Summary

Council rejected a temporary shelter village proposal for 114 Miles Street East that would have cost $125,000 annually, but then approved a different location at the Hillyard Site next to 8th Avenue instead, empowering the Director of Strategy & Engagement to move forward with operational details and agreements. The shift came after council took a break to have administration review alternatives, suggesting the Hillyard location addressed concerns that derailed the original plan. Council also approved a subdivision agreement with DiGregorio Developments Inc.

Motions

Appointment of Acting Mayor

#1 CARRIED

Council appointed Councillor Greg Johnsen to act as Mayor for the July 21, 2025 meeting. This is a temporary role to preside over that specific council session.

WITH RESPECT to the Appointment of Acting Mayor for July 21, 2025 City Council meeting, we recommend that Councillor Greg Johnsen be appointed to preside over the meeting as Acting Mayor as per Section 242 of the Municipal Act

  • the Confirming By-law for the July 21, 2025 City Council meeting bee the authorizing by-law which provides signing authority for any associated documentation including but not limited to by-laws.
Moved by Michael Zussino , seconded by Shelby Ch'ng

Confirmation of Agenda

#2 CARRIED

City Council confirmed the agenda for the July 21, 2025 meeting, including any additional items and new business that were added.

WITH RESPECT to the July 21, 2025 City Council meeting, we recommend that the agenda as printed, including any additional information and new business, be confirmed.

Moved by Michael Zussino , seconded by Andrew Foulds

Report Back - Temporary Shelter Village Initiative - Alternate

#5 LOST Recorded vote: 6-7 media
LOST 6–7
Yea (6)
Andrew Foulds Foulds
Brian Hamilton Hamilton
Greg Johnsen Johnsen
Kasey Etreni Etreni
Kristen Oliver Oliver
Shelby Ch'ng Ch'ng
Nay (7)
Albert Aiello Aiello
Dominic Pasqualino Pasqualino
Ken Boshcoff Boshcoff
Mark Bentz Bentz
Michael Zussino Zussino
Rajni Agarwal Agarwal
Trevor Giertuga Giertuga

Council rejected a plan to establish a temporary shelter village at 114 Miles Street East, which would have included a $125,000 annual funding commitment to the Fort William Business Improvement Association for security and cleanliness improvements in the area.

WITH RESPECT to Report 239-2025, we recommend that 114 Miles Street East be approved as the site for the Temporary Shelter 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 for the duration of the project, on terms satisfactory to the City Solicitor and City Manager
  • the municipally owned property at 142 Simpson Street and immediately adjacent property be excluded in the future identification process for recognized encampment locations
  • the Miles Street and Simpson Street be added to the Eye on the Street program’s Code of Practice, pending a public consultation process
  • a recurring financial contribution, reviewed annually, of $125,000 be included in the 2026 Fort William Business Improvement Association (BIA) Budget to support their revitalization efforts and address concerns related to security and cleanliness
  • Appropriation Change Order 07-2025 be approved
  • any necessary by-laws be presented to City Council for ratification. Amendment - Report 239-2025 - Temporary Shelter Village Initiative Memorandum from Mayor Ken Boshcoff, dated July 17, 2025, containing an amendment relative to Report 239-2025 was distributed separately on Friday, July 18, 2025.
Moved by Kristen Oliver , seconded by Greg Johnsen

Temporary village operations update rejected

#6 LOST notable Recorded vote: 6-7
LOST 6–7
Yea (6)
Andrew Foulds Foulds
Brian Hamilton Hamilton
Greg Johnsen Johnsen
Kasey Etreni Etreni
Kristen Oliver Oliver
Shelby Ch'ng Ch'ng
Nay (7)
Albert Aiello Aiello
Dominic Pasqualino Pasqualino
Ken Boshcoff Boshcoff
Mark Bentz Bentz
Michael Zussino Zussino
Rajni Agarwal Agarwal
Trevor Giertuga Giertuga

Council rejected a proposal to require an administration update on the temporary village's operations by mid-2027, which would have allowed Council to decide whether to continue or change direction on the project afterward.

