Stratford City Council
Regular Council Open Session
AGENDA

Meeting #:

4783rd

Date:

Tuesday, October 14, 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:

• André Morin - 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, 
• Adam Betteridge - Director of Building and Planning 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 September 22, 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 October 14, 2025, be added to the Agenda as printed.

5.

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

5.1

Committee of the Whole In-camera Session - October 14, 2025

The October 14, 2025, Committee of the Whole In-camera Session has been cancelled.

5.2

From the September 8, 2025, Committee of the Whole In-camera Session, under the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended:

4.1 Confidential Report of the Director of Infrastructure Services with respect to an update on collective bargaining with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 636 (CM-25-20) – Labour relations or employee negotiations (section 239.(2)(d)); and 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)).

• Motion by

  THAT the Memorandum of Settlement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers - Local 636 effective May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2029, be ratified;

  AND THAT the Mayor, Chief Administrative Officer, and Clerk, or their respective delegates, be authorized to sign the Memorandum of Settlement, the Collective Agreement, and all other documents necessary to implement the Memorandum of Settlement and Collective Agreement.

6.

Hearings of Deputations and Presentations:

None scheduled.

7.

Orders of the Day:

7.1

Resolution - Ad Hoc Grand Trunk Renewal Committee Findings and Recommendations (COU25-126)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT the report titled, “Findings and Recommendations of the Ad Hoc Grand Trunk Renewal Committee” (COU25-126), including the Vision, Planning and Architecture Working Group Report (Appendix A), the End-of-Mandate Survey Feedback Summary (Appendix B), and the Timeline Reflection Activity (Appendix C) attached to the Report, be received for information and review.

7.2

Resolution - Affordable Homeownership Program Eligibility Criteria Update (COU25-130)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT the report titled, “Affordable Home Ownership Eligibility Criteria Update” (COU25-130), be received for information.

7.3

Resolution - Recycling Depot Operations Agreement with Circular Materials (COU25-128)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT Council authorize the Director of Infrastructure Services to enter into a Depot Operations Agreement with Circular Materials for a three-year term from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2029;

  AND THAT the Director of Infrastructure Services be authorized to extend the Depot Operations Agreement with Circular Materials for an additional three-one year terms after January 1, 2029, subject to the same terms and conditions and satisfactory contract performance.

7.4

Resolution - Brown Street and Thomas Street Parking By-Law Amendment (COU25-131)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT Schedule 2, No Parking, of the Traffic and Parking By-law 159-2008, be amended by adding the following new provisions:

  Street	Side	Between	Period
  Brown Street	South	From a point 19 metres north of the Russel Drive north curb to a point 48 metres northern therefrom	Anytime
  Thomas Street	South	From a point 21 metres east of the Brown Street east curb to a point 131 metres easterly therefrom	Anytime
  Thomas Street	South	From a point 157.5 metres west of the O’Loane Avenue west curb to a point 10 metres westerly therefrom	Anytime

7.5

Resolution - Ontario Small Urban Municipalities Conference 2027 (COU25-129)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT Council support the City’s pursuit of the opportunity to host the Ontario Small Urban Municipalities (OSUM) Conference in 2027;

  AND THAT staff be directed to work with OSUM to fulfill hosting requirements should Stratford be selected.

7.6

Resolution - Award of RFP-2025-25 – 398 Erie St., Stratford Affordable Housing - Architectural Services (COU25-123)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT the Request for Proposal (RFP-2025-25) for 398 Erie St, Stratford Affordable Housing - Architectural Services, be awarded to AXIA at a cost of $198,940.00, including HST.

7.7

Resolution - Award of RFP-2025-36 Provision of Supported Housing 619 Queen St East, St. Marys and 621 Queen St East, St. Marys (COU25-125)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT the proposal (RFP 2025-36) for the Provision of Supported Housing 619 Queen St East, St. Marys and 621 Queen St East, St. Marys, be awarded to Little Lake Residential;

  THAT the Mayor and Clerk, or their authorized delegates, be authorized to sign the necessary agreement with Little Lake Residential for the delivery of services as defined in the agreement;

  AND THAT the Director of Social Services be authorized to extend the agreement for two (2) additional, twelve (12) month periods for a maximum of thirty-six (36) months, at the same terms and conditions subject to satisfactory performance and to execute any required documentation.

7.8

Resolution - RFP-2025-60 Lorne Avenue Trunk Storm Sewer Assessment Consulting Services (COU25-127)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT the request for proposal (RFP-2025-60) for Lorne Avenue Trunk Storm Sewer Condition Assessment and Rehabilitation Engineering Services, be awarded to Andrews.engineer at a total proposal price of $154,024.65, including HST;

  AND THAT the Mayor and Clerk, or their respective delegates, be authorized to sign the Contract agreement for RFP-2025-60.

