Stratford City Council
Regular Council Open Session
AGENDA

Meeting #:

4773rd

Date:

Monday, June 23, 2025

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:

• 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.

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 June 9, 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 June 23, 2025, be added to the Agenda as printed.

5.

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

5.1

At the June 23, 2025, Session, under the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended, matters concerning the following items were considered:

4.1 Confidential Verbal Report from Councillor Hunter and Legal Opinion from the City Solicitor with respect to a Potential Litigation Matter (CM-25-14) - Advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege including communications necessary for that purpose (section 239.(2)(f)).

5.1 Confidential Report of the Interim Chief Administrative Officer with respect to Proposed Disposition of Land – 270 Water Street (CM-25-13) - Proposed or pending acquisition or disposal of land by the municipality or local board (section 239.(2)(c)) (includes municipal property leased for more than 21 years); 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)).

6.1 Confidential Report of the City Clerk with respect to Applications for a Vacancy on the Committee of Adjustment (CM-25-12) - Personal matters about an identifiable individual(s) including municipal employees or local board employees (section 239.(2)(b)).

6.

Hearings of Deputations and Presentations:

6.1

Adjournment to a Public Meeting under the Planning Act:

• Motion by

  THAT the Council meeting adjourn to a public meeting under the Planning Act to hear from members of the public with respect to the following planning application:

  • Zone Change Application Z03-25 for 220 Albert Street;

  and to reconvene following the public meeting.

7.

Orders of the Day:

7.1

Resolution - T-2025-43 Neal Avenue, Fern Street and Morison Street Watermain Relining Tender Award (COU25-073)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT the tender (T-2025-43) for the Neal Avenue, Fern Street and Morison Street Watermain Relining project, be awarded to Fer-Pal Construction Ltd. at a total price of $959,234.40, including HST;

  THAT the project, including the excess over the 2025 approved budget, be funded via the Water Reserve, R-R11-WATR;

  AND THAT the Mayor and City Clerk, or their respective delegates, be authorized to sign the necessary Contract Agreement for the Neal Avenue, Fern Street and Morison Street Watermain Relining project (T-2025-43).

7.2

Resolution - Award of Tender to Supply and Deliver Ten Vehicles (COU25-075)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT the tender (T-2025-40) for the Supply and Delivery of Ten (10) Vehicles: Two (2) Mid-Size Hybrid Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), Four (4) Mid-Size Hybrid Pickup Trucks, and Four (4) Full Size Hybrid 4X4 Crew Cab Pickup Trucks, be awarded to Listowel CDJR 2020 Ltd. at a total cost of $574,469.40, including HST.

7.3

Resolution - Committee of Adjustment Vacancy 2025 (COU25-076)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT direction be given on the appointment of one citizen to the Committee of Adjustment for a term effective July 18, 2025 and ending November 14, 2026, or until a successor is appointed by Council.

8.

Business for Which Previous Notice Has Been Given:

None noted. 

9.

Reports of the Standing Committees:

9.1

Report of the Finance and Labour Relations Committee:

• Motion by

  THAT the Report of the Finance and Labour Relations Committee dated June 23, 2025, be adopted as printed.

9.1.1

Destination Stratford 2025 Update 1 (FIN25-012)

THAT the report titled, “Destination Stratford 2025 Update 1” (FIN25-012), dated May 20, 2025, be received for information.

9.1.2

Deposits for Land Leases and the Procurement Process (FIN25-014)

THAT the report titled, “Deposits for Land Leases and the Procurement Process” (FIN25-014), be received for information.

9.1.3

Operating Budget Variance Report as of March 31, 2025 (FIN25-013)

THAT the report titled, “Operating Budget Variance Report as of March 31, 2025” (FIN25-013), be received for information.

9.2

Report of the Infrastructure, Transportation and Safety Committee:

• Motion by

  THAT the Report of the Infrastructure, Transportation and Safety Committee dated June 23, 2025 be adopted as printed.

9.2.1

Shakespeare Gardens Island Pedestrian Footbridge Removal (ITS25-009)

THAT the report titled, “Shakespeare Gardens Island Pedestrian Footbridge Removal” (ITS25-009), be received for information.

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 to 11.3 be taken collectively.

• Motion by

  THAT By-laws 11.1 to 11.3 be read a First and Second Time. 

• Motion by

  THAT By-laws 11.1 to 11.3 be read a Third Time and Finally Passed. 

11.1

Award Tender for the Neal Avenue, Fern Street and Morison Street Watermain Relining

To authorize the acceptance of a tender, execution of the contract and the undertaking of work by Fer-Pal Construction Ltd. for the Neal Avenue, Fern Street and Morison Street Watermain Relining project (T-2025-43).

11.2

Award Tender for the Supply and Delivery of 10 Vehicles

To authorize the acceptance of a tender from Listowel CDJR 2020 Ltd. for the supply and delivery of Ten (10) Vehicles: Two (2) Mid-Size Hybrid Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), Four (4) Mid-Size Hybrid Pickup Trucks, and Four (4) Full Size Hybrid 4X4 Crew Cab Pickup Trucks (T-2025-40).

11.3

Appointment to the Committee of Adjustment

To amend By-law 4-2023, as amended, to make an appointment to the Committee of Adjustment.

12.

Consent Agenda: CA-2025-078 to CA-2025-082

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 July 14, 2025 in the Council Chamber, City Hall.

• Motion by

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

  • Social Services 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 June 23, 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

Reading of the Confirmatory By-law:

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

By-law 11.4 Confirmatory By-law

To confirm the proceedings of Council of The Corporation of the City of Stratford at its meeting held on June 23, 2025.

• Motion by

  THAT By-law 11.4 be read a First and Second Time.

• Motion by

  THAT By-law 11.4 be read a Third Time and Finally Passed. 

15.3

Adjournment of Council Meeting

Meeting Start Time:
Meeting End Time:

• Motion by

  THAT the June 23, 2025 Regular Council meeting adjourn.