21st, 2026 east or Tavistock Council meeting please note this
meeting is being live streamed and recorded. By entering council
chambers, you are consenting to be recorded. I will call
the meeting to order. And are there any opening remarks
this evening? Council is there? I just want to offer
my gratitude for the opportunity to attend Roma this past
week. And just highlighting a couple of things, sessions that
I took in. One session was on the strategies for
managing rural land, which was quite interesting and had a
number of different examples. Of areas that we're kind of
working at, that one that kind of stands out is
Essex and how they're working to try. To contain farmland
and make sure that farmland continues to exist. Kind of
working with farmers as well on how to deal with
small roads and big equipment and all of these dynamics.
So I felt they were doing some really interesting stuff.
Another piece that was pretty cool with them is they
have a tourist piece dynamic to it, and that included
what they call their wine road, which was another kind.
Of highlight for them. Two other items kind of connect
a little bit. One has to do with the long
term care. In and throughout. The province of Ontario, the
need for many, many beds. One thing I think that
was concerning for me as having aging grandparents and parents
is that many homes in Toronto. I think there was
actually six homes that have shut down, some that are
not. Managing well. But those homes, those residents are being
then moved out of the city of Toronto and then.
Taking meds further out. And the complication that that poses
is that it then bumps residents. That are from their
home communities. And that kind of leads to. Those folks
not having their social supports and things like that. So
I think that was a concern. One positive kind of
on top of that was one of the last speakers
that we heard was an organization called Genwell. And Genwell.
Is recognized the need of, or the concern of loneliness,
which obviously can happen. In this setting with seniors, but
it can also happen with young people as well. And
Genwell has been working hard at trying to provide tools.
And education on how to better equip our residents, our
people. To respond to that loneliness. And that piece. So,
again, very grateful for the opportunity and. Lots to take
in and chew on, so thank you. Thank you, councilors
there. Any other opening comments? Councilor Smith. Thank you. Mary
Schaefer, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United nations.
Has officially launched the international year of the woman farmer.
It's a global campaign aimed at recognizing women's indispensable yet
often overlooked contribution to. Global agri food systems and to
galvanize efforts to close persistent gender gaps. The international year
aims to spotlight the realities faced by women farmers and
drive policy reforms and investment. To advance gender equality, empower
women, and build a more resilient sector. Everywhere women make
up a significant share of the world's agricultural workforce and.
Are indispensable across all value chains, from production to processing
to distribution, to trade and playing, of course, a central
role in household food security and nutrition. It can be
said women's. Contributions remain undervalued and women continue to face
systemic bar. Barriers, including limited access to land, finance, technologies,
education, and participation in decision making at all levels. Strong
women. Impactful women. Unsung hero women have been contributing to
agricultural success in our municipality for generations. So a tip
of the hat to the international year of the woman
farmer here at home. And abroad. This year also marks
100 years of the Royal Canadian Legion as it continues
to pursue its mission. Of supporting veterans and their families,
promoting remembrance. And serving communities right across the country through
its 1400 branches. The organization sites a robust membership of
over a quarter million. As one component that has contributed
to this milestone. Perhaps you count yourself among them during
its centenary. The legion is offering free membership and throughout
the year. There will be ongoing events and projects announced
on a national level, provincially and at a local level
as well. The legion will market's anniversary officially this summer
on Friday, July 17, and. I couldn't make mention of
the legion without a mention for Tavistock Branch 518. Marked
75 years in 2025. Our local legion was constituted in
the spring of 1950. Thank you. Massey. Miguette. Thank you,
Councilor Smith. Any other opening comments this evening? I have
an announcement to make. I've been asked to share an
announcement from Chief Alexander. To the council members of Easar
Tavistock. It is with mixed emotions that I wish to
advise counsel and the staff at the township of Esore
Tavistock that 2026 would be my final year as fire
chief for the township. I'm grateful for the opportunity that
I have been fortunate to be part of, but careful.
Reflection over the last few months, I feel that almost
20 years. It is time for fresh perspective for the
administration of the department and someone to look ten years
into the future rather than 20 years to the past.
I feel that announcing my retirement for the end of
2026 permits ample time to recruit for the position and
allow us for a smooth transition over time to new
management. I wish to thank council for this wonderful opportunity.
And all of the firefighters, past and present, that I've
had the privilege to serve with. And most of all,
I wish and need to thank my family, my wife
Heather and our sons. Nick, Mac, Dean and Jay for
all of the sacrifices they have made during my tenure
here at the township, respectively. Scott alexander. Well, Chief Alexander.
I want to thank you for your service. And wish
you the best. In your future plan. All right. We'll
move on. First item on the agenda. Item number two
is approval of tonight's agenda. Resolution on your screen. Moved
by Councilor Smith, seconded by councilor Rudy. That council approved
the agenda for the January 21, 2026 meeting as printed
and circulated. Is there any discussion regarding tonight's agenda? Not
seeing any. We'll call the vote.
That is carried. We are on to item three, disclosure
of pecuniary interest or general nature thereof, at any disclosures.
Deputy Mayor Smith? Yes. I'll declare a peculiar interest on
items. Eight. A, b and c, please. And have you
given that in writing to the clerk? Okay. Thank you.
And counselor, is there. I'm going to declare an interest
in. Report a Tavistock 1997 drain request for minor improvement.
And I have turned in the paperwork as well. Thank
you, council. Is there? No other. Conflict declares. Okay, move
on to next item. Minutes. Minutes of the December 17,
2025 council meeting. You have a resolution on your screen
momentarily. Moved by Deputy Amir Smith, seconded by councilor Zair.
That council can affirm the minutes of the December 17,
2025 council meeting as printed and circulated. Is there any
discussion regarding those minutes? Not seeing any. We'll call the
vote. That is carried.
Next item. Item five. Public meetings. We have an application
for a zone change tonight. Number z and 225. Five.
Townsend Farms Incorporated. You will have a resolution on your
screen to move. Into public meeting. Move by councilor Gillespie.
Seconded by councilor Rudy. The council does now adjourn. To
a public meeting in accordance with the provisions of the
Planning act at 700 and 09:00 p.m. so any discussion?
Okay, we'll call a vote. That is carried. We are
now in public meeting and community planner Adam Jinyak. Will
be providing his report tonight. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Good
evening, members of council and those in attendance here today.
So these zone change application here today to be discussed,
was submitted in conjunction with a severance application. That being
severance application B 25. 54, two which recently went to
the December 4, 2025, Land Division committee meeting. This own
change and this consent application was to sever an approximately
98.8 acre or 40 hectare lot of agricultural land with
a lot frontage of approximately 561 meters. The lot to
be retained would be a one acre or 0.4 hectare
in size. Lots to be used for rural residential. Purposes
with a 53 meters frontage. The retained lot would contain
an existing detached dwelling with a private well and septic
system. Currently, the subject lands are zoned a two, the
general agricultural zone. With two single detached dwellings and a
farm building. On the large farm parcel. The proposal is
to rezone the lot to be retained from the a
two zoning to rural residential or rr zoning, while also
facilitating the establishment of a special provision on the lot
to be severed, which is the farm parcel to no
longer permit two single detached dwellings, but rather only allow
one dwelling moving forward. Staff would just like to note
that the zone change application heard before you today is
a condition. Of severance approval. This application was circulated to
a number of internal departments and external agencies, and as
a result of this circulation. There weren't any comments specific
to the zone change application that were received and no
comments were received from members of the public as of
the writing of the report. In terms of the planner's
analysis of this application. We reviewed this zone change application
in conjunction with the severance application. We have the opinion
that the proposal as presented does meet and reflect the
intent and purpose of both the provincial planning statement and
the county's official plan. Knowing no objections were received and
given an analysis of the relevant planning policy. In this
case, we are recommending that the application be approved in
principle tonight, with the amending bylaw coming. Back at a
future council meeting following the submission of a survey. With
that in mind, I'm happy to take any questions there
might be. Thank you, Adam. Any questions for our planner
this evening? I just have a quick question. So there's
two dwellings on this property now, is that. Correct. Through
you, Mr. Mayor. That's correct. Okay, so this is to
sever off one of them. Correct. The one dwelling is
being rendered surplus. To sever off to a separate rural
residential parcel. So there'll still be one residence. On this
entire farm property. That's correct. The retained or severed lot.
