Community and Operations Services

Committee Minutes

Monday, May 12, 2025 at 9:30 A.m. - 4:30 P.m.

Council Chamber

Present:

• Councillor Gray
• Councillor Lee
• Councillor Chapman
• Councillor Neal
• Councillor Nicholson
• Mayor Carter

Also Present:

• Councillor Kerr
• Councillor McConkey
• K. Christopher, Council-Committee Coordinator
• P. Aguilera, Council-Committee Coordinator
• L. Davis, Manager, Legislative Services/Deputy City Clerk
• K. Alexander, Commissioner Community and Operations Services
• B. Mullen, Director, Community Support Services
• M. Harrington, Director, Parks and Roads Operations Services - Interim
• S. Gray-McQuat, Director, Recreation Services
• M. Whitbread, Manager, Operations Policy and Research
• J. Bishop, Manager, Waste Services
• J. Bartley, Manager, Municipal Parking and Cemetery

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Public Meeting

Councillor Gray called the meeting to order and stated that all members of the Committee were participating from the Chamber. Also present were Councillor Lee who participated from the Chamber and Councillor McConkey who participated electronically. 

Land Acknowledgement

The City of Oshawa is situated on lands within the traditional and treaty territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Anishinaabeg and the signatories of the Williams Treaties, which include the Mississaugas of Scugog Island, Curve Lake, Hiawatha and Alderville First Nations, and the Chippewas of Georgina Island, Rama and Beausoleil First Nations.

We are grateful for the Anishinaabeg who have cared for the land and waters within this territory since time immemorial.

We recognize that Oshawa is steeped in rich Indigenous history and is now present day home to many First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. We express gratitude for this diverse group of Indigenous Peoples who continue to care for the land and shape and strengthen our community.

As a municipality, we are committed to understanding the truth of our shared history, acknowledging our role in addressing the negative impacts that colonization continues to have on Indigenous Peoples, developing reciprocal relationships, and taking meaningful action toward reconciliation.

We are all Treaty people.

Additional Agenda Items

None 

Declarations of Pecuniary Interest

None

Presentations

None 

Delegations

None

Referrals from Council

None

Reports from Advisory Committees

None

Items Requiring Direction

CO-25-17 - Parking Utilization Survey for the On-Street and Off-Street Parking Components of the City’s Municipal Parking System in the Downtown Oshawa Urban Growth Centre (“D.O.U.G.C.”) (Ward 4)

• Moved by Councillor Nicholson

  That the Community and Operations Services Committee recommend to City Council:

  That based on Report CO-25-17 dated May 7, 2025, concerning the Parking Utilization Survey for the On-Street and Off-Street Parking Components in the Downtown Oshawa Urban Growth Centre (“D.O.U.G.C.”), staff be directed to implement Option 4 as set out in Section 4.6 of said Report. 

  Carried

CO-25-19 - Request from Region of Durham for On-Street Parking Permits (Ward 4)

• Moved by Councillor Lee

  That the Community and Operations Services Committee recommend to City Council:

  Whereas the Region of Durham has requested dedicated parking permits for the on-street parking spaces on Centre Street North and Richmond Street West, in front of and adjacent to the Durham Regional Police Services (D.R.P.S.) station (see Attachment 1); and,

  Whereas the D.R.P.S. station, located at 77 Centre Street North, is bordered by a total of nine (9) on-street parking spaces, including four (4) located on Centre Street North and five (5) located on Richmond Street West; and,

  Whereas the D.R.P.S. station is situated adjacent to a grocery store and an apartment building, both of which have dedicated private parking lots; and,

  Whereas the hourly rate for on-street parking is $1.25/hr, with a maximum time limit of two (2) hours; and,

  Whereas nine (9) on-street parking permits would generate approximately $657 per month; and,

  Whereas licencing nine (9) on-street parking spaces will increase the forecasted long-term utilization percentage for on-street parking as reported in CO-24-60 dated December 4, 2024, from 49% to 50%,

  Therefore be it resolved that based on Item CO-25-19 dated May 12, 2025:

  1. That the request from the Region of Durham dated April 10, 2025, to permanently licence nine (9) on-street parking spaces bordering the D.R.P.S. station be approved, increasing the forecasted 2034 utilization of 49% to 50% of the 85% critical threshold; and,
  2. That the City of Oshawa enter into an agreement with the Region of Durham to licence up to nine (9) on-street parking spaces bordering the D.R.P.S. station at the monthly rate applicable for the spaces in accordance with the City’s Fees and Charges By-law 109-2024, as amended; and,
  3. That the Commissioner, Community and Operations Services Department, be authorized to execute the licence agreement in a final form and content satisfactory to the Commissioner, Community and Operations Services Department, the Commissioner, Corporate and Finance Services Department and the City Solicitor.
  Carried

