[2:08] I will call the meeting to order. And remind everyone
[2:12] that please note this meeting is being live streamed or
[2:14] recorded by entering council chambers. You are consenting to be
[2:18] recorded. Any opening comments this morning. From council. Smith. Thank
[2:26] you, your worship. I wanted to touch on a few
[2:29] September events this morning. As, of course, we've landed into
[2:35] the month that is going to bring us a change
[2:37] of season. Sunday, September 6th, this Sunday is the annual
[2:43] Decoration Sunday at Intercap Cemetery. Gravesites and monuments will be
[2:49] meticulously bedecked for Pomp and Circumstance and official service will
[2:55] be held beginning at two on Sunday afternoon. Congratulations and
[3:00] best wishes to the officers, directors, and members of the
[3:04] Tavistock Agricultural Society, putting the finishing touches on the 174th
[3:10] edition of the Tavistock Fall Fair set to open a
[3:14] week Friday. Friday, September 11th runs across that weekend. Queens
[3:20] Park, the arena, and Memorial Hall in the village of
[3:23] Tavistock, the site of great fall, as is the lengthy
[3:30] tradition. And of course, nod to all volunteers that will
[3:34] be participating. In the coming days, the 26th edition of
[3:38] Canada's Outdoor Farm Show will be in full force for
[3:42] over 30 years, the three - day event attracts visitors
[3:45] and exhibitors from across the continent and from different parts
[3:49] of the world, highlighting innovation in agriculture. Over 40, 000
[3:55] attendees expected with hundreds of exhibitors of all varieties participating
[4:01] in 2026, Eastern Canada's largest outdoor farm show opens September
[4:07] 16th on the grounds of the so - called Discovery
[4:11] Farm on the southern edge of East Zora Tavistock. Look
[4:15] for our rural Oxford economic development team at Canada's outdoor
[4:21] farm show this year. And we're under a week away
[4:24] from the launch of a brand new school year, changing
[4:27] routines, increased traffic, both vehicle and pedestrian, the time to
[4:33] exercise extra care and caution following the long weekend, as
[4:38] we all climbatize to new regimens, always comes back to
[4:42] safety first, always, and a quick nod to our compliment
[4:47] of dedicated crossing guards back for another school year. We
[4:51] appreciate you and your work. And the start of this
[4:55] school year will feature a traffic safety initiative from Oxford
[4:59] OPP, Operation Safe Start, aims to protect students, send their
[5:04] families at Morning Drops afternoon pickup, and along school bus
[5:09] routes where traffic volumes increase the police service will target
[5:15] speeding, distracted driving, and violations involving stop school buses. It's
[5:21] an education first initiative that will also include enforcement of
[5:26] penalties as necessary. We're all being urged to be patient.
[5:30] Stay alert during the back - to - school window
[5:33] beginning next week. And of course, beyond as each of
[5:36] us contributes to street and road safety. Thank you, merci
[5:42] Miguel. Thank you, counselor Smith. Any other opening comments this
[5:48] morning. Councilor Rudy. Everybody know that the TabiSTOC Braves opened
[5:53] their home season on September the 18th against New Hamburg.
[5:56] 7. 30 so. Offer another start of another, hopefully successful
[6:02] season. Thank you, Council Reedy. Any other opening comments this
[6:06] morning? Seeing any, we'll move on to item two, approving
[6:11] of today's amended agenda. Resolution will be on your screen
[6:16] momentarily. Move by Councillor VanWyck, seconded
[6:26] by Councillor Gillespie, the Council approved the Agenda for the
[6:29] September 2nd, 2026 meeting as amended. Any discussion regarding that
[6:34] motion. Not seeing any. We will call the vote.
[7:05] Councilor, are you able to connect and vote electronically.
[7:16] It's not giving me the option here, Megan. Sorry. I
[7:24] can vote by hand if that works.
[7:35] All right, that is carried. On to item number three,
[7:45] Disclosure. Is there any disclosure of pecuniary interest, general nature
[7:49] thereof. Not seeing any. We'll move on to minutes, item
[7:56] four. Minutes from the August 5th, 2026 Council meeting. The
[8:00] Resolution on your screen regarding those minutes.
[8:18] Move my counselor Smith, seconded by Councilor Rudy that Council
[8:21] confirmed the minutes of August 5th, 2026 Council meeting as
[8:24] printed and circulated.
[9:04] Thank you. I'm happy to be here to present the
[9:08] summary report of the 2025 Community Planning Service. That's delivered
[9:12] to the township by the County of Oxford. So the
[9:18] Planning Service is directly provided by Development Planner. Adam, who's
[9:24] normally here, supported by myself. And also a broader CPO
[9:30] team, including the director, manager of Planning Policy. Six or
[9:36] seven other development planners. Policy planners, and GIS analysts. So
[9:41] together the broader team is able to provide a comprehensive
[9:45] suite of provincial planning service and technical expertise. In support
[9:52] of broad range of county and township, planning projects initiatives.
[9:56] And including special studies, secondary planning, and comprehensive zoning updates.
[10:01] We're also supported by a team administrative staff. For the
[10:06] development review, a portion of the service in 2025, we
[10:11] process 29 development applications. Uh, within the township. Which represented
[10:16] seven percent of the total number of applications, submitted countywide
[10:20] last year. Uh, we also participated in preconstation meetings for
[10:24] development proposals. Uh, engaging with township staff and an Oxford
[10:30] County Public Work staff during pre - consultation meetings and
[10:33] through the review and evaluation. Adolescents and confirming that conditions
[10:38] of approval that were attached by the township, Land Division
[10:41] Committee, or the county have been appropriately satisfied. Uh, we
[10:45] also participated in updating the draft servicing allocation service incapacity
[10:54] allocation. Uh, and monitoring protocol. And we also helped with
[10:59] Oxford County Public Works deliver a webinar to the Delman
[11:03] community throughout the county. To write education on the allocation
[11:08] protocol that was approved by County Council in October, 2025.
