A plan to electrify London's fleet of buses continues to gain momentum, after councillors agreed to use city cash to fund the London Transit Commission's (LTC) electrification study.

Ward 7 Coun. Josh Morgan triggered a brief conversation at Tuesday's strategic priorities and policy committee meeting about why the city would foot the bill for a study the LTC had already committed to.

"I'm not adverse to it, I'd just like to understand why that would be the case," he said.

The money is set to flow through the Economy, Efficiency and Effectiveness Reserve Fund, which Ward 4 Coun. Jesse Helmer described as the "perfect source of financing."

"This fund is for … one-time investments that pay off over the long-term, and it seems like electrification of transit – that's the general idea – put some money in up front and lower your operating costs, especially when it comes to energy over the long run," he said.

Helmer also noted that the LTC doesn't have a similar reserve fund for that purpose.

The strategic priorities committee unanimously signed off on the motion, which also directs staff to find funding streams that could be used to pay for buses and charging infrastructure.

Ward 13 Coun. Stephen Turner was the only councillor not present.

Mayor Ed Holder first announced a plan to turn the city's 215 diesel buses into ones that would cost nearly twice as much during his State of the City address, saying it would save $7 million each year in fuel costs.

Ward 6 Coun. Phil Squire, who is also the chair of the commission, has told CBC News it's "hard to throw those numbers out" before a study is finished.

Squire expects the study to be ready and on the agenda for an LTC meeting in August.

Public will have opportunity to weigh in on golf course dilemma

A discussion about what to do with a city-run golf course that's losing money drew a crowd of about 50 men to the gallery in council chambers.

A report compiled by consulting firm KPMG and commissioned by the city says River Road Golf Course operated at a loss of more than $70,000 in 2018.

Staff has been directed to hold a public participation meeting on the matter, and to compile a report on closing the golf course. The report would also address exploring other options for the golf course's use in the future.

That could include selling or leasing golf operations, reducing it to a nine- or 12-hole course and repurposing land for soccer fields, trails, natural areas or parks, explained Scott Stafford, the city's managing director of parks and recreation.

"There are several options, and several things that need to be looked at a little more thoroughly for you to make your decision, and that's what our intention is with the report back."

A time and place for the public participation meeting hasn't been decided yet.