The farm parcel will retain one of the two dwellings.
Thank you. Any other questions for the planner this evening?
Thank you, adam. Is the applicant or agent here like
to speak tonight? Hello. Welcome. From MTE acting as agent
just here. If there's any questions for anybody that I
can clarify. Okay. Is there any questions anyone needs to
clarify? Deputy mayor Smith I'm not sure whether this question
should go to you or whether I should have proposed
it to our planner. Is there any restrictions? Like I
know that they can't build another house. On the retained
parcel of the farmland, correct? But. Can they tear down
an existing home and then in future years, build a
home back up on that and still have. One. Resident,
one dwelling. I think I'll defer that question. Okay. Through
you, Mr. Meredith. Councilor. Smith there is that possibility, but
the intent with this application was to retain the existing
home on the property. Okay, but there's nothing. Stopping the
owner of the farm to replace that house. Through Mr.
Maryland? Not to my knowledge. I would have to check
with the official plan. Policies are on that. Okay, thank
you. Any other questions? For the applicants agent. Not seeing
any. Thank you. Thank you. Is there any member of
the public, either online or in person tonight that wishes
address council on this application. Not seeing anything there. Okay.
We will now move out of public meeting. There'll be
a resolution on your screen. Move by councilor Zaire, seconded
by councilor Smith, that the public meeting does now. Adjourn
and council reconvenes at 07:15 p.m. Is there any discussion?
We'll call the vote. That is carried.
We are now out of the public meeting. We do
have a recommendation to approve the application in principle that
will be on your screen momentarily. Moved by Councilor Glaspy,
seconded by Councilor Vanwick, that the council of the township
of Esau Tavistock. A proven principle of the zone change
application submitted by towns and farms, Inc. Whereby a portion
of the lands described as part lots 18 to 19,
concession nine as in 420897 in the township of East.
Eastor Tavistock. The lot be retained through the consent. B
25 54. Two to be rezoned from general agricultural zone
a two to rural residential rr and to rezone the
lot. To be severed. Resulting from consent. Application B 25
54. Two from the general agricultural zone, a two. To
Special General agricultural z. Zone a two SP to prohibit
future residential development. Is there any discussion regarding that motion?
Not seeing any. We will call the vote for that.
Motion is carried. We're onto item six. Delegations and appointments.
The first one this evening is Oxford county. Speed management
and road safety presentation. We've had Frank Gross from the
county tonight. Hello.
Welcome. Thank you for having us this evening. I'm Frank
Gross, the manager of transportation and waste. Management with Oxford
county. And I'm joined by Sean Bonacker, supervisor of transportation.
We're here tonight to present the findings of post monitoring
review that was completed for traffic. Calming measures that we
previously implemented in inner kip as well in Tavistock. And
we're sharing our recommendations with this council tonight, and then
we'll be bringing those forward to county council in February.
February 25. For adoption and then implementation. So I'll pass
it over to Sean and he'll walk us through. The
findings of our studies. Great. Mayor Schaefer, members of council,
thanks for the opportunity here. We want to present on
our recent speed management and road safety review. Completed within
touch of a visa or tavistock. So we had two
study areas in the township, the first one being Oxford
Road four and Oxford. Road 33, the community of Interkip.
The second location was Oxford Road 24 and Oxford Road.
59 in the community of Tavistock. Both study locations were
post monitoring follow up studies. Completed to measure previously the
effectiveness of previously implemented speed management and traffic coming measures
in those communities. This slide. The next couple of slides
I'll skip through rather quickly, but basically this slide. Talks
about the key principles that county adopted for countywide traffic.
Calming approach. So the plan that would be utilized to
measure speed and traffic calming in various communities. The speed
and road safety work plan. So this was the work
plan that was utilized at the time when the initial
studies were completed in both interchipp and Tavistock. Establishing posted
speeds. Just some information there from Transportation association of Canada.
Talks about what features are taken into consideration. When developing.
Relatable posted speeds based on the driving environment. In each
community. The appropriate speeds, posted speeds and speed variation
differential. Just some more information about how posted speeds are
adopted. Why it's important to select appropriate posted speeds. And
the negative implications that could come as a result of
not selecting appropriate posted speeds. The community safety warrant process.
That the county council had approved in September of 2021.
It's a two warrant process, so. These are the measures
that are utilized in order to establish community safety zones.
And so on to more of the study information. So
in Interkip, we have our study location area here, which
is shown in the red delineated area throughout the village
there on Oxford Road 44 or Oxford Road four and
Oxford Road 33. As you can see on the plan,
This slide here identifies the 2019 findings that came about
as a result of the study that was completed the
initial speed management and traffic calming study that was completed.
At the time, excessive speeds were observed at the village
entrances. Basically, the approaches to the village. Speeds within the
village were not deemed to be excessive at the time.
We reviewed the intersection of Oxford Road four and Oxford
Road 33 to see if a always stop was warranted.
It wasn't. We reviewed adequate site lines for school crossings
and there were no speed collision speed related collision trends
at the time. Since that 2019. Findings or recommendations was
completed. Since that time, the following measures have been implemented
in interchep. In July of 2019, speed feedback signs were
installed at key entry points to the community. 50 kilometer
hour zone limits were adjusted to align better with the
built up limits of the community. The 60 kilometer hour
transition zone at the south end was adjusted accordingly. That
was it in July of 2019. So in February of
2021. Two pedestrian crossovers were installed, one on Oxford Road
four and another one on Oxford Road 33. And then,
in November of 2023, community safety zone designations were installed
on Oxford Road four and again on Oxford Road 33
at the time. This slide here is rather busy. It
shows the data that's been collected throughout the years. Going
back as far as 2018. When the initial countywide and
speed management and traffic calming approach was adopted by council
data was collected that went to that report. At that
time. This slide shows speed data collected on Oxford Road
33. Both at data collection points. And
the speed feedback signs, which are also capable of collecting
data. And then this next slide talks about the post
monitoring study. So the post monitoring speed data collection happened
in 2000 and 22,025. The key findings showed that speeds
were reduced by up to 10 approach. Marginal speed increases
were observed within the built up area. Higher 85th percentile
speeds within the built up area on Oxford Road 33.
