Stratford City Council
Regular Council Open Session
AGENDA

Meeting #:

4758th

Date:

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Time:

7:00 P.m. - 9:00 P.m.

Location:

Council Chamber, City Hall

Council Present:

• Mayor Ritsma - Chair Presiding, 
• Councillor Beatty, 
• Councillor Biehn, 
• Councillor Briscoe, 
• Councillor Burbach, 
• Councillor Henderson, 
• Councillor Hunter, 
• Councillor McCabe, 
• Councillor Nijjar, 
• Councillor Sebben, 
• and Councillor Wordofa 

Staff Present:

• Joan Thomson - Chief Administrative Officer, 
• Tatiana Dafoe - City Clerk, 
• Audrey Pascual - Deputy Clerk, 
• Kim McElroy - Director of Social Services, 
• Tim Wolfe - Director of Community Services, 
• Taylor Crinklaw - Director of Infrastructure Services, 
• Karmen Krueger - Director of Corporate Services, 
• Adam Betteridge - Director of Building and Planning Services, 
• Neil Anderson - Director of Emergency Services/Fire Chief, 
• and Dave Bush -Director of Human Resources 

To watch the Council meeting live, please click the following link: https://video.isilive.ca/stratford/live.html

A video recording of the meeting will also be available through a link on the City's website https://calendar.stratford.ca/meetings following the meeting.

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1.

Call to Order:

Mayor Ritsma, Chair presiding, to call the Council meeting to order.

Land Acknowledgment

Moment of Silent Reflection

Singing of O Canada

Respectful Conduct Statement

2.

Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof:

The Municipal Conflict of Interest Act requires any member of Council declaring a pecuniary interest and the general nature thereof, where the interest of a member of Council has not been disclosed by reason of the member’s absence from the meeting, to disclose the interest at the first open meeting attended by the member of Council and to otherwise comply with the Act.

Name, Item and General Nature of Pecuniary Interest

 

 

3.

Adoption of the Minutes:

• Motion by

  THAT the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council of The Corporation of the City of Stratford dated October 28, 2024, be adopted as printed.

4.

Adoption of the Addendum/Addenda to the Agenda:

• Motion by

  ​THAT the Addendum/Addenda to the Regular Agenda of Council and Standing Committees dated November 12, 2024, be added to the Agenda as printed.

5.

Report of the Committee of the Whole In-Camera Session:

5.1

At the November 6, 2024, Session under the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended, a matter concerning the following item was considered:

4.1 Confidential Report of the Chief Administrative Officer with respect to a Shared Services Agreement (CM-24-03) – Advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege including communications necessary for that purpose (section 239.(2)(f)) and A position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on or to be carried on by or on behalf of the municipality or local board (section 239.(2)(k)).

At the In-camera Session the update and advice subject to solicitor client privilege were received.

5.2

At the November 12, 2024 Session, under the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended, matters concerning the following items were considered:

4.1 Confidential Verbal Update of the Chief Administrative Officer with respect to a Litigation/Potential Litigation Matter and Solicitor-Client Privileged Advice (CM-24-11) - Litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals affecting the municipality or local board (section 239.(2)(e)) and Advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege including communications necessary for that purpose (section 239.(2)(f)).

5.1 Confidential Report of the City Clerk with respect to 2024 Accessibility Advisory Committee Applications (CM-24-04) – Personal matters about an identifiable individual(s) including municipal employees or local board employees (section 239.(2)(b)).

5.2 Confidential Report of the City Clerk with respect to 2024 Active Transportation Advisory Committee Applications (CM-24-05) - Personal matters about an identifiable individual(s) including municipal employees or local board employees (section 239.(2)(b)).

5.3 Confidential Report of the City Clerk with respect to 2024 Communities in Bloom Advisory Committee Applications (CM-24-06) - Personal matters about an identifiable individual(s) including municipal employees or local board employees (section 239.(2)(b)).

5.4 Confidential Report of the City Clerk with respect to 2024 Energy and Environment Advisory Committee Applications (CM-24-07) - Personal matters about an identifiable individual(s) including municipal employees or local board employees (section 239.(2)(b)).