CO-25-20 - Request to License up to 60 Parking Spaces for 78 Richmond Street West (Ward 4)

• Moved by Councillor Chapman

  That the Community and Operations Services Committee recommend to City Council:

  Whereas, Farhi Holdings Corporation has requested to licence up to sixty (60) parking spaces at the McMillan Parking Garage for prospective tenants and current professional tenants at 78 Richmond Street West (see Attachment 1); and,

  Whereas, 78 Richmond Street West has a private parking lot with approximately forty-nine (49) parking spaces; and,

  Whereas, the City operates three (3) Municipal Parking Public Garages within walking distance of 78 Richmond Street West; and,

  Whereas, the licencing of sixty (60) parking permits would generate approximately $4,437 per month; and,

  Whereas, the forecasted long-term utilization percentage for off-street parking as reported in Report CO-24-60 dated December 4, 2024 was 52%; and,

  Whereas, previous requests for new and amending agreements decreases the long-term utilization percentage of 52% to 51%; and,

  Whereas, licencing sixty (60) parking spaces in the City’s Municipal Parking Lots will increase the forecasted long-term utilization percentage from 51% to 54%,

  Therefore be it resolved that based on Item CO-25-20 dated May 12, 2025:

  1. That the request from Farhi Holdings Corporation dated April 15, 2025, to license up to sixty (60) parking spaces within the City’s Municipal Parking System be approved, increasing the forecasted 2034 utilization of 51% to 54% of the 85% critical threshold; and,
  2. That the City of Oshawa enter into an agreement for a period of five (5) years with Farhi Holding Corporation to licence up to sixty (60) parking spaces in the City’s Municipal Parking System at the monthly rate applicable for the spaces in accordance with the City’s Fees and Charges By-law 109-2024, as amended; and,
  3. That the Commissioner, Community and Operations Services Department, be authorized to execute the licence agreement in a final form and content satisfactory to the Commissioner, Community and Operations Services Department, the Commissioner, Corporate and Finance Services Department and the City Solicitor.
  Carried

Public Consent Agenda

• Moved by Councillor Lee

  That all items listed under the heading Public Consent Agenda for the May 12, 2025 Community and Operations Services Committee meeting be adopted as recommended except Report CO-25-22. 

  Carried

Correspondence with recommendations

Staff Reports/Motions with recommendations

CO-25-18 - Proposed Revisions to Traffic Operations Quality Standards (All Wards) 

• That the Community and Operations Services Committee recommend to City Council:

  That based on Report CO-25-18 dated May 7, 2025, the Quality Standards for Traffic Operations as set out in Attachment 1 to said Report be approved. 

CO-25-21 - Technical Amendment to Skateboard and Bicycle By-law 78-91 (All Wards)

• That the Community and Operations Services Committee recommend to City Council:

  Whereas the Skateboards and Bicycles By-law 78-91, as amended ("Skateboard and Bicycle By-law") regulates the use of skateboards, bicycles, and similar devices including e-scooters within the City of Oshawa ("City") to ensure public safety and proper usage; and,

  Whereas on June 20, 2022, City Council considered Report DS-22-163 dated June 8, 2022, authorizing the City’s participation in the Province of Ontario’s an E-scooter Pilot Program and the implementation of a shared micromobility pilot program (“Shared E-mobility Program”); and,

  Whereas on January 27, 2025, in accordance with Report ED-25-14 dated January 8, 2025, City Council approved the extension of the Shared E-mobility Program for a further thirty (30) months, or until June 30, 2027; and,

  Whereas Report ED-25-14 identified enhancements to the Shared E-mobility Program in order to improve e-mobility devices service providers’ accountability which included the ability to charge fees and/or fine those service providers for improperly parked e-mobility devices; and,

  Whereas to ensure that an Administrative Monetary Penalty (“A.M.P.”) can be issued against Micromobility Service Providers of the City’s Shared E-mobility Program for the improper parking of “Electric Kick Scooters” on the sidewalk, an amending by-law to the Skateboard and Bicycle By-law 78-91 is required to include the definition of a "Person" (see Attachment 1);

  Therefore be it resolved that based on Item CO-25-21 dated May 7, 2025, City Council pass an amending by-law to the Skateboard and Bicycle By-law 78-91, as amended to add the definition of a “Person” in a final form and content satisfactory to the Commissioner, Community and Operations Services, Commissioner, Safety and Facilities Services Departments and the City Solicitor as generally set out in Attachment 1 to said Item.