And it was noted that the speed feedback signs are
effective in reducing the approaching speeds of vehicles. The recommendations
coming out of the postmodernitoring follow up study include the
installation of flexible center line delineators on Oxford Road four
and Oxford Road 33 within the village. The relocation of
the north and west speed feedback signs to align with
the 50 kilometer hour speed. Zone limit. And future road
urbanization on OR 33 east. I think there's a proposed
subdivision there on the corner. Be the south, the east
corner of 19th line in Oxford Road 33. And as
part of that, I think future road urbanization is a
recommendation that should come out of that. This next slide
shows it's an immediate measures maps. Shows approximate locations of
where flexible delineators would be installed. It shows the relocation
of the north and the west feedback signs to alive
with the 50 kilometer hour zone where it begins. And
also. Although not showing on the plan, there is intent
to put flexible delineators on Oxford Road. 33 as well.
So the next community was Tavistock. This slide shows the
study limits outlined again in red both Woodstock street and
Hope Street. The 2021 findings from the Tavistock initial Speed
Management and traffic calming study. Found that speeds were marginally
excessive on Oxford Road 59 south of Wilton street and
on or 24 eastbound. 60 kilometer hour transition zones were
found to be ineffective in reducing the approach speeds of
vehicles to the community. The 50 kilometer hours owned south
of Wilton street didn't match the built up area of
the community. Rendering it somewhat ineffective. There were no significant
speed related collision trends observed at the time. And truck
activity remained consistent with typical volumes on comparable county roads.
The traffic calming measures that were implemented after that initial
study include, in January of 2022. There was an upload
of Maplewood side Road. From or 59 to Oxford Road
five. From the township to the county. Premises that. The
uploading that to the county may offer opportunities for trucks
to be able to bypass for the road to be
able to one day be designed to a higher standard.
So that then we could maybe support less trucks having
to go through the village itself. In June of 2022.
The 60 kilometer hour transition zones on County Road 24
east and 59 south. Were adjusted. Sorry. They were removed
in the 50 kilometer hour zone was adjusted to match
the built up limit so the community. Speed. Feedback signs
were installed at the east and south legs of the
village in February 2023. There was a PXO installed on
Woodstock Street north, near Jacob Street. And in November 2023
and May 2025, respectively. There were community safety zone designations
installed on or 24. Or 59. So this next slide
shows the speed summary map. Again with data going back
as far as 2019. Collected in 20 23, 20, 24,
20, 25. And the speed data that was collected on
Oxford Road 59 over the various years where data was
collected. And so the post monitoring.
Findings as a result of our most recent study here.
The key findings included incoming speeds at the south end
were reduced by 14 km an hour. Incoming speeds at
the east end increased and also at the west end
by approximately 10 km an hour each. The south speed
feedback sign. Data was compared against our data point, and
I believe we have a discrepancy with our data point.
So there is a plan to collect future data. There
the espe. Espeed feedback sign versus the 2025 data point.
Again, at that data point, I think. We had a
discrepancy as well. And it was noted that the speed
feedback signs are effective in reducing incoming vehicle speeds. So
the recommendations. From the Tavistock study include the installation of
speed feedback signs at east and west approaches on Hope
street. The installation of. Center line flexible delineators at the
east end of Hope street and Road urbanization on the
south end is planned in 2027 for the extension of
curbs and sidewalks. I'm sure all of you are aware
of the proposed development there on the west side. Of
Woodstock street south. I believe the county has accepted a
monetary contribution from the developer for that road urbanization project.
Which is at this point scheduled for 2027. Further data
collection is needed at the south and east ends as
a result of. Those discrepancy. With the data that was
collected there and the future intersection studies on Oxford Road
24 at Perthline. 29 and Perthline 33 have been identified.
As part of the strategy, maybe to try and have
trucks utilize more roads going around the village. Rather than
through. The next slide is an immediate measures map. You
can. See the addition of the speed feedback signs at
the west and east ends of the village as well
as a flexible delineator plan there for. The east end
of the village as well. So, next steps, while we
are meeting with you here today, doing the delegation, It
is January 2026. The public consultation. We plan to send
out notices to all residents running. On the affected roadways.
So those notices will go up by mail and we'll
also be posted on speak up. Oxford. Our plan is
to send the findings or recommendations in a report to
council on February. 25th. For their review and approval. The
plan is to implement. The final approved immediate measures in
q two or q three of 2026. Postmodernitoring and continued
post monitoring and data sharing with. Police is an ongoing.
Key finding of the countywide strategy. And the Oxford County
Road Safety strategy. So that's a recent initiative that was
approved by county council to come up with a countywide
road safety strategy with the input of the area municipalities
through the creation of an ad hoc committee and to.
Develop. Countywide strategy that could be applied across the area,
municipalities as well. And then last but not least the
road safety improvement fund. Is the fund that was announced
shortly after the government canceled the automated speed enforcement program.
It's my understanding that. The funding for the road safety
Improvement Fund was offered first to those municipalities that were
already involved. In automated speed enforcement, but that perhaps any
remaining monies will be offered to municipalities who would be
left to qualify through some kind of application process. So
with that, we have some future study areas planned for
2026. They include Oxford Road 28, near 14th Line. And
Oxford Road. Two between or 30 and the 10th line.
The second one there. Oxford Road two is actually a
post monitoring follow up study. We already did. An initial
study there several years back, so that would be the
follow up. So I guess with that, I'd like to
thank you for allowing us the opportunity to. Present here.
And if anyone has questions. Or they're willing to try
and answer those. Thank you, Sean and Frank. Any questions
for these gentlemen from my council, Deputy Mayor Smith. Do
we share these findings with oPp? Yes, we do. So
through the mayor to the councilor, previous to this meeting
here we met. With township of Esore to have stock
staff. Police. And. Wasn't at the meeting, but assuming there
was a council member here. At that meeting, correct? So,
yeah, we did. That information, this presentation. Was shared with
them at the time. When we collect speed data. The
speed data is also shared with them in its raw
form. And they then take that and they have their
traffic analyst review it and. They're looking for not only
areas of high speed, but what time of day is
that? Happening, right? Because obviously they have limited resources. They
won't want to be able to target. Or set up
targeted enforcement of known locations where they figure they'll maybe
get the best. Bang for their bach. My concern is.
The. Highway, their county road 33 going in. Aircap the
speeds coming in and out of there. And that's very
close to the school. Seems to be excessive, and I'm
just hoping that the OPP or through some of these
common measures, we can get that speed in check because.
It's just nothing but gone up. All the way along,
and it just seems to. We're just looking for a
place to. Have an accident there. Thank you. Councilor Glespie.
I was just wondering if you have any data on
where center line delineators have been. Used at their effectiveness.
Through the mayor to the councilor. Yeah. So we did
a pilot study in Embro initially. And in that study,
what we determined was that maybe embroil was not a
good location. With the curbs. Through there, and it was
somewhat narrow. And we were also using a delineator that
wasn't very robust. It didn't stand up very well. We
experienced a lot of damage. We were out repairing a
lot. There was a lot of staff resources tied up
and having to reinstall or repair. Units that were hit.
But through the pilot study. It was found that they
were effective at reducing speeds, especially on the outgoing speeds,
as vehicles are leaving the community. But like anything, they
need to be used appropriately. Right? So. We currently have
locations in verse oil in Beachville, where the flexible delineators
have been installed. Obviously they're taken down during the winter
months. They're not easy to plow. Around, but in those
communities too. Bershoil, I know we have data back from
that community and it was found that they are effective.
Especially, again, in reducing outgoing speeds of vehicles. So, yeah,
that data does exist. I was just wondering. There's no
delineator shown for Oxford Road 33, which has the most
excessive speeds. And a concern with Blanford street being fairly
narrow and a lot of on road parking. Because of
an event center in the middle of the village that
ends up making the road very narrow when there's parking.
