departments. The city will delay the Jumbo Gardens Community Centre closure to December, reduce indoor pool hours at two facilities, defer leaf and yard waste pickup expansion to 2024, and cut $25,000 from police services while slashing the Police Services Board honorarium budget by $44,000. Council also directed administration to find an additional $1 million in cuts to offset a one-time withdrawal from the reserve fund, with proposals due by December 18.
January 23, 2023
Council approved several routine administrative items on January 23, including board appointments recommended by the City Clerk and a property matter handled by Realty Services, along with confirmation of minutes from previous meetings. A by-law was also adopted and numbered as By-law 14/2023. The meeting consisted primarily of procedural approvals with no major policy changes or contentious debates.
January 9, 2023
Council approved the 2023 Interim Tax Levy By-law, allowing the city to collect property taxes this year while the final budget is still being finalized. The remainder of the meeting was procedural, with council confirming the agenda, previous meeting minutes, and the validity of today's proceedings.
December 19, 2022
Council closed two unsupervised outdoor skating ponds at Vale Community Centre and Centennial Village this winter while adding a new skating path at Vickers Park to replace them. The city also approved design and construction upgrades to Fort William Stadium including track, field, and scoreboard improvements. Several administrative by-laws passed, including parking enforcement appointments and property exemptions for 443 Hebert Street.
December 12, 2022
Council approved funding for a major ice plant refurbishment at the Tournament Centre using money from the facility's reserve fund, moving forward with what appears to be a significant infrastructure upgrade. The council also authorized the city to take on serial debenture borrowing, a standard financing mechanism that allows the city to borrow money repaid over time for capital projects.
November 29, 2022
Council made several board and committee appointments, filling vacancies across various city bodies and designating new board leadership. The specific appointments and their implications aren't detailed in the available information, but residents should note that key positions on advisory boards and the mayor's office were staffed through this vote.
November 28, 2022
Council formalized a rotating system for temporary mayoral leadership, appointing different councillors to serve as Acting Mayor for each month over the next year and establishing a new by-law to standardize the process when the Mayor is absent. The moves ensure the city maintains continuous leadership coverage during mayoral vacancies, though the decision doesn't signal any immediate change to the current mayoral role.