[11:13] Last year, we also had significantly related to the candidate
[11:18] postal strike. This provided significant challenge to providing the required
[11:24] notice, uh, in accordance for the planning act for a
[11:27] number of applications during this period. Uh, significant time was
[11:31] spent, uh, spent arranging for delivery of notices by courier
[11:35] working with Township Quirk staff to do hand deliveries of
[11:39] notices were appropriate. All to minimize the time delays in
[11:45] the delivery class while still maintaining the processing to ensure
[11:50] we didn't have any appeals to the Ontario Land Tribunal
[11:54] for not meeting our legislative timelines and requirements. Uh, table,
[11:58] one of the report provides an overview of the application
[12:01] type submitted each year for the last five years and
[12:04] the five - year average for each type of application.
[12:08] Last year, application volumes were higher than a 2024, which
[12:11] had 19, but similar to volumes experienced in 2023, which
[12:15] was 31. Township staff and planning staff have regular, uh,
[12:21] regularly monitor the zoning by law just to observe trends.
[12:26] If the variances for one type of version, that routinely
[12:29] approved by council or committee of adjustment. It often makes
[12:33] sense for us to mince those provisions to reduce the
[12:37] number of applications that are required. So that's why you'll
[12:40] see sometimes the number of the applications, uh, can vary.
[12:47] Last year, we estimate that 37 new residential launcher units
[12:51] were approved in the township by either the township County
[12:55] Council Land Division Committee or Committee of Adjustment. 30 new
[13:00] units were had building permits issued in 2025. And of
[13:04] the 30 units, 24 were built in the village of
[13:06] Tavistock, two in the village of Interkip and the remaining
[13:10] four were in areas outside of settlements in the township.
[13:14] Uh, we estimate that there's currently 185 approved residential units
[13:20] or lots in the township at the year end of
[13:23] 2025. If we used a three year, a building private
[13:28] building perimeter average afforded units per year is a representative
[13:31] about five years of approved residential supply. Or if we
[13:35] use the five year building permit average, this would be
[13:37] four years. The residential supply, which this does comply with
[13:42] the, both the county and the townships requirements in the
[13:46] PPS under section 2. 14 to maintain all at all
[13:50] times at least a three years supply of residential units.
[13:55] Uh, it's noted that additional growth lands will come on
[13:57] in the settlement areas in Tavistalk and Interkip wants to
[14:01] completion of the secondary plan is finalized. For 2026
[14:11] staff are working with township staff to complete that secondary
[14:15] plan, implement the policies, agricultural policies of OPA - 269
[14:22] through a comprehensive agricultural zoning update. Uh, reviewing the extent
[14:30] and the language of the planning services agreement that the
[14:36] township has with the county for the planning services provided.
[14:41] Provided a review of planning application fees to provide options
[14:44] to the township, uh, if you wish to recover, uh,
[14:49] more of the costs associated with development review. The other
[14:54] half of the Department, uh, the policy plan, the policy
[14:57] planning team. They've been very busy. The last five years
[15:00] have had as much change as the last 40 years.
[15:03] Uh, in the planning act. So a lot of their
[15:05] time has been spent monitoring legislative change and implementing that,
[15:12] including changes through Bill 17, which allows, uh, minor variances
[15:16] without application changes to complete application requirements and changes, uh,
[15:23] to ministers zoning orders and the new streamlined approvals for
[15:27] Public Schools, Public Elementary Schools and the Public Secretary Schools.
[15:33] Proposed changes introduced through Bill 60 and 68, which exempt
[15:38] provincial decisions from a crime to consistently provincial policy consultations
[15:44] on approach regulations for minimum lot size as well as
[15:48] the establishment of the provincial conservation authority and the merger
[15:52] of the conservation authorities. As well last year we provided
[15:59] updating guidance and suggested process for planning for renewable energy
[16:03] and battery storage. Proposals. Uh, we also, uh, updated our
[16:11] chapter 10 policies to improve development process through revising or
[16:15] establishing policies for complete application requirements. Having the framework for
[16:21] delegation of approval authority, uh, so if it's something that
[16:24] the township is interested in, uh, we now have the
[16:27] ability to, uh, delegate, uh, more items, uh, to staff
[16:33] to avoid them having to come to council. And as
[16:36] well as developing, uh, implementation guidance and a new mapping
[16:41] layer to assist that township staff with interpreting the scope
[16:46] for the Azir Right Minor variances. Due to the patient
[16:52] scope of legislative changes to the planning act. There's still
[16:55] a tremendous amount of, uh, changes that are. Are made
[17:00] in legislation, but they don't have the implementing regulation issued
[17:04] yet. Uh, so often, you know, every Friday afternoon, you
[17:08] have to browse the registry of, I rent to registry
[17:10] to see what changes around the horizons. So a lot
[17:13] of our staff time is spent doing that and as
[17:16] well as keeping, uh, both, uh, township and county council
[17:21] surprised of the implications of those changes and providing comments
[17:25] to the province through that, uh, through that process. Um,
[17:31] I'll just turn it over to Don Ford to speak
[17:33] about the sourcing capacity. And then I'll be able to
[17:36] answer any questions. Thank you through the mayor of the
[17:44] council. Water and wastewater services works with planning. And with
[17:49] the recent, uh, capacity allocation policy, we basically put approvals
[17:54] in the three buckets. You'll see it expressed in the
[17:57] report. There's the committee capacity bucket. That's registered plan of
[18:03] subdivisions. Registered Plan of Condominiums, site approvals. Including industrial commercial
[18:08] or institutional plan of subdivisions and consent to sever once
[18:13] all the conditions are fulfilled. Then we have another bucket,
[18:16] which is conditionally conditionally committed capacity, which is draft approved
[18:22] plan of subdivisions, draft approved plan of condominiums and draft
[18:27] approval for industrial commercial institutional. And the third bucket code
[18:32] submitted in circulated, which is site plans or official plan
[18:36] amends. So with that in mind, if we look at,
[18:40] um, uh, if we look at the village of Tavistock,
[18:44] it says to me that with the current Wells Dynamic
[18:46] Supply Capacity, which is all of the Wells, they're currently
[18:49] available with operations and use. We're sitting at 58 percent
[18:55] with the existing usage and committed capacity. The utilizations expected
[19:01] to be 59 percent if we include the conditionally committed
[19:05] and submitted circulated. Leaving the forecasted unutilized equivalent of 4,
[19:13] 000 residential units available. Upon development of the additional well
[19:17] supply, which is under designed in 27, 28 construction 2930
[19:22] to be online in 2031. The system would have an
[19:26] estimated feature dynamic supply capacity of 11, 837 cubic meters,
[19:32] leaving the forecasted, uh, unutilized capacity equivalent of 14, 701
[19:38] residential units. Respecting wastewater, treatment capacity. It's currently estimated that
[19:44] the Tavistock wastewater treatment plant is utilized at 88 percent
[19:48] with the existing usage and committed capacity. And that utilizations
[19:53] expected to be 90 percent of the current capacity of
[19:57] conditionally commit proposals are also included. After the expansion of
[20:02] the facility, planned for construction in 29 and 2030. This
[20:08] would represent then plant capacity. And we would then have
[20:14] a forecasted unutilized capacity equivalent of 1, 760 residential units.