7.9

Resolution - BIA Request for Funding (COU25-124)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT Council provide direction on the request from the BIA for funding in the amount of $20,000 for the installation of a mural at 118 Ontario.

7.10

Proclamation - Local Government Week

• Motion by

  THAT Stratford City Council hereby proclaims October 19 to 25, 2025 as "Local Government Week" in the City of Stratford to reflect on the vital services delivered by municipal governments.

7.11

Proclamation - Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day

The 2025 Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day theme is Care Counts to centre the importance of care in early learning and child care and the pride that ECE's and child care workers feel in their work.

• Motion by

  THAT Stratford City Council hereby proclaims October 21, 2025 as the 25th Annual "Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day" in the City of Stratford in recognition of the education, dedication and commitment of child care workers to children, their families and quality of life of the community. 

7.12

Proclamation - Ontario Public Library Week

The 2025 theme for Ontario Public Library Week is "Libraries for Life" focusing on the role libraries play in supporting individual and collective connections to the past and future of our communities, nations and civilizations. 

• Motion by

  THAT Stratford City Council hereby proclaims October 19 - 25, 2025 as "Ontario Public Library Week" in the City of Stratford to encourage all residents of Stratford to show their support for our local public library by visiting all year long and utilizing the wide variety of services they have to offer.

7.13

Proclamation - National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)

• Motion by

  THAT Stratford City Council hereby proclaims October 2025 as "National Disability Employment Awareness Month" to support people with disabilities in our community.

7.14

Proclamation - Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day

• Motion by

  THAT Stratford City Council hereby proclaims October 15, 2025, as "Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day" in remembrance of pregnancy loss and infant death, including, but not limited to, miscarriage, stillbirth, medical termination, SIDS and the death of a newborn;

  AND THAT Stratford City Council authorizes the flying of the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Flag on October 15, 2025 in recognition of the importance of support needed when a family experiences the trauma of pregnancy and infant loss. 

8.

Business for Which Previous Notice Has Been Given:

8.1

Notice of Motion

At the September 22, 2025 Regular meeting, notice was given that Councillor McCabe intended to put forward the following motion for consideration:

THAT the management report entitled "40 km/h Speed Limits in Residential Areas" (ITS23-028) be removed from the table.

• Motion by

  THAT the management report entitled "40 km/h Speed Limits in Residential Areas" (ITS23-028) be removed from the table. 

9.

Reports of the Standing Committees:

There are no reports of the Standing Committees for consideration.

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 11.5 be taken collectively. 

• Motion by

  THAT By-laws 11.1 to 11.5 be read a First and Second Time.

• Motion by

  THAT By-laws 11.1 to 11.5 be read a Third Time and Finally Passed. 

11.1

Award Proposal for the Lorne Avenue Trunk Storm Sewer Condition Assessment and Rehabilitation Engineering Services

To authorize the acceptance of a proposal and execution of a contract with Andrews.engineer for Lorne Avenue Trunk Storm Sewer Condition Assessment and Rehabilitation Engineering Services (RFP-2025-60).

11.2

Collective Agreement with The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 636

To authorize the execution of a Memorandum of Settlement and the Collective Agreement with The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 636, effective May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2029.

11.3

Award Proposal for the Stratford Affordable Housing Architectural Services for 398 Erie Street

To authorize the acceptance of a proposal and execution of a contract with AXIA for 398 Erie Street, Stratford Affordable Housing Architectural Services (RFP-2025-25).

11.4

Award Proposal for the Provision of Supported Housing 619 and 621 Queen Street East, St. Marys

To authorize the acceptance of proposal and execution of an agreement with Little Lake Residential for the provision of supported housing at 619 Queen Street East, St. Marys and 621 Queen Street East, St. Marys (RFP-2025-36).

11.5

Amend the Traffic and Parking By-law - No Parking Restrictions on Brown Street and Thomas Street

To amend Schedule 2, No Parking, of the Traffic and Parking By-law 159-2008, as amended, to restrict the parking of vehicles on Brown Street and Thomas Street.

12.

Consent Agenda: CA-2025-114 to CA-2025-126

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 October 27, 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
  • 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 October 14, 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 11.6 Confirmatory By-law

To confirm the proceedings of Council of The Corporation of the City of Stratford at its meeting held on October 14, 2025.

• Motion by

  THAT By-law 11.6 be read a First and Second Time.

• Motion by

  THAT By-law 11.6 be read a Third Time and Finally Passed.

15.3

Adjournment of Council Meeting

Meeting Start Time:
Meeting End Time:

• Motion by

  THAT the October 14, 2025, Regular Council meeting adjourn.