MINUTES — PUBLIC — RECREATION, SPORTS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (CLSDC)

Public question period

Jean-Paul Caron, President of the Board of Directors of the Club de gymnastique Unigym Gatineau, wishes to raise the CLSDC's awareness of the urgency to act regarding the construction of the palestre de l'Ouest (West gymnastics facility). The organization fears that the construction timelines for this new facility have not been met since the construction of school 038 was paused. Despite requests to the management of the SLSDC, Unigym has not received clear answers allowing it to effectively plan the next steps. The City is the project manager; it passed a resolution in 2021 to allocate a budget of $16.5 million for its development.

Two questions are asked to the CLSDC: • Is the City committed to completing this priority project within reasonable timeframes, i.e., within the next three years? • Is the City committed to identifying a transitional solution to meet the demand and needs of the population of the western sector until the opening of the new facility?

Unigym wishes to have confirmation that the construction of the facility will proceed according to the schedule, even if the school is not built. As an interim solution, Unigym suggests transferring their service offering from the Aylmer sector to premises in the Galeries Aylmer, occupied by City services until March 2026. Unigym is prepared to contribute to the rental cost of the premises, or to become the main tenant if it receives a grant from the City.

The following elements emerged from the discussions with the organization's representative: • A feasibility study was carried out in 2021. This study includes a demographic analysis as well as data relating to needs in this sector of the City. Given that the space will increase from 4,000 to 15,000 sq. ft., a business plan will be used to determine what revenues will be necessary if Unigym transfers its service offering to Galeries Aylmer. The possibility of allowing other activities to be held there is also being considered. • The SLSDC teams are working to consolidate and evaluate the file to continue discussions with Unigym. Follow-ups are also being carried out with partners such as the Centre de services scolaire des Portages-de-l’Outaouais (CSSPO).

Various elements must be considered for decision-making: • The project is important, particularly for the practice of gymnastics among young girls; the needs are enormous in this regard. The construction project should be equipped with a functional and technical plan (PFT). • Several elements must be taken into consideration to fully understand the state of the situation regarding this project. • The SLSDC commits to following up with Unigym.

Service level — Dog owners - Recommendation

The document titled 'Modification to the Reference Framework – Service Level for Dog Owners' is presented. The members received it before the meeting. The objective of the presentation is to: recommend a modified Reference Framework; identify the next steps for the development of dog parks.

The file has been the subject of previous discussions at the CLSDC. Although a recommendation was made in October 2024, the file is brought back to the attention of the members following requests for clarification made by the executive and plenary committees, with the goal of: • proposing alternatives to the consultation process for greater flexibility; • identifying solutions to ensure the presence of local dog parks (Level II) in the districts.

The modifications proposed in October 2024 are recalled. Proposals for adjustments to these modifications are also presented. Generally, these boil down to an expansion of consultations according to best practices and the removal of the 100-meter distance requirement for Level II. The appendices will also be removed from the Reference Framework in favor of an administrative procedure including a classification grid for dog-accessible parks; an applicable Code of Conduct; and the development stages for local dog parks and dog exercise areas.

At the end of the presentation, the discussions highlight the following elements: • The proposed adjustments introduce greater flexibility that will allow more neighborhoods to qualify for a dog park. Dog associations are necessary for the establishment of a dog park. The deprivation index will allow more communities, especially disadvantaged ones, to obtain a dog park. The proposals respond to the concerns raised previously at the CLSDC and they also respond to the recommendations of the ombudsman. • It is appreciated that the 100-meter distance is maintained for level III. Maintenance of the parks by the City will lighten the tasks and responsibilities of volunteers. • The weighting of the evaluation criteria used for the prioritization of sites is not defined. It will be in the administrative procedure. • Note is taken of the observation that in disadvantaged neighborhoods, people sometimes purchase fewer licenses. Armande Obrou joins the meeting at 3:47 p.m. • The idea of an administrative procedure and the flexibility it will allow is welcomed. However, it is requested to know how the level of social acceptability will be weighted, and if more precise criteria will be used for decision-making. It is mentioned that collaboration with the Service de l’interaction citoyenne will allow for drawing inspiration from best practices in public consultation and improving these elements. • It is highlighted that there will be a creation of two dog parks annually. The planning for their development will be presented to the municipal council to be ratified by it. The CLSDC will be informed periodically of the developments carried out, notably during the reviews of the Community Investment Plan (PIC). • It is requested to know what place neighborhood associations will occupy in the consultation processes. It is specified that the idea of drawing inspiration from best practices in public consultation includes this aspect, that is to say, ensuring the most relevant option is offered for the environments where the consultations will take place. Armande Obrou leaves the meeting at 3:51 p.m. The quorum is maintained. The members are in favor of the recommendation.

Recommendation

CONSIDERING THAT the Ombudsman of Gatineau has issued recommendations; CONSIDERING THAT the addition of local dog parks constitutes an increase in the service offer; CONSIDERING THAT the addition of a local dog park is evaluated in the Community Investment Plan (PIC), like all other park projects; CONSIDERING THAT mitigation measures, such as noise barriers (walls, mounds, vegetation), do not reduce noise nuisance significantly and are expensive, according to the documents consulted; CONSIDERING THAT the proposed framework allows for both agility and a structuring mechanism to allow for the development of dog parks and dog exercise areas meeting the needs of dog owners while ensuring the citizen acceptability of these public spaces.