[20:21] Now this right now is a hard ceiling for the
[20:24] current place in the receiver. We discharge. So, uh, in
[20:27] terms of assimilating any future expansions to the plant. Inner
[20:32] Kip, it says to me that the current Wells Dynamic
[20:35] Supply Capacity are sitting at 48 percent. The utilizations expect
[20:40] to be 57 percent. circulate were included leaving the forecasted
[20:48] unutilized capacity equivalent of 584 residential units. In terms of
[20:53] the wastewater pumping capacity, uh, the current intercap wastewater sewage
[20:59] pumping station is utilized at 84 percent with the existing
[21:02] and committed capacity. With the remaining unutilized capacity equivalent of
[21:08] 125 units, um, utilization expected to be at a hundred
[21:13] percent of the current capacity if we include the submitted
[21:16] circularly proposals. Now after twinning of the fourth mane, which
[21:20] is in the county of Oxford Budget Book from 2034
[21:24] to 35, which is undertaken for redundancy, there could be
[21:28] additional capacity plan for in its design specifically for more
[21:32] development based on the township secondary plan requirements. Then in
[21:39] Hixon, uh, this community has a current utilized and committed
[21:43] capacity sitting at 17 percent of the 300 cubic meters
[21:47] a day dynamic supply that's possible. However, the system has
[21:50] a single well. And in the event that swells offline,
[21:54] we'd have to truck in water, which is maxed at
[21:57] 100 cubic meters a day. So that leaves the forecasted
[22:01] unutilized capacity equivalent of 40 residential units. Uh, these are
[22:07] reviewed regularly by community planning and Oxford County Public Works
[22:12] as we work together the track these existing and future
[22:16] conditions. I thank you. Thank you, Mr. Ford. Any questions
[22:21] for our presenters. This morning. Councillor Rudy.
[22:31] When you talk about, uh, wastewater treatment, um. Expansion in
[22:38] 2930. Are you talking expansion to the existing settlement ponds
[22:42] or is it something different.
[22:52] No. Expanded. It's under an EA process, environmental assessment process.
[22:59] And we're putting together alternatives for a public meeting to
[23:04] determine which is the best alternative. Some of those alternatives
[23:07] are a hybrid where we keep the lagoons. And have
[23:11] an additional process attached to it so that we meet
[23:14] the requirements for the receiver for those types of volumes.
[23:19] Um, other options are to go fully mechanical. Uh, they
[23:23] all have different prices, costs, environmental impacts. So those all
[23:27] need to be presented to the public and, uh, decided
[23:31] upon. But that's what would be reference. Yeah. Yeah. Okay.
[23:35] Thank you. And just as I'll add an add -
[23:40] on to that, there already has been one public meeting
[23:42] regarding that. That was held quite a while ago. So
[23:47] any other questions for presenters. Deputy Mayor Smith. For the
[23:52] Hickson well that's here. And you said if we have
[23:56] an issue with the well, thuc trucked in water. Do
[23:59] you have a dedicated provider for that. Or are you
[24:03] just, will you look for one at the time. Um,
[24:05] I know some of the companies that used to haul
[24:08] water for the county are no longer provide that service.
[24:12] And I just wondered who you have under contractor under
[24:16] contact for providing water to the services over here if
[24:21] we need it. Excellent. Through the mayor of the council,
[24:25] um, I believe operations through our QMS system, calling management
[24:29] system maintains a list of vital suppliers at all times.
[24:33] And they review it annually. So whatever would have been
[24:36] on there previously that's dropped off. There will be a
[24:39] new supplier identify so that operations can quickly get the
[24:42] water. Yeah. Any other questions for Councillor Smith. Thank you.
[24:50] Rewardship. Not a question. Simply a comment. I think this
[24:54] is a great report gives us plenty. Of, uh, information,
[25:04] uh, what we can expect moving forward. And it's certainly
[25:09] exemplifies great collaboration between the community planning office and our
[25:16] staff, uh, we appreciate, uh, everything that the CPO does.
[25:22] And, uh, I think I speak for everybody the expertise
[25:27] that Mr. Robson and more recently, Mr. Giniak, uh, bring
[25:32] to planning any sort of tabostock. On an ongoing basis.