I know. Cars lose mirrors. Parked along the side of
the road as it is, that adding those delineators would
just make it a little too bottlenecked in areas. Through
the mayor to the councilor. So we'll need to be
strategic in the application. Of them. The fact that there
are not any shown on the map is an oversight.
In the slide previous that we did identify that there
is plans. To install flexible delineators on Oxford Road 33
as well. My apologies for that. The goal is to
try and narrow the appearance of the lanes to get
people to slow down. Right.
We have to try something. And this is something, right?
And I appreciate that. Vehicles may be parked on the
side of the road, but that shouldn't. Hinder most people's
driving, right? To me. What will be maybe more critical
is farm vehicles that are trying to go through there.
And for what it's worth, Those delineators that we're using
now, they're much more robust than the ones that we
were using in Embro. They stand up much better to
direct hits. Farm vehicle. Vehicles can essentially drive right over
them and they pop right back up again. Like anything.
Eventually, in time, they will wear and tear to a
point where they need replacement or repair. But. They're certainly
much more robust than what we used initially. Any other
questions? I just have a couple of quick ones. I
noticed there's going to be delineators. On the east end
of Hope street, I believe. But none on the west
end. Do they read that correctly? And they both have
similar. Excessive speeds over the limit. Yeah. So through you,
Mr. Mayor. I think the reasoning behind that is that.
As I mentioned. They're effective at reducing the outgoing speeds.
And, I mean, the speedback signs are certainly effective at
reducing the incoming speed. So I think the identifying factor
there was that outgoing speeds at the east end were
problematic, right? And the addition of a speed feedback sign
will obviously assist with the incoming, but maybe not be
as effective at reducing outgoing speed. So that is the
reason for. That east location. Flexible, delineated recommendation. Just one
other quick question. A big concern, obviously, in Tavistock is
the amount of trucks that come through town and I
know Connie Road 28 can take some of that. And
Perth line 29. Is, I think, becoming more of a
truck route as well. But what are your findings on
the truck traffic? I think you said it shows just
like an average county road. But coming through an intersection
like that, even an average amount of truck traffic can
be problematic. What are your thoughts on what could possibly
be done to allay some of that issue? Well, I
think through you, Mr. Mayor. I think uploading Maplewood side
Road is a good first step. The County Road network,
obviously is an arterial road network. It's designed to move
people, goods. Emergency services, right? So Maplewood side Road is
in a very good state now. But there is opportunities
there for improvement of it too. And. I think even
since we've taken it over. We've seen an increase in
traffic on it. And I think that will continue. Right.
As more and more trucks maybe realize that if they
don't have a need to go through Tavistock, then. There
is a decent way to get around it. Yeah. I
don't know if there's an appetite to develop a truck
detour. Around the community. That's obviously something that's quite political.
And within your purview to try and initiate. Or get
the county thinking about it, obviously. Short of that. Providing
opportunities for vehicles to get around on their own. And
allowing them to make that choice on their own is
maybe the first option, the second option. Is to maybe
force them around it. Thank you. Any other questions? Not
seeing any. Thank you for coming out tonight. Thank you
for the report. Great. Thank you. We have a resolution
on your screen for council. Moved by deputy mayor Smith,
seconded by councilor Rudy. That council received a presentation from
Oxford. County regarding speed management and road safety as information.
Is there any discussion regarding that motion and the report?
Not seeing any. We will call the vote.
That is carried. Okay, we're on to item six B.
Oxford county safe and well Oxford Community safety plan. Update.
We have Sarah Hamelecki, manager of strategic initiatives and intergovernmental
relations, and Marcus Ryan, chair of safe and well, Oxford.
Welcome. Look forward to your report. Thank you. Good evening,
mayor and councilors. We are very pleased to be here
this evening, to be able to present to you the
updated final draft version of the community safety and well
being plan for Oxford county, which we call safe and
well, Oxford. So we will presume that you have read
the information in the report. And the actual plan itself.
But there are a few things that we are here
today to kind of highlight and provide a little bit
further context. And then obviously, we are available to ask
any questions, should you have any. So I'm hoping that
by now you're all. At least very high level. Familiar
have high level familiarity with community safety wellbeing plans. Little
bit of a recap or a couple of really key
things. These are legislated. Plans. So they are legislated through
the Community Safety and Policing Act. From 2019 locally here
back in 2021. All of the eight area municipalities passed
resolutions. To not only endorse the existing plan, but also.
To have Oxford county lead the plan on their behalf.
Prior to the update and review process, which we are
legislated to do every four years. I felt honestly fairly
knowledgeable about community safety, well being, plans. But I can
also mention that I have learned a great deal over
the past year. Eight months. That we have been working
on this update process. I suspect that the warden will
also share some of. His learnings. But we are both
very much in agreement that one of the key things
that we realized throughout this process is what the true
purpose is of the community, safety, well being, plans and
sort of what they can do within our communities. So
interestingly, I guess you could say, is that, yes, they
are legislated, but they don't necessarily hold a lot of
power, so to speak. So the plans themselves. Aren't necessarily
what's driving the actual work happening in our communities. It's
these service providers, the frontline staff, the people that are
doing the actual work. Connected to the priority areas and.
That has been. Really insightful for us. And I think
is going to. Prove to be really beneficial for us
as we move forward and actually implement the plan that
we are presenting to you today. So if you remember.
The plan to update. The process to update the plan
started earlier in 2025, and the county steering committee and
county staff decided to go to strategy core as an
outside. Consultant because they had familiarity with Oxford county from
developing the county strategic plan. The term they had familiarity
with other community safety well being plans around the province,
and we thought they could give us advice as to
what was working in ours, what was working in others,
and obviously what was not. Working in places. So there
was extensive data review done. Part of that was data
in. Oxford. Part of it was in Canadian x well
being survey, which then is comparable to other communities around
the province so you can have some context to the
data that you collect. And extensive surveys within Oxford county
of residents of organizations that either do or could contribute
and participate in safe law auction plan area councils and
staff. And each of you individually. And then strategy core
compiled all that, made a recommendation of a draft. A
draft. Updated plan. And manager Hamalecki reviewed that with them,
made her changes that she wanted to see to. It,
and that was then put out to the community. At
the summit in October. For more review. Strategy core took
then that input from that. Came back with another draft
manager, Hamalecki, who then said, now I'm going to change
it again. And that's what's in front of you today.
So we're. Pretty confident that the plan that's in front
of you today reflects. What we learned from the first
plan, what we learned from Canaanics of well being. Survey
what we learned from the surveys about this plan, the
iterations of drafts through municipal staff and councils and residents
and organizations that participate. So really what we're looking for
today is sort of this is what our communities told
us. This is what our councils have told us. This
is what the organizations who will. Be asked to participate
and deliver on this have told us, and so we
think this is a plan that is ready to go.
So shifting gears a little bit to the actual plan
itself. The very first one that we had included four
priority areas. We added the fifth being gender based. Violence
sort of partway through, it would have been right around
2023. 2024. So during this term of council, and then
this new version has an additional six priority area so
you can see affordability and economic stability. And maybe to
alleviate any questions about that. You're still welcome to ask
it, but I do recognize. We are quite aware that
that is a huge topic. And. It is a bit
daunting, to be honest, but I think. That is exactly
where the purpose of community safety well being plans come
into play, in that we will hopefully be able to
connect with the people that are already doing the work
within our communities. We know that. There are. Organizations that
are addressing food security. Some poverty, things like that. So
we will be able to, with this plan, be able
to make some of those connections, help to foster relationships.
