Stratford City Council
Regular Council Open Session
AGENDA

Meeting #:

4778th

Date:

Monday, August 11, 2025

Time:

7:00 P.m. - 8:00 P.m.

Location:

Council Chamber, City Hall

Council Present:

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

Staff Present:

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

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.

Councillor Henderson provided regrets for this meeting. 

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 Special Meeting of Council of The Corporation of the City of Stratford dated July 21, 2025, and the Regular Meeting of Council of The Corporation of the City of Stratford dated July 28, 2025, 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 August 11, 2025, be added to the Agenda as printed.

5.

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

5.1

At the August 11, 2025, Session, under the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended, a matter concerning the following item was considered:

4.1 Confidential Report of the City Clerk with respect to an application for the Festival Hydro Services Inc. Board of Directors (CM-25-17) - 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 - Fees and Charges For 2026 (COU25-102)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT the 2026 Fees and Charges By-law to set the fees and charges for services performed by the City in 2026 be approved as presented in Report COU25-102 with an effective date of January 1, 2026;

  THAT the Fees and Charges By-law 99-2024, as amended, be repealed upon the new Fees and Charges By-law coming into force and effect;

  AND THAT direction be given to the City Clerk to list the 2026 Fees and Charges By-law on a future agenda for consideration by Council.

7.2

Resolution - Licensing Appeal Committee Appointment (COU25-103)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT three members of Council, plus one alternate, be appointed to act as the Licensing Appeal Committee under the Bed & Breakfast Licensing By-law 180-2004 and the Accommodation Licensing By-law 130-2022;

  AND THAT a by-law be adopted to establish the Licensing Appeal Committee and appoint members.

7.3

Resolution - Contracted Human Resources Support Services Update (COU25-099)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT the report titled, “Contracted Human Resources Support Services Update” (COU25-099), be received for information;

  THAT in accordance with the City’s Procurement Policy, Council authorize the continuation of transitional support services with Ward & Uptigrove Human Resources Solutions for a term concluding December 31, 2025;

  AND THAT the expenditures for this service continue to be recorded under HR consulting costs within the departmental budget.

7.4

Resolution - Shift in Staffing Complement at Anne Hathaway Day Care (COU25-097)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT Council support changing the staffing model at Anne Hathaway Day Care Centre;

  AND THAT the Director of Social Services / Interim Director of Human Resources be authorized to implement the changes in staffing model as noted, removing 4,500 hours of teaching assistant supply hours and adding two full time Teaching Assistant positions.

7.5

Resolution - Appointment to the Festival Hydro Services Inc. Board of Directors (COU25-100)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT John Hoo be appointed to the Festival Hydro Services Inc. Board of Directors for a four year term commencing December 1, 2025;

  AND THAT a by-law be adopted to appoint John Hoo to the Board effective December 1, 2025.

7.6

Resolution - New Mobility Bus Tender Award (COU25-098)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT the proposal (RFP-2025-45) for the supply and delivery of two (2) High Floor Mobility Buses be awarded to Girardin Ontario Inc. in the amount of $345,600.10 (including HST).

7.7

Resolution - Resignation from Communities in Bloom Advisory Committee and Energy & Environment Advisory Committee

• Motion by

  THAT the resignation of Linda Wakenhut from the Communities in Bloom Advisory Committee and the Energy & Environment Advisory Committee effective December 31, 2025, be accepted. 

7.8

Resolution - Resignation from the Ad-Hoc Grand Trunk Renewal Committee

• Motion by

  THAT the resignation of Zach Schultz from the Ad-Hoc Grand Trunk Renewal Committee be accepted.

7.9

Proclamation - Rail Safety Week

• Motion by

  THAT Stratford City Council hereby proclaims September 15 to 21, 2025 as "Rail Safety Week" in the City of Stratford to raise awareness of rail safety, save lives and prevent injuries in communities including the City of Stratford. 

8.

Business for Which Previous Notice Has Been Given:

None noted.

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 August 11, 2025, be adopted as printed.

9.1.1

Annual Community Income Tax Clinic for Completion of 2024 Returns (SOC25-008)

THAT the City of Stratford issue a thank you to all businesses that provided their support and services during the Annual Community Income Tax Clinic. 