[25:38] So thanks so much. Thank you. Any other questions for
[25:42] our presenters. I've got a couple of quick ones. As
[25:48] far as interkips, wastewater capacity. You foresee because of that
[25:52] twinning is not going to be done for another eight
[25:55] years, nine years. Do you see where we will basically
[25:59] hit the wall before then as far as new development
[26:02] goes. Quite a bit in advance of that? Do you
[26:05] see that happening? Maybe the best answer to that. Maybe
[26:09] over to Eric their best to judge the, uh, development
[26:12] progress and interkip perhaps. Based on the current building permit
[26:20] volumes and settlement areas. I think we probably have time
[26:22] in Interkip. Until that, um, comes online. We do review
[26:29] these, all these numbers annually so that we know that
[26:32] if we're coming up closer to that, um, hopefully public
[26:36] works can move it up in their capital budget to
[26:39] start the process earlier. I know we are sensitive to
[26:41] that. Uh, so we, we, we do build in appropriate
[26:43] lead time to all of these projects. And that's why
[26:46] the annual, um, completion of building premise stats and the
[26:52] land supply. Like this report ideally would come to you
[26:55] in January, February. But it takes time for us to
[26:58] consolidate all the information. And then as well get the
[27:02] water and waste water information and then put them together,
[27:05] uh, find the trends and then present the information. And
[27:07] then that does factor into future budget plans. Thank you.
[27:13] Because I think the 125 max units will be hit
[27:17] well before 2034, 35, right? So that's going to have
[27:20] to be considered. Earlier in that. Eric, can you give
[27:24] us a real reader's digest version of the updated guidance
[27:29] on renewable energy projects in Oxford County. Sure. So the
[27:36] process is, I'll say largely driven by the independent electricity
[27:42] system operator. So they have what's called the procurement rounds.
[27:47] Uh, so the, um, the last round closed, I think
[27:50] was that last end of last year. Our battery energy
[27:53] storage projects. So what happens is the proponent, um, makes
[27:57] the application, do I ESO. They need to get resolution
[28:02] of support from the local municipality. Um, the difficulty with
[28:07] that is, you know, they're asking, um, like for a
[28:10] battery energy storage project, there can be major implications from
[28:13] a fire perspective. Um, uh, public health potentially, uh, if
[28:19] they do catch fire, um, there's often, uh, in Tanchman
[28:22] ECT, you're going to have agricultural impacts. So it's difficult
[28:26] to provide that initial resolution of support without having any
[28:29] of the, uh, the details and the studies completed. Uh,
[28:34] so essentially, uh, we suggested that there'd be a, uh,
[28:37] process or a protocol followed where the applicant would be
[28:40] required to provide some minimum studies, some citing, uh, citing
[28:44] information, uh, give us information of how you arrived at
[28:48] this at the proposed site, potential impacts, uh, and do
[28:52] a screening. And essentially then, uh, our staff would bring
[28:56] a report, the township council, you know, to give you
[28:59] information of, uh, this is the potential impacts or these
[29:03] are the things that have to be further worked out.
[29:06] Uh, and then you would have that information and applicant
[29:08] would be provide that information. We could potentially even have
[29:12] a peer review at the beginning, uh, before you do
[29:14] provide that initial resolution of support. Because once you provide
[29:18] that, then the actual, it's kind of backwards, but that's
[29:21] when the formal planning process starts. That's when they submit
[29:25] the application for official plan amendment and zone change, uh,
[29:28] that's where you do the formal circulation. That's where the
[29:31] formal public consultation happens. But that's kind of after they've
[29:35] already got a preliminary resolution of support. So I know
[29:39] we've advocated through the webinars and consultation with ISO that
[29:44] there has to be a better way to do it.
[29:46] Than requiring that up front. Cause it really, sometimes it
[29:49] undermines the Public's confidence in the process because the township's
[29:53] already said, yes, we're willing to consider this before you've
[29:55] actually had the studies. And you've heard from the public.
[29:59] But yeah, this protocol is a way to try to
[30:02] mitigate some of those possible impacts. Thank you. Councillor Rudy.
[30:10] One of the other things in Tavistock with respect to
[30:13] sewage treatment is the William Street Pumping Station. There was
[30:16] an upgrade to that supposed to happen to allow some
[30:19] more. West End development. Is that scheduled for soon or
[30:23] next year? What's the schedule for that. Through Mayor to
[30:30] council. So yes, good point about the Suez Pumping Station.
[30:34] It is currently under design. So the Zylpher and then
[30:40] to the next. I'll begin thereafter as all the studies
[30:43] have been completed. So it'll probably be a year and
[30:47] a half further. So you'd be looking at probably Q1
[30:50] 2029. It would be in service. Thank you. Any other
[31:00] questions. For our presenters. Not seeing any. Thank you gentlemen.
[31:06] We have a resolution that will be on your screen
[31:09] momentarily to accept the presentation. As information.
[31:20] Move by Councilor Zaire. Seconded by Councillor Smith. The presentation
[31:23] from Oxford County Community Planning regarding the 2025 East Store
[31:28] Tavistock annual planning report be received as information. Is there
[31:32] any discussion regarding that resolution. Of seeing any? We'll call
[31:35] the vote. That is carried.
[31:46] We are on to item seven correspondence for information. We
[31:51] have just one item under that today. And that's Oxford
[31:55] County Public Works, new general water and wastewater services Byla
[31:59] update. Any questions regarding regarding that piece of information. I
[32:09] don't see any. We have a resolution to receive that
[32:11] item as information beyond your screen. Move by Councilor Zare,
[32:18] seconded by Council Rudy that correspondence for information item 7A.
[32:21] Be received as information. Any discussion. We'll call the vote.
[32:39] That is carried. Veronica item A correspondence for action. The
[32:44] Upper Times River Conservation Authority. Invasive species prior prioritization. Work.
[32:52] Um. Any member staff want to comment on that?