And provide any support that we can. The other change,
I would say for the priority areas is mostly just
the title of the people. And belonging priority area. So
it was somewhat formerly known as Dei, but I think
that it has not only obviously changed the title, but
has also evolved a little bit more to, in my
opinion, be a little bit more reflective. Of the broader
needs within our community, and I think that is a
really positive change for us. Because at the end of
the day, I hope that we would all agree that
really what we want is our residents and our community
members to feel like they belong here in Oxford County.
So. Another really big change, one that I personally am
really excited about, is the addition of a full time
coordinator position that will be able to lead this work.
It was improved. Approved. Sorry, through the county council 2026
budget. And the role will be providing some administrative support
to the situation. Table and the femicide prevention table, which
are two existing tables in our communities that are in
need of some support and the work that they do
is very closely connected to the work that's happening with
the community safety well being plan. So we've kind of
pulled in and made a little bit more of a.
Formal connection to the plan. And then also, obviously, providing
that support. They will provide support to the action coalitions
as well. It is only one position, so. It is
somewhat drop in the bucket as far as what some
of our service providers needs in terms of additional resources.
But. I am at least, like I said, optimistic that
they will be able to alleviate some of the extra
work and possibly help to make connections, maybe share resources,
and to try to maximize the resources. That they do
have. So another change is the steering committee. So it
has been renamed to be the advisory committee. And I
think other than maintaining the legislated roles, For. That body.
We are also going to be adding one representative from
each of the area municipalities. I do see that as
an important change to help maintain that connection. The information
sharing and communication between the county. The advisory committee and
back to our area municipalities. I want to highlight the
foundational values as well, so you will see them in
the graphic. That is included in your information. These are
something that I actually felt a little bit more personally
connected with and felt. Quite. It was really important to
me that they be included, and a big reason for
that is some of the feedback that I heard firsthand
while at the summit. So we included youth, which I
think is hopefully fairly obvious as far as prioritizing our
youth community safety well being plans. Are meant to be
proactive and preventative in nature, and I think it's important
that. Therefore, we make sure that we are being inclusive
of youth and coming up with solutions and things. For
our youth. Local voices is another important part. And a
foundational value that we have added with the idea that
not only do we include sort of the people with
lived experiences, which is a term that you often hear.
I not only want to include that aspect, but I
really want to see the voices of our residents included
on a more ongoing basis, and that does include within
our rural municipalities. And this ties in nicely to the
next foundational value, which is urban and rural lens, which
again was very very apparent. At the summit. As far
as. Understanding and appreciating the fact that. As I say,
one of the things that I love about Oxford county
is the fact that we have urban and we have
these rural areas. But they present different needs. And these
priority areas also present themselves differently within urban and rural
areas. So. I hope that by adding this as a
foundational value along with the others, that these things will
become sort of ingrained in the work that we do
with our community safety, well being. Plan. And lastly, just
to kind of highlight. Admittedly, I'll be honest, data and
metrics isn't something that we did. Overly well in this
last iteration. Part of that, to be honest, is because
it just is an incredibly difficult thing to measure. It's
very hard to be able to come up with. A
handful of metrics and pieces of data that are a
true reflection of progress being made. So I'm striving to
a do that. In a better way. But not only
that, I would really, really love to see better sharing
of data and metrics within our community partners, and I
do see that as an opportunity. To share resources. Things
like not over surveying people, knowing that if an organization
is doing a survey here that another one can capitalize
on that information. And maybe just by adding a couple
of questions. They both have a survey that meets their
needs. Lastly. Action coalitions with the support of the new
full time position. We will be asking each of the
action coalitions, which some of them did do this before.
But we will be making it a more formal part
that they have a work plan and that we know
the types of things that they are working on so
that we can ensure that we are in fact working
towards those shared goals within the plan itself. So this
slide is the governance model. And Sarah was not wrong
when she suggested I was going to point this out
because this is one of the things that I personally
struggled with over the last three years of chairing the
committee and also through this new plan, but it is,
in fact, a reality of community safety. Well, being plans,
and that is that unlike. Policies that most council set
where you're actually setting a service level and then you're
allocating resources to that, and you set a measurable that
determines whether those resources are sufficient to deliver on that
service level. In this case, what we're really doing is
we're setting the priority areas, and we're inviting other groups
to come and help us. To achieve progress in those
priority areas. So. Other than the FTE, we're not really
allocating resources to this. Those action coalitions will set their
own metrics. The FTE will help them through their meetings,
try to work towards and measure progress towards those metrics,
but we're not unlike sort of hard top maintenance or
loose top maintenance or number of soccer fields they're going.
To say that we've just said with the priority areas
are so, for instance, when it comes to the area.
That Sarah pointed out of affordability and economic stability. You
have seven counselors here. You can imagine how much you
might all disagree on that. And then you get all
the different groups that are going to contribute to this.
So that's going to be part of the work of
the plan is going to be figuring out what do
we mean by that? How do we measure it? What's
achievable? So this graphic shows the contributing factors to that
small g governance of how that's going to happen. So
you have the. Youth, local voices, data and metrics, and
rural and urban lenses around the outside. The action coalition's
advisory committee and the situation at femicide prevention tables. Again,
the situation and femicide venture. Tables are not, strictly speaking,
part of the plan. But that safe and wellx report
near will be working with them. It's a lot. Of
the same people, a lot of the same organizations working
on those prevention tables that we are. Hoping will bring
that reactive knowledge to the safe and well plan in
a proactive way across the bottom, you can see the
priority areas. In the lower right of the circle, there
is the heart hub and wellness center, which is, again,
strictly speaking, not part of the safe and well plan,
but obviously, again, a lot of the same. Players, and
obviously when it comes to mental health and addictions issues,
is our primary reactive. More than proactive, as the safe
and well plan is meant to be. But there's learnings
there similar people. There should be a level of coordination,
even though it's not actually integrated into the plan. And
then off to the right are those shared commitments that
Sarah mentioned earlier in the slide and the success enablers,
which are how will we facilitate getting success in this
plan? And they're all there for you to see, but
these will be sort of the high level governing principles.
That the intention. Would be that the coordinator and the
advisory committee would use to determine how do the action
coalition set their metrics, what their goals are. And then
how do we measure that they're actually moving towards those
things in the right directions and consistent with what the
community told us at the earlier stages of the development
of the plan. All right, that's it. But we are
open to any questions if you have any. Thank you.
Thank you. Any questions for our presenters tonight? I just
have a quick one. Your expectation for the advisory committee
member from each area municipality do you see that as
an elected member or a community member. Or just your
thoughts on that? Through the mayor to the mayor. I'm
not sure right now, personally, and. I don't really actually
feel that that is a decision for me to make
on my own as well, too. What I anticipate that
we will do is go back to. Our existing searing
committee have a conversation about that once the plan is
endorsed. I also do anticipate that there will be some
dialogue with the CIOs and the clerks about what we
feel is most appropriate. But yes, there has already been
some very high level conversations about will that include elected
officials. Would it be a CAO? Would it be a
clerk? Could it be somebody else from the organization? That's
a better suited role. So we will be having those
conversations and sorting that out. I will share, perhaps unsurprisingly,
to you that I do have an opinion on. It.