10.

Notice of Intent:

10.1

Notice of Motion

At the September 8, 2025 Regular meeting, Councillor Wordofa intends to put forward the following motion for consideration:

THAT the Mayor be asked to include a temporary shelter in the Rotary Complex for homeless people in the winter as part of the 2026 budget.

10.2

Notice of Motion

At the September 8, 2025, Regular Council meeting, Councillor Wordofa intends to put forward the following motion for consideration:

THAT a traffic light be installed at the intersection of George Street and Downie Street.

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 to 11.8 be taken collectively. 

• Motion by

  THAT By-laws 11.1 to 11.8 be read a First and Second Time. 

• Motion by

  THAT By-laws 11.1 to 11.8 be read a Third Time and Finally Passed. 

11.1

Appoint Municipal By-law Enforcement Officers

To amend By-law 60-2003 as amended, to appoint Municipal By-law Enforcement Officers for the purpose of enforcing City of Stratford By-laws.

11.2

Appoint Inspector under the Building Code Act

To amend By-law 8-2009, as amended, to appoint Cole Archer as Inspector under the Building Code Act for The Corporation of the City of Stratford.

11.3

Award Proposal for High Floor Mobility Buses

To authorize the acceptance of a proposal by Girardin Ontario Inc. for the supply and delivery of two (2) High Floor Mobility Buses (RFP-2025-45).

11.4

Festival Hydro Services Inc. Board Appointment

To amend By-law 4-2023, as amended, to make an appointment to the Festival Hydro Services Inc. Board of Directors.

11.5

Encroachment Agreement - 40 Daly Avenue

To authorize the entering into and execution of an encroachment agreement with Bruce Whitaker and Thomas Atlee to permit the existing retaining wall and parking pad to encroach onto the Daly Avenue municipal road allowance at 40 Daly Avenue.

11.6

Licensing Appeal Committee

To establish a Licensing Appeal Committee.

11.7

Appoint Members to the Licensing Appeal Committee

To amend By-law 4-2023, as amended, to appoint members to the Licensing Appeal Committee.

11.8

Amend Fees and Charges By-law - EV Charger User Fees

To amend the Fees and Charges By-law 99-2024, as amended, for The Corporation of the City of Stratford, to include fees for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations.

12.

Consent Agenda: CA-2025-097 to CA-2025-100

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 September 8, 2025, 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 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  August 11, 2025, 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

Committee Reports

15.2.1

Finance and Labour Relations Committee

• Motion by

  THAT Items 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 of the Finance and Labour Relations Committee meeting dated August 11, 2025, be adopted as follows:

  6.1 Composition and Size of Council for the 2026-2030 Term (FIN25-025)

  THAT City Council initiate the notice of intent process to change the composition of City Council to 9 members (8 Councillors and a Mayor) in time for the 2026 municipal election. 

  6.2 Appointment of Deputy Mayor (FIN25-023)

  THAT direction be given to the City Clerk to develop a policy outlining a process for selecting a Deputy Mayor by rotation, with a maximum of four (4) Councillors permitted to serve in the role per term, and commencing with the 2026-2030 term of office. 

  6.3 2026 Municipal and School Board Election Alternative Voting Methods (FIN25-024)

  THAT the use of internet and telephone voting in the 2026 municipal and school board election be approved;

  AND THAT free transit on election day be approved to support access and remove barriers to voting for the 2026 municipal and school board election;

  AND THAT the Clerk be directed to prepare a by-law authorizing the use of internet and telephone voting in the 2026 municipal and school board election. 

15.3

Reading of the Confirmatory By-law (reconvene):

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

By-law 11.9 Confirmatory By-law

To confirm the proceedings of Council of The Corporation of the City of Stratford at its meeting held on August 11, 2025.

• Motion by

  THAT By-law 11.9 be read a First and Second Time. 

• Motion by

  THAT By-law 11.9 be read a Third Time and Finally Passed. 

15.4

Adjournment of Council Meeting

Meeting Start Time:
Meeting End Time:

• Motion by

  THAT the August 11, 2025, Regular Council meeting adjourn.