[33:02] I can marshafer. Thank you. Um, this was a request
[33:04] that, uh, staff received from the upper Times Conservation Authority
[33:08] regarding invasive species prioritization work. Um, so they already doing
[33:15] some work this year in the township regarding frag mites
[33:18] and other invasive species. Um, if council wants more information
[33:21] on that, I'm sure, um, our director of, um, infrastructure
[33:24] and community services. Tom Lightfoot can speak to that. Um,
[33:27] but at this point this request is just from the
[33:31] UTRCA asking council to support their work in 2027, um,
[33:37] in that request, four different areas. I believe that they're
[33:41] asking for support. One is including funding, um, and the
[33:45] others are Public Engagement. Um, access to mailing lists, et
[33:50] cetera. So. Happy to try and answer any questions that
[33:54] council may have on this one. Thank you, Clark Vader.
[33:56] Uh, Deputy Mayor Smith. What is this invasive species that
[34:01] they're talking about. There's a couple of different ones. I
[34:09] think there's a not weed. There's the one that they're
[34:13] really focusing on for here is the Fragmite, the invasive
[34:17] fragmites. There's native phragmities and the invasive ones. We do
[34:20] have some small pockets. The larger portion of them are
[34:23] on private property. Some have encroached out into the right
[34:26] of way. We've been cutting those back. Um, Ostri County
[34:31] has been, had a program in the past years. Treating
[34:35] them spraying the phrag mitezine base of fragmites. So I
[34:38] think. Upper Thames is looking to get more involved in
[34:42] that to try to control these as they do grow
[34:44] rapidly. And they spread quite easy. It's as simple as
[34:47] I was to a lecture on Fragmighties years ago. And
[34:50] you could carry a little piece of a route from
[34:53] digging in a ditch and have it on your equipment
[34:55] and dumping in debt somewhere else. And they will literally
[34:57] grow from that. And they choke out native species and
[35:01] cause issues for native animals as well. Mr. Fallout question.
[35:09] What do they look like? Like what are they distinctive
[35:12] looking or can? Yeah. So the Frag Mighty, there you'll
[35:17] see them along. If you go up to the top
[35:18] end of our ninth line up by the Perth Oxford
[35:21] by the water there, the some on Maple Woodside Road
[35:24] County Spray. Some there. They're like a tall they got
[35:27] here as an ornamental grass. They can get to be
[35:30] the invasive ones get to be 10, 12 feet tall.
[35:34] They get large flour seeds on the top that look
[35:37] like. Hair in essence. So the native ones are usually
[35:41] shorter for five feet. But when they get those 10,
[35:44] 12 foot tall sometimes, those are the end they get
[35:47] really closely grown together that it makes an impossible for
[35:50] things to grow through them. But yeah, if you look
[35:53] up at the top end of the ninth, there's some
[35:56] there. Um, that's probably our biggest area there. There's some
[36:00] over at County Road 8 in the 10th on the
[36:03] castle on the corner. There's a couple little pockets, but
[36:08] really up the top ends, our biggest one. We have
[36:10] some actually an interkip, I believe. There's some in the
[36:13] storm pond on Burton. Growing in there that the developer,
[36:18] when he cleans out that pawn, we'll have to clean
[36:20] those out as well. But yeah, so if he wants
[36:23] to see over, that's probably interkip. That's the closest over
[36:25] there. Any other questions for staff? Councilor Rudy. I think
[36:31] you can see the native ones on the side of
[36:33] County Road 33 over between the 14th and the 15th.
[36:38] And the ditches, the out grouping of those frond pragmaties.
[36:42] But I think they're the shorter ones. They're only four
[36:44] or five feet tall. They have like a big feather
[36:46] type top on them. Probably coming up now or in
[36:49] the fall, they'll be in lume. Any other questions regarding
[36:55] this report. Not seeing any wheat. There's a resolution that
[37:00] will be on your screen to support the request and
[37:02] to send the municipal letter of support. Move by Councillor
[37:09] Smith, seconded by Deputy Mayor Smith at Council Support the
[37:12] Request from the Upper Times River Conservation Authority regarding invasive
[37:15] species prioritization work. And that staff be directed to complete
[37:18] and send the municipal letter of support template to the
[37:21] upper Thames River Conservation Authority. Any discussion regarding that resolution.
[37:31] Not seeing any. We'll call the vote. That is carried.
[37:40] We are on to item nine reports. So we have
[37:44] a 2026 building department year to date report. From Director
[37:48] of Building and Development Services CBO John Scheer. John, is
[37:55] there any highlights you wish to go over on that
[37:58] report? Yep. So just a couple of, a couple of
[38:00] keynotes here. Um, permit numbers construction value and fees of
[38:05] all increased year to year. Single family dwellings have decreased
[38:08] year to year. Um, and that's basically just a supply
[38:12] issue right now. For Bylaw, again, we've increased the number
[38:16] of complaints we've responded to. By about 12. So that's
[38:21] not too, too bad. Uh, and the development section, there's
[38:24] nothing really here to highlight, but the exception of Parkside
[38:26] subdivision, TAV stock should begin pre - servicing the next
[38:30] month. So we should see that come online for 2027.
[38:35] And those are going to be all townhome units. As
[38:37] far as planning goes, it's been pretty quiet. Um, we've
[38:42] been working with WSP in regards to the secondary plan,
[38:45] uh, we finalized the areas in which we're going to,
[38:49] we just received public works comments for the finalized plan.
[38:54] We'll present to council. And the public, and so we
[38:57] should be seeing something hopefully by the end of the
[38:59] year. As far as drainage goes, large products do make
[39:02] a correction here. Uh, have Russell drain. Oh, that should
[39:05] have been Nicholas Strain. Um, that we worked on. So
[39:08] we received those, uh, some other projects. Tim's Creek, that's
[39:12] about an eight kilometer clean out. Uh, that should be,
[39:15] uh, started later on this year early next year. Reimer's
[39:18] in. That should be coming back to council. Um, the
[39:22] drain realignment for the 1979 drain for Brett Zerr's development
[39:26] in Tavistock. Petition's been approved. Um, so we should be
[39:30] seeing that one start any time. As far as locates,
[39:34] uh, we have almost doubled the volume of locates this
[39:36] year. Um, uh, in comparison to last year and same
[39:40] with the emergency locates that we receive off hours. And
[39:44] finally, we did plan lower this year for building permit
[39:48] revenue, but we should be able to, uh, make or
[39:51] exceed the budgeted amount this year. Field any questions. Thank
[39:56] you. Councillor Van Wyck. Just a question on the orchard
[40:01] subdivision out of the township. We'll be taking ownership of
[40:03] that. Um, I believe the 10 acres of Parkland coming
[40:05] through that. Is there any proposals for what that park
[40:08] land is going to look like? Or is that going
[40:09] to be in the winter, maybe a question for Karen?