More of a bias in that. I would very much
like to see. The execution of the plan and the
delivery plan move from being political to more staff. I
think if this has been done right and without it,
I'm confident this plan is better than the one that
we had before. We used the initial one to really
build this. That I think we should be moving towards
you and I, not getting in the plow and. Not
getting in the fire truck, but saying, this is where
we want to go. This is how we want you
to function and hand it over to staff to do
that. I frankly think if we've done this right. We're
all going to get in the way and make it
less functional. Than. If our staff took this as a
document and said, this is where our councils have told
us. They want us to go, and we will work
with community partners to go there. Deputy mayor Smith, what
is the timeline on having a community partner to join
you from east or tavista. Through the mayor to the
councilor. Just if I could clarify, as part of the
advisory committee. Really good question. So as part of the
budget, the position, like the new full time position. Is
tentatively. I don't want to say scheduled, but planned to
start around April the first. We actually do have a
steering committee meeting next Monday. And I was planning on
adding that to the agenda as far as starting some
preliminary conversations about presuming that it's endorsed by all the
air municipalities. What are we going to do next? And
how are we going to go about doing this? So
I also think that. It would probably be reasonable to
have the FTE in place in order to be able
to be a part of some of those conversations, considering
they will have such an important role with that committee
as well, too. And maybe they have ideas. And better
ideas than I do, to be honest. So. I'm going
to guess that shortly after they would start. We would
be getting a lot more actively involved in the actual
implementation. So, with that in mind, long story short. I'm
going to guess maybe sort of like June or July
as a very rough timeline. Just to follow up to
that. I tend to agree. With our warden and that
as far as. Keeping it away from the political side
of it. One reason is if we can get a
good working group for safe and well. Oxford. You don't
put a timeline in place as far as election year.
So. You put somebody or you appoint somebody or someone
volunteers to sit on this committee. And then they either
decide not to run next time or. They get defeated
in an election. And then you're starting again. So that
should be part of the consideration. Great point. Thank you.
I appreciate that. Any other questions? Thank you very much.
Thank you. So, council, we have a resolution. Which will
be on your screen momentarily. To accept the report. Approved
the report and also to endorse Oxford county with the
implementation. Of the plan on our behalf, so that will
be on your screen momentarily. Moved by Councilor Smith, seconded
by councilor Zair. That council received the report entitled safe
and well Oxford plan update as information and that council
approved the updated safe and well Oxford plan as attached
to this report as attachment one. And further, that council
continue to endorse. Oxford county to lead the implementation of
the safe and will Oxford plan on their behalf with
the add. Addition of one full time equivalent position as
added to the county budget for 2026. Is there any
discussion? I certainly am in support of proving this. I
think it's good for us to know, too, that other
municipalities have taken note of our progress in this regard.
Manager Hamalecki was asked to speak at the Roma conference
this week. And for those of Oxford county people that
were there, it was a real source of pride and
I think she did a great job. So I certainly
am in support of this resolution. Deputy mayor smith. To
you as our county representative of this new employee that
they're looking at putting on. For the county. Was there
a restriction or a time limit or. Is it? Like
you said, it's in the 2026 budget. So he's at.
2026 and beyond. Does it continue beyond or what is
the timeline we're looking at? Yeah. Thank you, deputy. Mayor
yeah. It was approved in the 2026 budget, and I
think start date is they're looking at April. And it
is a permanent fte. There's no time limit on it,
basically. All right. With that, we'll call the vote.
Motion is carried. Okay, we are moving on to item
six C. Alex Cook and Ryan Husk are speaking to.
Us tonight regarding the intercut ballpark lights. Alex. Welcome. Didn't
make it tonight, so I'm here, Doug. Alice is also
with me, but. He'll stay back there. My name is
Alex Cook. I'm the vice president or. Kim Minor Ball.
The township along with our group. Maintain, operate. For enclosed
baseball diamonds and intercip these beautiful ones back here in
the picture. Here today to talk about. The lighting on
two of our four diamonds. So right now we have
four diamonds, the front two. Have lighting so we can
play in the evening. The back to the other two
do not. And our request or. Our discussion today is
about the front to replacing them. Our agreement with the
township currently talks about repairs and maintenance only, and this
is a much larger undertaking an expensive project, so we
wanted to put that on the table. Today. We run
four diamonds. We have 300 local registrants that we run
through a minor ball. Program. We run over a dozen
tournaments every single year. They use these facilities, bring people
to the community. There's a men's league team that runs
in the evening. There's slow pitch teams and entire coed
slow pitch. League that runs our FacilitY. NEEDleSS to say,
these four diamonds are well used during the month. Of
May to September. We do our best to keep. It
as busy as possible. A lot of our maintenance requests
happen through Matt. They're taken care of. Everything's great. However,
this one in particular is a lot larger. I think
the best way to describe our lighting. I think Ryan
did a good job. He calls it functional but fragile.
We don't have any specific concerns for this upcoming season,
however. As standards go down, we're finding it very difficult
to find replacement parts that are easily. Accessible or cost
effective. These are very old lights, old infrastructure, and new
LED technology is coming out that makes energy efficiency much
better. Our proposal was. To replace both diamonds. However, I
think the main point. Is. To come up with a
plan. Work with the township, come up with a plan
for future. Not an immediate reaction to it, but know
that there's something in place over the coming years. We
have worked with Matt. We did get an initial quote
just so we had some numbers. It is $320,000, a
very high number. There are grants available, which we don't.
Know if we have access to those until we do
the application. And also intercip minor ball has been raising
funds for a decade or more. We have these funds
available if they need to come, if we need to
assist. In this project. And I think Ryan laid out
a lot more information that was passed around everybody. So
you guys can read through that, but I think today
all we wanted to do was bring that to the
townships attention and see if we can start a plan.
To remedy this issue. Thank you, Alex. Any questions for
Alex tonight? Deputy mayor Smith do we have a timeline
on when those lights were last replaced? I do not,
actually. We just met maybe two summers ago. We had
to find some parts for them. Diamond ones. Lights. Are
still on wood poles. Very old. Diamond twos. Lights are
on. Steel poles, I believe, and much newer. Okay, but
I've been with intercomider ball. For. 1415 years and nothing
major has happened to either those lighting. Do we have
anyone on staff have an answer to that? Yeah. Good
evening, everyone. I can did some research today and wasn't
able to find diamond. Wens lights when they went in.
Diamond two it as long as I'm cutting right. The
ones with the steel poles. I think it's called diamond
two. It looks like it was done as part of
a Trillium fund back in 2009 to 2011 it was
completed. So looks like from what I could find, the
lights are put in in 2010. At that time, couldn't
find a final price on the lights. It looks like
there was a $75,000 grant from Trillium foundation to go
towards that program. But nowhere else. Details other than lighting
and basketball was repaved and done again in the park
as well as part of that project. So some of
the lights, I would guess there's. Pictures in the file
that went to the trillium grant. As completed pictures, and
they show that. It's the diamond. Two lights are in
those pictures and the basketball, so I'm guessing. That was
that. Question for you, Tom. Are these incandescent lights, then,
or are they allergens? I would have to check Matt
on that one to see, I believe. They're probably a
halogen light. Okay. Deputy mayor smith. I'd like.
A little more, maybe, and I don't expect it overnight.
I think we need a little. More in depth. Look
at this. I seem to remember. That in around the
2010 that. Money came from the federal government. There was.
