Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee

BE IT RESOLVED that the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee meeting time be extended past 7:00 p.m. pursuant to Subsection 8(1)(c) of Procedure By-law (By-law No. 2025-100). Following the receipt of all public delegations, questions to the presenters and to staff, and at the conclusion of Committee deliberations, the following Motions were introduced and considered as noted:

(as amended from the original, introduced earlier in the meeting) WHEREAS as part of the proposed South March battery energy storage system (BESS) project at 2555 and 2625 Marchurst Road, the proponent has publicly stated that it plans to establish a “Community Development Fund” of $250,000 per year to support local projects; and WHEREAS the City of Ottawa has previously entered into host municipality responsibility agreements with third-party project proponents who provide funds related to community initiatives in recognition of the project’s effects on the local community; and WHEREAS host municipality responsibility agreements generally provide for the City to determine how to allocate and disburse funds provided by the third party in order to respond to community needs and ensure accountability and transparency, with eligible community initiatives often identified by City staff in consultation with the relevant Ward Councillor(s); THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that staff, in the event this project proceeds, be directed to request that the South March BESS project proponent fulfill its stated intent to establish a “Community Development Fund” by entering into a host municipality responsibility agreement with the City of Ottawa through which the proponent would provide an amount of at least $250,000 per year with the goal to achieve a higher amount if possible, for a period of not less than 20 years. The finalization and execution of such agreement shall be approved by Council,

WHEREAS at its meeting of May 28, 2025 Council directed that the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee provide a recommendation for the June 11, 2025 meeting of Council to either accept or deny a Municipal Support Resolution for the South March BESS project; and WHEREAS the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee heard from a number of delegations at its meeting of June 5, 2025 and considered the request for a Municipal Support Resolution; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council deny the request for a Municipal Support Resolution for the South March BESS project. The above motion was put to a vote and was ‘Carried’ as noted below: For (4) M. Luloff, C. Kitts, C. Kelly, and D. Brown

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee approve that the Rules of Procedure be waived subject to Subsection 83(4) of the Procedure By-Law (being By-Law No. 2025-100) to receive a staff presentation / update on the Transportation Master Plan – Rural Lens