[40:12] Is that going to be some proposals of what that
[40:14] proclaimer is going to look like? What can we do
[40:15] with it? Or is that going to be like maybe
[40:17] some public opinion on that as well? Uh, Tom's handling
[40:21] the development. So essentially once we get spare land through
[40:24] subdivisions, uh, it's off of, uh, development services and put
[40:28] onto Tom because he'll be responsible for future maintenance. So
[40:31] I'll let Tom kind of. Yeah. So I've had some
[40:36] discussions with the developer. Likely it'll be throughout the winter
[40:39] this year that the land will transfer and become the
[40:42] townships, Lynn. So I've had some preliminary discussions with developer,
[40:47] both possibly getting in there. There is no requirement for
[40:49] him to finalize the site or then to level the
[40:53] soil. So I'd like to get in there ahead time
[40:57] this all yet maybe work the land, get some grass
[41:00] seed down. So at least we've got some cover. So
[41:02] we're not growing weeds next year for the residents that
[41:04] back onto the property. And then there'll be the opportunity
[41:09] then in the 2027 budget for council to give some
[41:13] direction on what you envision there. Obviously ideas. That I
[41:19] would love to share on what we could do on
[41:20] the property. But ultimately it's come down to council decision
[41:24] on what they want to do with the land. We
[41:26] are quite restricted. You can't do stuff like playgrounds there.
[41:29] Like playground equipment. You can't put buildings there because it
[41:32] is the setbacks to the lagoons. But open green spaces
[41:35] trails. Stuff like that. Soccer fields, that type of thing
[41:39] would be allowed on that property. Any other questions to
[41:46] have counsel really. You indicated we're up on building permits.
[41:50] We're up on building permit value. Uh, down on residential,
[41:53] which was kind of driving the township, the last number
[41:55] of years, what's taken the place? Why is it industrial
[42:00] or what's the item that's picking it up. Dom, there's
[42:03] two items really. When you get a large inflexibility in
[42:05] permits for single family dwellings, they are always followed up
[42:08] in the next couple of years with Dex and sheds.
[42:10] So we did see an increase in that. Um, that's
[42:13] mainly where the value is. Sorry, as far as construction
[42:16] values go, um, and fees, we did increase the fees.
[42:19] So we should naturally see an increase in collected fees.
[42:23] And, um, inflation has driven costs higher. So that's where
[42:25] the construction value likely is increased from. So. Any other
[42:31] questions. I just have a quick one. Uh, John locates,
[42:35] uh, I understand locates seem to take a while to
[42:38] get done recently. Has that improved that situation? Um, yeah,
[42:42] we haven't, we haven't proved that quite a bit. Typically
[42:46] the locates are held up by, uh, by GTEL because
[42:48] they handle a lot more infrastructure locates than we do.
[42:51] Um, in this situation staff, um, have been working, you
[42:55] know, not overtime, but they've been working kind of to
[42:57] the max on this. And we do have procedures when
[43:00] we do hit higher volumes where we pull some staff
[43:03] members, including myself, um, to go out and do some
[43:06] locates as well. So it's not, it's not as dire
[43:10] as it looks. I know a hundred percent increase looks
[43:12] shocking. But we do have procedures in place to handle
[43:15] it. Yeah. I was more concerned with the third party
[43:18] locates. I know where, uh, we're getting hard to get
[43:21] done. Okay. Thank you.
[43:38] Move my counsel van wick. Second in my counselor Rudy,
[43:40] the report DBTS - 2026 - 02. He accepted his
[43:44] information.
[44:07] Thank you, Mayor Schaefer, um, as detailed in the report.
[44:10] Um, this is, this is a standard requirement under the
[44:12] municipal elections act. Um, every municipalities required to have a
[44:16] joint municipality is required to have a compliance audit committee.
[44:20] Um, in this case, um, the Arymuncipalities of Oxford County
[44:24] have elected for a joint compliance audit committee. Um, that's
[44:28] a practice that they've been doing for a number of
[44:31] years and it's been successful in terms of sharing costs
[44:33] and resources. Um, so this report essentially is just detailing
[44:37] that process details, um, what is required by the committee,
[44:41] uh, who the recommended committee members are. And then just,
[44:45] it has the draft by when it touched as well
[44:47] for that. Um, so just for background, as I said,
[44:50] the municipal elections act requires counsel to a point, uh,
[44:54] compliance audit committee prior to October 1st in an election
[44:56] year. Um, and then the committee itself has responsibilities to
[45:01] review and receive any complaints against a candidate. Um, in
[45:04] the municipal election in regards to their financial campaign contributions,
[45:10] um, or how they've spent campaign finances. So if a
[45:13] complaint is received, it's received by the clerk. And then
[45:15] it's forwarded to the joint compliant audits commit joint compliance
[45:19] audit committee for their review. And at that time, the
[45:23] committee would review it and deem whether or not, um,
[45:26] any breach was made by the candidate or whether they
[45:28] recommend that a formal investigation is taken. And that's forage
[45:33] to the courts to decide whether or not that candidate
[45:35] has violated their ability to still, um, be an elected
[45:39] member of council based on their, um, financial decisions. So
[45:44] happy answer any questions that anyone might have regarding that.