A large infrastructure. After the 2008 recession, there was. A
large infrastructure grant came out through the federal government. And
if I'm not mistaken, and. I am quite prepared to
be corrected. But Hickson got new lights at that time
as it dan interkept because my understanding is that. The
guy that put the lights up here in Hickson did
him the same day in interchip. And so those lights
would be about 2010. I think that. 's where the
lights came from. So the one comment that I saw
here was the safety concerns with dark spots. Has anyone
considered doing. A lighting check like this is not going
to happen in the next little bit. To do a
lighting check to make sure that. Can we help? Part
of this. By changing the angles. And like, doing a
light meter check to get us by until we can
make a replacement and. That would be strictly staff. Is
what I'm getting at. Council will recall that they endorsed
a facility audit in the 2025 budget. The ball diamonds
will be us part of that. So I agree with
what you said, partially. It's premature to consider. Any kind
of project until the facility audit is complete, and then
we would have to go back. Through the agreements that
we have with all of the ball clubs because there
is reference to capital. Replacements being the responsibility of the
ball clubs. When will that audit be completed? We are
currently in the process of meeting with the consultant for
that project right now, so I actually have a meeting
with them next Tuesday to start finalizing things to get
that going. Thank you. And to piggyback on Ms. Vader's
comments, anything that might be coming out. Of that facility
audit, you will not see in the 2026 to 2031
capital forecast until we get feedback on it. Any other
questions for right now, councilor Zair? I guess my question
would be. Is in the meantime, and it sounds like
you're kind of wanting to get the ball. Rolling on
the conversation, which we appreciate. Just the question of safety.
And deputy mayor alluded to it. I don't know what
it takes to make sure that those dark spots are
eliminated. But for liability's sake and such. We want to
be careful that it is safe out there as well.
Again. Presumably, the facility audit will identify health and safety
concerns as well as energy efficiency and everything. Else out
of that. So. We are crossing that bridge with the
facility audit for all of our facilities, not just baldamans.
It'll be community halls, it will be fire stations, and
everything is all being taken. Care of in the facility
audit. Through his worship to the Cao, obviously. We would
have reserves. For park improvements, do we? Know what sort
of reserve is in the. There aren't separate reserves for
different parks and ball diamonds are not considered to be
part of the parks because. Strictly. We do the operations
on the maintenance. As Alex mentioned, we're responsible for changing
bulbs. For making sure the fence is. Properly secured, but
as far as. Large upgrades. We're not collecting revenue from
the bald diamonds at all across the township. So it
would have to be a tax supported contribution to a
parks reserve for a project of this magnitude. So that's
another reason why we will have to. I appreciate what
councilor. Zair said. And what Alex has mentioned too. We'll
have to start having a dialogue. But I know when
the agreements were drafted with the ball organizations. It was
under the understanding that they would have for use of
the facilities to generate their own. Revenues. And part of
that would be that we will take care of the
hydro bills and everything else. Related to the operations of
the diamonds. But when it comes to capital, That's generally
what they're saving their revenues for. So intricate minor balls
interpretation of that clause in the agreement. Is incorrect.
They're referencing the wrong clause. Clause 7.4 says IMB shall
be responsible for all expenses related to capital improvements or
alterations they desire to make to the facilities. The section
five relates to the operations and the maintenance and repairs
of the lights. So as I said. If we have
a bald go out, we would be responsible for finding
someone to do a bulb. Replacement. But as far as
a capital improvement, which is what's covered off in 74
of all of the fall agreements, not just interchet. Minor
ball. It's the same with Tabasock. And Hickson as well.
Thank you. Councilor Glespie. Intercip minor ball able to apply
for these federal grants. Or. Are they half to be
done. At the municipal level. I believe trillium is something
that we would apply for. Again, bearing in mind that
if council refers back to the capital forecast from last
year, inner kip is on the docket to get a
spray pad, potentially, which will be applying for a trillion
grit for likely. In that particular year again. I think
Alex addressed it best at the very beginning. I think
the intention of the delegation tonight was just to put
the idea on the table, so. That we can talk
about it. He actually said in his opening comments that
he wasn't. Expecting it to be done this year in
2026. So I think there's lots of things to be
talked about directly between. Inner kit, minor ball, potentially the
other ball groups as well, because I'm sure that if
we change light standards that are the same age in
inner kip, we might be changing them. Elsewhere as well,
so we need to be cognizant of. What council's intention
is for those reserves and whether we're forecasting those reserves.
Properly, because if there is going to be asks for
capital improvements on the ball diamonds as a nonrevenue generator
to the township. Those are going to be tax supported
capital improvements going forward. Any other questions for Alex? Not
seeing any. Thank you, Alex. Sorry. Just a comment. Obviously.
As we move on. To budget discussion. We can continue
the conversation, not necessarily about intercap only, but all our
parks. And the key to something like this is to
continue creative conversations to get to the outcome that everybody
wants. Yeah, I agree fully, and I think the facility
audit will be a big help. In helping to guide
us. Deputy Mersman. Just an aside on the triumph Grant.
I think the last time when we applied for the
triumph, Grant floor the spray pad and table stock. It
was taken under the geisse of the township staff and
they did a great job. And got the money, I
think. I know what a challenge it is. I was
involved with the trillion grant when we got it. For
doing the ballpark over here in Hickson. And. It's an
onerous task to come up with everything that trillium requires.
So I think that if we are going to make
an application to try them for funds for whether it
be these lights or whether it be. A spray pad
for interchep. I still think it needs to come from
staff. They just have the ability to come up with
the proper numbers. A lot easier than it is for
someone like intercut minor ball to make like I'm not
saying. If you want to apply, go ahead and apply.
But I just think that it's going to be easier
if staff does it, because I know what it was
like to try to do it with the Lions club
a few years ago. Any more questions for Alex? Thank
you. Alex, if you don't mind, before I go. So
create creative conversation is something. That Jeremy said. I guess
my question is, how do I proceed with that creative
conversation? And we've been having it, by the way. I
just wanted to make sure that it was like, there's
more attention to this. It's a big expense, something we
obviously can't handle ourselves. Right. So what's the path forward
for intercape minor ball? And that creative conversation is that
through Matt still? Yeah, go on. Our resolution, actually is
to move this to the 26. To 2030 capital plan.
And that will be discussed. At our upcoming budget deliberation.
It's on our radar, and certainly on that radar. Do
you want to add to that? No. I know Ms.
Vader has a resolution prepared, and it's probably on the
screen now. To refer this to the. 26 2030 capital
budget forecast. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Alex. Thank
you. The resolution will be on your screen momentarily. Moved
by Councilor Smith. Seconded by councilor Zair. The council received
the delegation from Alex Cook and Ryan Husk regarding the
Interkit park ball lights as information and that council consider.
The request as part of the 2026 to 2030 capital
budget. Is there any discussion regarding that motion? Not seeing
any. We will call the vote.
That is carried. We are on to item seven, correspondence
for information. We have the impact 2025 municipal partnerships report.
Is there any questions on that? Report. That anyone has.
Not seen any. So we have a resolution on your
screen to accept it as information. Moved by councilor Van
Wick. Seconded by councilor Gillespie. That correspondence for information item.
Seven a be received his information. Is there any discussion
regarding that motion? We'll call the vote.