5.5 Confidential Report of the City Clerk with respect to 2024 Heritage Stratford Applications (CM-24-08) - Personal matters about an identifiable individual(s) including municipal employees or local board employees (section 239.(2)(b)).

5.6 Confidential Report of the City Clerk with respect to 2024 Stratfords of the World (Ontario) Advisory Committee Applications (CM-24-09) - Personal matters about an identifiable individual(s) including municipal employees or local board employees (section 239.(2)(b)).

5.7 Confidential Report of the City Clerk with respect to Ad-Hoc Grand Trunk Renewal Committee Youth Representative Applications (CM-24-10) - Personal matters about an identifiable individual(s) including municipal employees or local board employees (section 239.(2)(b)).

6.

Hearings of Deputations and Presentations:

None scheduled. 

7.

Orders of the Day:

7.1

Resolution - Consideration of Intent to Declare as Surplus – 270 Water Street (COU24-133)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT the Report titled, “Consideration of Intent to Declare as Surplus – 270 Water Street (COU24-133),” be received;

  THAT staff be authorized to initiate the intent to dispose of 270 Water Street process with the intent to maintain the building and heritage designations, excluding the eastern balance of the property;

  THAT staff be authorized to schedule a public meeting in accordance with Policy P.3.1 Sale and Other Disposition of Land to hear from members of the public with respect to the potential disposition of this building, excluding the eastern balance of the property;

  AND THAT a follow up report be prepared including a summary of the public feedback from the public meeting, for Council’s consideration.

7.2

Resolution - Nominations for the Destination Stratford Board of Directors (COU24-138)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT direction be given on the appointment of a member of Council as a second representative to the Destination Stratford Board of Directors for the remainder of the term to November 14, 2026.

7.3

Resolution - 2025 Council, Committee, and Sub-committee Meeting Schedule (COU24-127)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT the 2025 Council, Committee and Sub-committee meeting schedule be approved, and staff be directed to schedule the meetings accordingly.

7.4

Resolution - Stratford Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Laureate Program (COU24-132)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT Council authorize the proposed three-year pilot Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Laureate Program, in partnership with Destination Stratford and the Stratford Public Library.

7.5

Resolution - Stratford Hockey Club Agreement Renewal 2024 (COU24-131)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT Council authorize a five-year renewal of the agreement between the City of Stratford and the Stratford Hockey Club Inc. for use of the William Allman Memorial Arena to August 30, 2029;

  AND THAT the Mayor and Clerk, or their respective delegates, be authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the municipal corporation.

7.6

Resolution - Appointment of Youth Representative to the Ad-Hoc Grand Trunk Renewal Committee (COU24-128)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT direction be given on the appointment of a youth representative to the Ad-Hoc Grand Trunk Renewal Committee to September 30, 2025 or until a successor is appointed.

7.7

Resolution - Appointments to the Communities in Bloom Advisory Committee (COU24-129)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT direction be given on the appointment of two (2) citizen representatives to the Communities in Bloom Advisory Committee to November 14, 2026, or until a successor is appointed by Council.

7.8

Resolution - Appointments to the Active Transportation Advisory Committee (COU24-130)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT direction be given on the appointment of three (3) citizens-at-large to the Active Transportation Advisory Committee to November 14, 2026, or until a successor is appointed by Council;

  AND THAT direction be given on the appointment of one (1) Cycle Stratford representative to the Active Transportation Advisory Committee to November 14, 2026, or until a successor is appointed by Council.

7.9

Resolution - Appointments to the Energy and Environment Advisory Committee (COU24-134)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT direction be given on the appointment of citizen representatives to the Energy and Environment Advisory Committee to November 14, 2026, or until a successor is appointed by Council;

  THAT direction be given on the appointment of a Civic Beautification and Environmental Awareness Representative to the Energy and Environment Advisory Committee to November 14, 2026, or until a successor is appointed by Council;

  THAT direction be given on the appointment of an Avon River Environment Association representative the Energy and Environment Advisory Committee to November 14, 2026, or until a successor is appointed by Council.

7.10

Resolution - Appointments to Heritage Stratford (COU24-135)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT direction be given on the appointment of citizens to the Heritage Stratford Committee to November 14, 2026, or until a successor is appointed by Council.