[45:47] Thank you Clark Raider. Any questions. Regarding this report. Looking
[45:56] at the list of candidates, our former members, and I
[45:59] look at the new members, it seems most are somewhat
[46:01] local to Oxford. And they've added a lawyer from Grey
[46:06] County, which seems to be an outlier. Is there some
[46:08] specific reason he brings to the table or how does
[46:11] that find its way on here? So no specific reason
[46:15] in specifically choosing that member of the committee. Um, the
[46:18] clerks reviewed all the applicants we received for the joint
[46:20] compliant on its committee. And he, this gentleman, uh, David
[46:24] Nisko, he was deemed to be one of the most
[46:27] qualified in terms of picking that, um, generally the joint
[46:31] compliant audit committee members are either lawyers or former CIOs
[46:34] or someone that has, um, an expertise in that area
[46:38] so that they're able to process those reviews expediently. So
[46:41] he was one of the, um, selected members, um, of
[46:45] the new applicants that we received. Any other questions regarding
[46:52] this report. Not seeing any. We have a resolution to.
[47:00] Approve this. Committee. Move by Deputy Mayor Smith, seconded by
[47:09] Councillor Smith, a report DLS - 2026 - 06. Be
[47:13] received his information in the Council approve the formation of
[47:16] a joint compliance audit committee and partnership with Oxford County
[47:19] Municipalities for the 2026 to 20230 term of office. And
[47:24] further, the Council Point David Morris, Carol Simmons, Keith Reibling,
[47:27] Christine's Crimger, Davidsco and Kyle Krueger to the 2026 Joint
[47:31] Compliance Audit Committee. And further that Council consider the biology
[47:35] appoint the members to the Joint Compliant audits committee. Any
[47:39] discussion regarding that resolution. We'll call the vote.
[47:53] That is carried. We are on to item 10. Notice
[47:58] of motion and new business. Councillor Van Wyck, would you
[48:02] like to address your motion? Uh, yeah. So as per
[48:08] the report for a couple of meetings ago, I had
[48:11] asked for this note's motion. Um, move myself seconded by
[48:14] Councillor Smith, the Council Direct staff to include in the
[48:17] proposed 2027 budget. The necessary funding and associate work with
[48:20] the development of a walking path that one stormwater management
[48:23] pond and tabostock, um, namely PON 5. And one storm
[48:28] management pawn and interkit for consideration driven 2026 budget deliberations.
[48:33] And to provide more context on this. Just this would
[48:35] be to allow public to use the current maintenance trail.
[48:38] I think PON 5 is just an out and back
[48:40] trail. Maintenance path. Um, so I'm not asking for it
[48:44] all the way around just to use the existing maintenance
[48:46] trail. And what that cost would take. Obviously be some
[48:49] planting of shrubs for a living wall. I'm assuming to
[48:52] be some signage, stuff like that. Um, and to bring
[48:54] that to the 2027 budget for deliberation on, could we
[48:59] make this happen? Um, like some neighboring municipalities have done.
[49:04] Thank you, Councillor Rand. Any questions for our mover.
[49:16] Councilor Rudy. Putting a walking path around her stormwater ponds,
[49:21] uh, is that contraven any of the regulations we have
[49:23] with fenced in ponds. I know we're doing it on
[49:26] the one on the northwest corner. There was a dry
[49:29] ponds. I don't know where ponton five is in Davistock.
[49:34] But. Yeah, so that the pawn in Tavistock would be,
[49:41] well, I guess there was two ponds we were looking
[49:42] at. We were looking at the brand new one in
[49:43] the Parkside subdivision. Sorry, not the parkside. Bridge. Yes. So
[49:50] we were looking at that one. We also look at
[49:51] the one on fourteenth line as well. Um. Anything else?
[49:56] Those were the two. Those are the main two. You
[49:59] got interkipped. Did the dry pond on yonker, but that
[50:01] one's a lot easier to sort of manage. Okay. Thank
[50:05] you. To also take counselors, read these question. The other
[50:14] point too with the, uh, wet pawns versus the Dry
[50:17] Ponds. We have talked to our municipal insurer. And that
[50:20] will be something that we'll have to consider if council
[50:24] wants to go ahead with this. Um, and we consider
[50:26] it in the 2027 budget. As there are insurance requirements
[50:30] around fencing a wet pond in terms of how close
[50:33] can the public get to it, um, for example, if
[50:36] a child was to fall into a wet pond and
[50:38] we haven't properly fenced or signed it, our insurance company
[50:41] has said we would not be covered for that. And
[50:43] we would be on our own for, um, liability in
[50:47] that case. So just something that council will need to
[50:49] consider when they go down that path in terms of
[50:51] what the fencing could look like, what the path would
[50:53] look like, et cetera. So something perhaps a flesh out
[50:57] further. Councillor Vawick. And I know I looked at the
[51:02] interior regulations on that as well. And it does say
[51:05] that a living fence is possible, um, when slope succeed
[51:08] a certain amount. So there is ways to do it.
[51:11] And neighboring with studies have done it. So obviously there'll
[51:13] be cost involved by what is that. There will be
[51:17] probably a living fence could be done instead of a,
[51:20] um, like a metal fence, for example. But then again,
[51:23] head walls where it's really steep. You might need fencing
[51:25] there permanent fencing, for example. So I understand there'll be
[51:28] some implications there, but they'll have to be considered to
[51:30] make it feasible as well. Um, in that sense. I'll
[51:38] just ask staff, uh, is staff clear with, uh, what
[51:40] we're looking for here. And is that something that can
[51:43] be. Done for the budget. We have our mover in
[51:52] seconder. We will, uh, get the resolution on the screen
[51:56] unless the other questions. Okay, the resolution
[52:06] is on your screen. It's been red. It's got a
[52:08] mover in seconder. Is there any discussion regarding that resolution.
[52:15] Not seeing any more call the vote.