WITH RESPECT to the Memorandum from Mayor Ken Boshcoff dated July 17, 2025 and Report 239-2025, we recommend the following paragraphs be added after paragraph 1; "AND THAT Administration provide an update on the temporary village and its associated operation on or before the end of Q2 2027

  • following the report back in 2027, Council may provide alternate direction relating to the continuation of the temporary village;"
Moved by Ken Boshcoff , seconded by Shelby Ch'ng

Shelter village proposal defeated

#7 LOST media

Council rejected a proposal to establish a temporary shelter village at 114 Miles Street East, which would have included $125,000 in annual funding for the Fort William BIA and restrictions on future encampment locations.

WITH RESPECT to Report 239-2025, we recommend that 114 Miles Street East be approved as the site for the Temporary Shelter 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 for the duration of the project, on terms satisfactory to the City Solicitor and City Manager
  • the municipally owned property at 142 Simpson Street and immediately adjacent property be excluded in the future identification process for recognized encampment locations
  • the Miles Street and Simpson Street be added to the Eye on the Street program’s Code of Practice, pending a public consultation process
  • a recurring financial contribution, reviewed annually, of $125,000 be included in the 2026 Fort William Business Improvement Association (BIA) Budget to support their revitalization efforts and address concerns related to security and cleanliness
  • Appropriation Change Order 07-2025 be approved
  • any necessary by-laws be presented to City Council for ratification.
Moved by Kristen Oliver , seconded by Greg Johnsen

Temporary shelter village approved for Hillyard Site

#9 CARRIED media

Council approved the Hillyard Site next to 8th Avenue as the location for a temporary shelter village and gave the Director of Strategy & Engagement authority to make operational decisions and sign necessary agreements to move the project forward.

WITH RESPECT to Report 239-2025-Growth-Strategy & Engagement, we direct that the Hillyard Site, next to 8th Avenue, be approved as the site for the Temporary Shelter 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 all necessary documentation for the Temporary Shelter Village Initiative at the Hillyard Site for the duration of the project, on terms satisfactory to the City Manager and City Solicitor
  • Administration be authorized to return to Council should they determine a significant barrier to proceeding at the Hillyard site
  • the Appropriation change order 7-2025 be approved
  • any necessary by-laws by presented to City Council for ratification.
Moved by Mark Bentz , seconded by Rajni Agarwal

Procedural

#3 CARRIED Council confirmed the official minutes from the July 15, 2025 council meeting as accurate and complete.
Moved by Brian Hamilton , seconded by Albert Aiello
#4 Council adopted the minutes from the July 14, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting, with a separate vote held on the Temporary Shelter Village Initiative alternate locations report.
Moved by Albert Aiello , seconded by Kasey Etreni
#8 CARRIED Council paused the meeting to give city administration time to study and develop options for the Temporary Shelter Village Initiative on the Hillyard Property, which council will review and decide on later.
Moved by Dominic Pasqualino , seconded by Michael Zussino
#10 CARRIED Council approved the official minutes from the Committee of the Whole meeting held on July 14, 2025.
Moved by Albert Aiello , seconded by Kasey Etreni
#11 CARRIED Council approved appointments to the boards of the Waterfront District BIA and Tbaytel (Thunder Bay's telephone utility). The motion ratified these board positions through individual resolutions.
Moved by Michael Zussino , seconded by Kasey Etreni
#12 CARRIED City Council approved a subdivision agreement with DiGregorio Developments Inc. This legally binds the city and the developer to terms for dividing and developing land.
Moved by Albert Aiello , seconded by Brian Hamilton
#13 CARRIED Council formally confirmed and numbered the official proceedings from its July 21, 2025 meeting by passing By-law 229-2025. This is standard administrative procedure to create an official record of the meeting.
Moved by Dominic Pasqualino , seconded by Trevor Giertuga