CLSDC-2025-01 The Commission for Leisure, Sports and Community Development, during its ordinary meeting of April 16, 2025, recommends to the municipal council: • to modify the Reference Framework — Service Level for Dog Owners, as proposed.

Proposed by Julie DeCourval Supported by Marc Bureau Adopted

Review of projects completed in 2024 and funded in 2025 — Community Investment Plan - Information

The document titled 'SLSDC Infrastructure Projects' is presented. The members received it before the meeting. The objective of the presentation is to inform members of: • the progress of development projects at the SLSDC; • projects selected by the Infrastructure Project Analysis and Prioritization Committee (CAPPI) for 2025; • review and update of 2024 work.

An overview of the projects funded for the year 2025 is given. A total budget of $6,350,753 will be devoted to them. A progress report on the 2024 projects is also presented. Throughout the presentation, various questions of clarification are asked about projects. Some elements stand out: • A presentation of larger-scale projects (City opportunity files) is planned at the CLSDC in September 2025. • During renovations, the City attempts to make restrooms accessible. Chemical toilets are installed outside if they are located inside the building. This avoids having to make the entire building accessible. • A 5 to 10-year perspective is useful for establishing findings regarding the equitable distribution of project funding between the western and eastern sectors of the City. • Projects that fit into grant programs are prepared before their submission to calls for projects. Sums are also reserved for this purpose. Partnerships are often developed to complete the financial package. • It would be good if the presentation of projects was accompanied by a map to see where the parks are located in the territory. Photos showing the before and after of the projects would also be appreciated. • Communication with residents' associations and citizens should be improved during work. The SLSDC is examining this issue.

Break from 4:32 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Revision of event support programs 2022-2025 — Consultation

The document titled 'Prioritization of targeted impacts when hosting events supported by the City' is presented. The members received it before the meeting. The objective of the presentation is to solicit the participation of CLSDC members in the exercise of prioritizing the impacts targeted when hosting events supported by the City.

Since 2004, the City has offered support programs with the goal of promoting the hosting of cultural and sporting events on its territory. A punctual evaluation of the desired impacts of these investments is carried out in order to establish the priorities of the support offered. The impact prioritization exercise aims to establish the relative importance of the desired benefits when hosting events. Three groups of potential impacts are measured: economic; social; and outreach.

The expectations towards the CLSDC are to assist the Table de concertation des événements in prioritizing the impacts desired when hosting events. In order to contribute to the evaluation, an opinion survey will be sent to the members. They will have ten working days to respond. Documentation will accompany the questionnaire.

At the end of the presentation, the discussions highlight the following elements: • Events with a budget envelope exceeding the threshold of $5,000,000 are considered outside the support programs that are the subject of the current presentation (for example, the Jeux du Québec). Another analysis framework is used for this type of event. • A presentation of the results to the CLSDC is planned before the start of summer. The format of this is not yet determined. • Satisfaction expressed to see that this exercise is taking place. Events could be diversified. The dissemination of information relating to events is important. It is specified that the impact prioritization exercise is not the only measure used for program evaluation. Other ongoing studies are evaluating aspects related to communications or customer satisfaction. • The questionnaire could be accompanied by the list of funded events. • The promotion done by the City is for support programs and infrastructure. • Is the appeal of Gatineau's urban outdoors part of the questionnaire? It is specified that most cultural events take place in natural settings. When holding large events, parks therefore constitute an attraction for promoters.

Update on the municipal strategy for supporting volunteer action — Information

The document titled 'Update: Municipal Strategy for Supporting Volunteer Action' is presented. The members received it before the meeting. The objective of the presentation is to provide a short update on the municipal strategy for supporting volunteer action. This file was presented previously and it gave rise to a CLSDC recommendation for the implementation of a first phase including the following elements: • Develop and have adopted a service declaration towards organizations; • Redefine normative levels and support levels for organizations (including partnership categories); • Clarify the role of the municipal respondent; • Develop a partner guide allowing for better support of organizations; • Align the approach with the revision of SLSDC policies; • Develop training and offer professional development to organization respondents that will allow them to better: o support boards of directors in governance and management of non-profit organizations (OBNL); o respond to the challenges of volunteering and professionalization as well as new management realities in OBNLs; o intervene in matters of ethics, security, and integrity.

This strategy was adopted by the municipal council on February 18, 2025 (CM-2025-104). The next steps include: • Continue the implementation of phase I of the strategy; • Carry out a review of this phase including a proposal for a service declaration and make a presentation of it to the CLSDC; • Revise, if necessary, phases II and III; • Adopt the service declaration and phases II and III and see to their implementation.

At the end of the presentation, the discussions highlight the following elements: • The SLSDC will return to the CLSDC with more precise dates regarding the various elements mentioned in phase 1. The service declaration to organizations (expectations towards organizations and the City's commitments towards them) and the development of training are the elements on which the SLSDC is currently working. The question of partnerships will be aligned with the revision of SLSDC policies. The inter-commission meeting scheduled for May 30 will address these subjects. • A very great need exists on the side of supporting boards of directors and OBNLs. Loisirs sport Outaouais currently supports about fifteen organizations. Well-trained professionals will help in the consolidation of organizations, notably on the aspects of integrity and security. • The development of the volunteer action strategy aligns with the revision of SLSDC policies as well as the ethics file. All reflections on each of these elements will inspire the development of all these files.