[52:44] That is carried. We are on to item 11, uh,
[52:50] six items under Unfinished Business. Is there any questions for
[52:54] staff regarding. Those Unfinished items. I just have a quick
[53:03] one regarding, uh, item C 90 Lovey Street. With the,
[53:08] uh, tender process on that. When can we expect that?
[53:19] I'll jump in and then if anybody wants to throw
[53:22] in with me, um, we didn't initiate as council as
[53:26] aware the record of site commission processed with the ministry.
[53:28] We did receive feedback already on it. So we are
[53:32] holding off until we send in the additional information that
[53:36] the ministry has requested. So that we can make sure
[53:40] that the RSC process will be continuing before we actually
[53:48] list the property. We receive feedback. On that there was
[53:52] additional information required for our RRC report. And the consultant
[53:57] that we were using has provided that. So we're waiting
[54:00] for acknowledgement from the ministry that that information is acceptable.
[54:05] And then we'll be able to provide that report with
[54:08] the listing for the property. Thank you. Any other questions
[54:13] regarding it in the items? Deputy Mayor Smith. Are we
[54:17] still on timeline for our secondary plan. Coming forward? Has
[54:22] there been any update. Uh, so are we on time?
[54:28] Definitely not. Um, it should be here by the end
[54:30] of the year. Again, we have all the regular, we
[54:32] have all the required information. Um, we have everybody that
[54:35] was to review, has reviewed. Now, of course, the only
[54:40] hiccup now is we had a barn burned down. Last
[54:44] week. So I'm not sure if we need to update
[54:46] anything or if we can just kind of take that
[54:48] as information and just acknowledge that in the final report.
[54:52] So we're pretty close. We do hopefully we're optimistic. We'll
[54:55] get something by the end of the year. It's not
[55:02] a question. Back to be conferences and seminars. I did
[55:08] have the opportunity last month to represent this council at
[55:12] the annual AMO Conference in Ottawa. You organization that, of
[55:18] course, represents all 444 municipalities in Ontario. Did bring a
[55:23] new fangle to the keynote address this year. It's a
[55:27] live presentation of the popular podcast, the curse of politics.
[55:33] Show features four veteran strategists and back room operatives. That,
[55:40] uh, play in the political arena names that you would,
[55:43] uh, likely know hosted and moderated by David Hurley alongside
[55:48] regular television network news panelists. Scott Reed, Jordan Leachnitz and
[55:54] Corey Tonike. Unscripted, unfiltered and behind the scenes insights into
[56:01] the current Canadian political events, campaigns, public policy and the
[56:07] forces that affect them from beyond our borders. As you
[56:11] can well imagine, plenty of tariff trade and Trump talk
[56:17] in the hour - long special, including a more colorful
[56:21] brand of language than we normally hear. Appearances across the
[56:26] conference from Premier Doug Ford, Merritt Stiles, leader of the
[56:30] official opposition, interim liberal leader. John Fraser and the leader
[56:35] of the Green Party, Mike Schreiner, plenty of great plenary
[56:39] and concurrent programming that touched on everything from data centers
[56:43] to infrastructure deficits, local democracy, sovereignty, homelessness, housing, healthcare, uh,
[56:51] that list could go on. Uh, Reverberating takeaway, the fact
[56:55] that municipalities continue to be tasked with more than ever
[57:01] before, punching above their weight was the term that, uh,
[57:05] one expert used. That weight is getting heavier issues, more
[57:11] complex legislation continues to roll above us out at breaknet
[57:17] speed. I would say good value, good investment anytime. One
[57:20] can be exposed to thought leaders and sector specific experts
[57:26] in the municipal sphere. It's a masterclass to move you
[57:30] along the continuing learning continuum. So again, I'd like to
[57:35] thank Council for approving my participation and representation on its
[57:41] behalf and to staff for taking care of some of
[57:45] the logistics. So thank you. Thank you, Councillor Smith. Any
[57:52] other discussion regarding on Finnished Business. Not seeing any. We
[57:56] will now move on to item 12. Where we will
[57:59] adjourn to close session. And.
[58:10] Resolution to move into that. On your screen. Move by
[58:19] counselor Gillespie. Second it by Deputy Mayor Smith. That has
[58:21] authorized intersection 239 of the municipal act Council moving into
[58:25] the close to the Public Session at 956 AM to
[58:28] consider the following, personnel matters about an identifiable individual, including
[58:32] municipal or local board employees, director of fire emergency services
[58:36] recruitment update. Any discussion. Call the vote.
[58:53] That is carried. We will now move into closed session.
[2:16:45] We're back. We are on to item.
[2:16:57] The only byla today is the Joint Audit Compliance. Committee.
[2:17:01] So first and second reading.
[2:17:13] Move by Councilor Smith. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Smith, Byla
[2:17:16] 2026 - 32, but you read a first and second
[2:17:19] time. So any discussion regarding that. I'm seeing any. We'll
[2:17:25] call the vote.
[2:17:43] It's carried. I don't have. And then the final one
[2:17:49] is. Confirming an adjournment. Oh, third reading. Okay. Third reading
[2:17:58] of the Bylaw. Move a council Gillespie, seconded by Councillor
[2:18:03] Rudy that Byla 2026 - 32. We read a third
[2:18:06] and final time. Any discussion. We'll call a vote.
[2:18:26] That is carried. Now confirming. In German.
[2:18:46] Move by Deputy Mayor Smiths. Second of my counselor Rudy
[2:18:49] that the Bylaw 2026 - 33 being a biologic confirmed
[2:18:53] the proceedings of council held September 2nd, 2026. We read
[2:18:57] a first second and third time. The second day of
[2:18:58] September 2026 that the Maronne Clerk are here by authorized
[2:19:02] designed the same and affixed the Corpus seal there too.
[2:19:05] And further that the meeting is now adjourned at 11
[2:19:07] 16 a. m. So any discussion. Call the vote.
[2:19:21] And that is Carrie. We are adjourned.