7.11

Resolution - Appointments to the Stratfords of the World (Ontario) Advisory Committee (COU24-136)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT direction be given on the appointment of six (6) citizens to the Stratfords of the World (Ontario) Advisory Committee to November 14, 2026, or until a successor is appointed by Council.

7.12

Resolution - Accessibility Advisory Committee Appointments (COU24-137)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT direction be given on the appointment of five (5) citizens-at-large to the Accessibility Advisory Committee for a two year term to November 14, 2026, or until a successor is appointed by Council.

8.

Business for Which Previous Notice Has Been Given:

None scheduled.

9.

Reports of the Standing Committees:

9.1

Report of the Social Services Committee

• Motion by

  THAT the Report of the Social Services Committee dated November 12, 2024 be adopted as printed.

9.1.1

Ontario Works 2025 Provincial Allocation (SOC24-012)

THAT the report titled, “Ontario Works 2025 Provincial Allocation” (SOC24-012), be received for information.

9.2

Report of the Community Services Committee

• Motion by

  THAT the Report of the Community Services Committee dated November 12, 2024, be adopted as printed.

9.2.1

Proposed Free Transit Day (COM24-007)

THAT a Free Transit Day be authorized by waiving transit fares for one (1) day on November 26, 2024;

AND THAT the financial transaction be recorded as interfunctional as noted in Report COM24-007.

10.

Notice of Intent:

None noted

11.

Reading of the By-laws:

​The following By-laws require First and Second Readings and Third and Final Readings and could be taken collectively upon unanimous vote of Council present:

• Motion by

  THAT By-laws 11.1 and 11.2 be taken collectively.

• Motion by

  THAT By-laws 11.1 and 11.2 be read a First and Second Time. 

• Motion by

  THAT By-laws 11.1 and 11.2 be read a Third Time and Finally Passed.

11.1

Agreement - Stratford Hockey Club Arena Use

To authorize the entering into and execution of an amendment to the operating agreement with the Stratford Hockey Club Inc. for use of the William Allman Memorial Arena for a further five year term to August 30, 2029.

11.2

Appointments to Advisory Committees and Boards

To amend By-law 4-2023, as amended, to make appointments to advisory committees and boards.

12.

Consent Agenda: CA-2024-181 to CA-2024-190

Council to advise if they wish to consider any items listed on the Consent Agenda.

13.

New Business:

14.

Adjournment to Standing Committees:

The next Regular Council meeting is November 25, 2024, in the Council Chamber, City Hall.

• Motion by

  THAT the Council meeting adjourn to convene into Standing Committees as follows:

  • Finance and Labour Relations Committee [7:05 or thereafter following the Regular Council meeting]; and
  • Infrastructure, Transportation and Safety Committee [7:10 or thereafter following the Regular Council meeting]

  and to Committee of the Whole if necessary, and to reconvene into Council.

15.

Council Reconvene:

15.1

Declarations of Pecuniary Interest made at Standing Committees

The Municipal Conflict of Interest Act requires any member of Council declaring a pecuniary interest and the general nature thereof, where the interest of a member of Council has not been disclosed by reason of the member’s absence from the meeting, to disclose the interest at the first open meeting attended by the member of Council and otherwise comply with the Act.

Declarations of Pecuniary Interest made at Standing Committee meetings held on November 12, 2024 with respect to the following Items and re-stated at the reconvene portion of the Council meeting:

Name, Item and General Nature of Pecuniary Interest

 

15.2

Reading of the By-laws (reconvene):

The following By-law requires First and Second Readings and Third and Final Readings.

By-law 11.3 Confirmatory By-law

To confirm the proceedings of Council of The Corporation of the City of Stratford at its meeting held on November 12, 2024.

• Motion by

  THAT By-law 11.3 be read a First and Second Time.

• Motion by

  THAT By-law 11.3 be read a Third Time and Finally Passed. 

15.3

Adjournment of Council Meeting

Meeting Start Time:
Meeting End Time:

• Motion by

  THAT the November 12, 2024, Regular Council meeting adjourn.