Agenda
Community Services Committee

Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 5:30 P.m. - 6:30 P.m.

City Hall - 808 2nd Avenue East - Council Chambers

The public can attend meetings in person. Meetings will also be livestreamed on the City's Council and Committee webpage. If there are technical issues with the livestream that can't be fixed within 15 minutes, the meeting will continue, and a recording will be available later, on the webpage or by contacting the City Clerk. People who can't attend the meeting in person for Public Forum, should send their comments to the Recording Secretary one business day before the meeting. These comments will be shared with members and included in the updated agenda.

1.
CALL TO ORDER

The Director of Community Services called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

2.
ELECTION OF CHAIR

1.Committee Chair and Vice Chair Nomination and Election.pdf

2.Service Review Implementation Ad Hoc Committee Council Member Appointments.pdf

3.
ELECTION OF VICE CHAIR

4.
CALL FOR ADDITIONAL BUSINESS

5.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

6.
CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

6.a
Minutes of the Community Services Committee meeting held on January 22, 2025

1.Post-Meeting Minutes - CS_Jan22_2025 - English.pdf

7.
DEPUTATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

7.a
Deputation from Carlin Val Re: At Last Forest Schools

1.At Last Forest Schools Stone Presentation.pdf

7.b
Deputation from Clark Finlay Re: The proposal for the pedestrianization of 2nd Avenue East

1.Improve OS CFinlay.pdf

8.
PUBLIC FORUM

8.a
Simon Furtner, Business Owner of Barebirch located at 920 2nd Ave East Owen Sound, ON, N4K 2H6, commenting on the deputation presented by Mr. Finlay:

Comments from Mr. Furtner, who, as a business owner downtown, doesn't feel that the parking spots in the two downtown blocks proposed are not critical to specific customers. Patrons who shop at big box stores don't always get to park close to the doors; they may actually have to park in the back area of the lot and walk a long way to get to the store.

Mr. Furtner further commented that a shuttle service could improve public transportation and attract more people downtown.

Mr. Furtner added that when there are downtown programs and events, the business owners in the downtown area do not see an increase in revenue because people are attending for the event only. If these events and programs could be created more strategically to help show the community that downtown is safe, patrons could frequent restaurants and shops and then come back.