Public Discussion Agenda

Matters Excluded from the Consent Agenda

CO-25-22 - Update to the Oshawa Second Marsh Management Plans (Ward 5)

• Moved by Councillor Neal

  That the Community and Operations Services Committee recommend to City Council:

  That based on Report CO-25-22, dated May 7, 2025, the Oshawa Second Marsh Management Plan, the Oshawa Second Marsh Invasive Species Management Plan and the Oshawa Second Marsh Forestry Management Plan be endorsed.

  Carried

Items Introduced by Council Members

CO-25-23 - Review and Update of the Community Legend Award and the E.P. Taylor Windfields Farm Champion Award Process (All Wards) 

• Moved by Councillor Lee

  That the Community and Operations Services Committee recommend to City Council:

  Whereas the City of Oshawa is proud to celebrate the individuals, collectives and organizations that contribute to making Oshawa a great place to live, work and play; and,

  Whereas the City of Oshawa has two award programs that are administered by Recreation Services; the Community Legend Award and the E.P. Taylor Windfields Farm Champion Award; and,

  Whereas the Community Legend Award recognizes individuals and organizations whose everyday actions make a positive impact on Oshawa and is awarded on an annual basis; and,

  Whereas the E.P. Taylor Windfields Farm Champion Award celebrates someone who exemplifies innovation and has overcome adversity and is awarded every four years; and,

  Whereas each award has specific eligibility criteria that must be met by the individuals being nominated; and,

  Whereas the general eligibility criteria for both awards do not indicate whether self-nominations are permitted, and the criteria for the Community Legend Award does not indicate whether posthumous nominations are permitted;

  Therefore be it resolved that staff be directed to undertake a review and update of the Community Legend Award and the E.P. Taylor Windfields Farm Champion Award process to clarify the eligibility criteria to include exclusions regarding self-nominations and posthumous nominations.  

  Carried

CO-25-24 - Community Care Durham Mobile Food Market (All Wards) 

• Moved by Councillor Lee

  That the Community and Operations Services Committee recommend to City Council:

  Whereas Community Care Durham is a multi-service registered charitable organization providing a broad range of support services for individuals over the age of 16 and their caregivers; and,

  Whereas in 2023, Community Care Durham piloted a Mobile Food Market in partnership with Durham College that provides fruits and vegetables sourced from a variety of local partners in Durham Region including The Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture, the W. Galen Weston Center for Food, Common Ground Food Share, Pingles Farm, Algoma Orchards and The Veggie Shack to address the rising rate of Food Insecurity across Durham Region; and,

  Whereas the 2023 Mobile Food Market pilot occurred in the Town of Ajax at Ajax Community Centre; and,

  Whereas in 2024, the Mobile Food Market was expanded to include a location in Whitby at   Whitby 55+ Recreation Centre on Brock Street South; and,

  Whereas Community Care Durham would like to expand in 2025 to include a location in Oshawa in the parking lot of North Oshawa Park near where many individuals reside whom already receive services offered by Community Care Durham such as Meals on Wheels and the Community Food Box; and,

  Whereas the footprint of the Mobile Food Market will require the use of a total of six (6) parking spaces on Wednesdays from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. from June to October 2025; and,

  Whereas the Fees and Charges By-law 109-2024 has a user fee for the facility rental of a Parking Lot of $300 per day and does not contain a user fee for the facility rental of a limited area of a Parking Lot; and,

  Therefore be it resolved:

  1. That staff be directed to collaborate with Community Care Durham to introduce the Mobile Food Market in 2025 to provide produce at below-market prices to residents facing food insecurity; and,
  2. That the facility user fees for Community Care Durham’s use of the parking lot at North Oshawa Park on Wednesdays from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. from June to October 2025, be waived; and,
  3. That staff be authorized to issue a Rental Permit for use of a portion of the Parking Lot.
  Carried

Items Pulled from the Information Package

None

Questions to Staff concerning the Committee's Outstanding Items List

None

Closed Consent Agenda

Closed Correspondence with recommendations

None

Closed Staff Reports/Motions with recommendations

None

Closed Discussion Agenda

Matters Excluded from the Consent Agenda

None

Items Requiring Direction

None

Matters Tabled

Report CO-23-11 concerning Memorials, Recognizing Unmarked Graves. (Tabled April 24, 2023)

• Moved by Councillor Nicholson

  That Report CO-23-11 concerning Memorials, Recognizing Unmarked Graves be lifted from table

  Carried
• Moved by Councillor Nicholson

  That Report CO-23-11 concerning Memorials, Recognizing Unmarked Graves be referred to staff for an updated report. 

  Carried

Adjournment

• Moved by Councillor Chapman

  That the meeting adjourn at 9:52 a.m.

  Carried