That's carried. Okay, we're on to item eight, correspondence for
action. We have four items under this. And we are
going to deal with. Eight b and eight c. As
one and then move on to 8d. So under the
first three. Items. Is there any discussion regarding those correspondence
items? Not seeing any. We have a
resolution, which will be on your screen momentarily, to take
these items and bring them. To the 2026 user fee
schedule conversation, which we will be having shortly. So we'll
get that resolution on the screen. Move by Councilor Zair.
Seconded by councilor Glaspie that correspondence for action. Item seven
a, seven b and seven c be received his information.
And that council direct staff to prepare a report on
the cost implications of the request to be brought back
with a 2026 user fee schedule. Is there any discussion
regarding that resolution? Just a quick question, Councilor Smith. I
request that in conjunction with that. Get some data or
metrics. On. The usage at the halls.
What sort of trends are we seeing with regard to
rentals? CEO depressed. So that was our intention.
We will pull the rental numbers. For who's using the
haul, what times of day they're being used. What the
cost implications of doing this would be, and then. We'll
also probably provide counsel with some feedback about what other
groups might. Want to fall under this umbrella if. We
were to cast the umbrella. Thank you. Just a quick
question for Cao to press the win, was that succumbing
to council? Then the user free schedule. Staff's hope is
to bring the user fee schedule discussion to the February
18 meeting of council so that we can have. Some
numbers going forward. For inclusion in the budget. Potentially. The
budget will come forward in March. And that would be
inclusive. Now, any rate, changes that might come to the
user fee schedule as I've mentioned previously will not come
into effect till the middle of the year. July the
first is kind of the target date we're looking at
as far as any transitions to rates are concerned. However,
we want to. Include those half year considerations in the
budget document as well before. It's actually up for council's
consideration. Any other discussion. We'll bring the resolution forward.
Item 7D, recommendation for programming from the rack committee. Is
there any questions, discussion regarding that request from the committee?
Councilor Zair. My only comment would be, I'm in support
of this. Hearing some of the conversation at Roma, again,
just on people being able to fit in and belong
and feel welcome. I think this is a great step,
obviously. The REC advisory committee feels this is important in
getting some programming going, so I'm in. Support of that.
Thank you. Any other questions? Comments regarding this request? We
have a resolution on your screen. To accept it and
include the request as part of the 2026 budget deliberations.
Moved by councilor Gillespie. Seconded by Councilor Smith. That council
direct staff to include the recreational advisory committee's request of
$5,000. For programming startup costs to be included as part
of the 2026 budget development for further consideration by council.
Is there any discussion regarding that motion? Not seeing any.
We'll call a vote. As
carried. Eight e the Ontario Good Roads Association 2026 conference.
Looking for any interested members seeking to go to that
conference. Put their name forward. Are there any staff that
would be going to that. Looks like Tom.
And rodney ransom. Okay, so
the clerk's going to put that resolution on the screen
momentarily. Moved by
Councilor Smith. Seconded by councilor Zaire. That council approve the
following members. Of council and staff to attend the 2026
OGrE conference. Tom Lightfoot and Rodney Ramsayer is there any
discussion regarding that? We'll call the vote.
That is carried. We're on to item nine a. Thanks.
Good evening. We received a section 78 report under the
Drainage act. For minor improvement to 47 Hope street east.
And Tavistock. This was required as it will be an
intensification development. And the drain currently runs right. Through the
middle. Of the property. As in keeping with previous improvements.
And intensification. Projects. The developer will be paying for the
full cost of the drain being moved and the drain
of course will be upsized to current standards. Thank you,
John. Any questions for staff on the report? Deputy mayor
Smith can you tell me? I should have looked at
this myself, but can you tell me where this property
is. Yeah, it's just down from the vet in Tavistock
on the main street beside the. Old car garage. Yeah,
the old car garage. In there, there was an old,
partially dilapidated house which has since been removed and it's
blocked off right now. We have nothing firm yet. It
might be row housing. It's going to be a condo
development. It's going to be either row housing. Or maybe
a small apartment building or something to that nature. I'm
not exactly sure what final design he's landed on. It's
quite a large property. The frontage isn't overly large, but
it goes. Way back. There's a very large portion of
the back. So we'll be able to take on a
very large development. Any other questions? We'll have the resolution
on your screen. Move by Councilor Gillespie. Seconded by deputy
mayor Smith. That report ot 2026. One he received his
information and that council accepts the sign. Request for minor
improvements to the Tavistock, 1979. Drain under section 78 of
the Drainage act and further. That council instructs the clerk
to notify the Upper Thames River Conservation authority of the
township's intention to appoint an engineer under section 78 of
the Drainage act to prepare a report on the minor
improvement of the Tavistock 1979 drain and further the council
appoint Casemart and Associates Limited as the engineer to prepare
a report under section 78 of the drainage act for
the minor improvements of. A municipal drain. Is there any
discussion regarding that resolution? Not seeing any. We'll call the
vote. That is carried.
All right, we're moving on to item ten, notice of
motion and new business is there. Any notice of motions
this evening or new business being brought forward. I'd see
any round to eleven. Unfinished business. We have five items
there. Is there any update, any questions any council has
on any of those items? I can advise that. You
will or have received an invite to the secondary plan
open house next week. It's not mandatory that you attend,
but we are going to make a point of making
sure that council gets invited to all open houses and
public events involving. Members of the public. Not as that
you're required to attend, but rather, if you wanted. To
attend just to hear the discussion that goes on here.
So I mentioned that under the secondary plan, because I
know next week is the open house. Thank you, Councilor
Smith. Just with conferences and seminars in mind, Councilor Zair.
Mentioned Roma 26. In the opening remarks, wanted to thank
council for the opportunity to be part of our contingent
at Roma this year. And, of course, staff for covering
off some of the logistics to get me there. Conference
always represents a great learning opportunity. Long list of subjects.
Touched on. Councilor Zayer mentioned a few. And, of course,
Through the rural lands, which is the focus. Staff pensions
through Omars, automated speed enforcement, conservation authorities, strong mayor powers,
special economic zones, school boards municipal zoning orders Infrastructure Homelessness
health care affordability waste management municipal services. Corporations. Community safety,
the coming code of conduct, doctor shortage, mental health, policing,
hospitals, higher education. Belonging and even. Dare I say it?
Chinese spy vehicles. Good job to Roma on a great
conference, and thanks again for the opportunity. Thank you, Councilor
Smith. I can echo your comments. Anything else under unfinished
business. Not seeing anything. Scotty. Sorry. I maybe should have
mentioned this in a different location, but I just wanted
to offer my gratitude. To Chief Alexander as one of
his firefighters for almost 15 years now, I appreciate his
care and his compassion for us as firefighters and also
for our department, all the long hours and work that
he puts in. I'm thankful that he mentioned his. Family
because. I'm sure they've had to be woken up by
that radio going off way. Too often and by him
being gone. So thanks, Chief Alexander, for all that you
have done for our community. Thank you. Counseling there.
Okay. We have no closed session this evening, I believe.
No bylaws to pass. Item 15. Confirming an adjournment resolution
on your screen. Move by Councilor Smith. Seconded by councilor
Rudy. That bylaw 2026, year one. Being a viola. To
confirm the proceedings of council held January 21, 2026, be
read a first second and third time this 21st day
of January, 2026, and that the mayor and clerk are.
Here bar authorized to sign the same and affix the
corporate seal there too. And further that the meeting does
now adjourn at 08:36 p.m. any discussion. Call the vote.
We are adjourned.