Stratford City Council
Regular Council Open Session
AGENDA

Meeting #:

4797th

Date:

Monday, April 27, 2026

Time:

7:00 P.m. - 11:00 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, 
• 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, 
• and Neil Anderson - Director of Emergency Services/Fire Chief 

Watch the Council meeting live, or click the following link: https://stratford-ca.zoom.us/j/82711913615?pwd=OqVjXCcOZbOdzwZqvXJLgoocW1I4FG.1

 

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

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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 April 13, 2026 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 April 27, 2026 be added to the Agenda as printed.

5.

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

5.1

At the April 13, 2026, Session, under the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended, a matter concerning the following item was considered:

4.2 Confidential Report of the CEO of investStratford with respect to the City Industrial Land Pricing Policy – 2026 Annual Review (CM-26-11) - 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).

• Motion by

  THAT Policy E.1.2, “Industrial Land Prices,” be amended as follows:

  • section 5 ii. be amended to: the price per acre for the 4.7-acre parcel in the Wright Business Park be maintained at $350,000 per acre effective upon it becoming accessible with a future road or being sold to owners of 530 Wright Blvd.
  • section 7 be amended to: lands that are non-developable due to topography, soil conditions, environmental constraints and other factors be maintained at $60,000 per acre effective upon the adoption of the amended Industrial Land Pricing Policy by Council.
  • a new section 8 be added as follows: a commission of two (2) percent be paid by the City should the lead come directly from a licensed realtor, or real estate firm, subject to the realtor or firm pre-registering with SEEDCo., effective within 30 days of the adoption of the amended Industrial Land Pricing Policy by Council.
  • the former section 8 be renumbered to section 9.

5.2

Committee of the Whole In-camera Session - April 27, 2026

The April 27, 2026, Committee of the Whole In-camera Session has been cancelled.

6.

Hearings of Deputations and Presentations:

A Delegation has been listed under item 8.1.

7.

Orders of the Day:

7.1

Resolution - Grand Trunk Renewal Project Implementation Strategy and Next Steps (COU26-050)

The Chief Administrative Officer to present the report. 

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT Council commit a City of Stratford capital allocation of up to $15 million toward the development of a shared community facility on the Grand Trunk site to advance the partnership with the YMCA of Three Rivers and the Stratford Public Library to be included in the financial strategies of the 2027 and subsequent operating budget, capital forecasts and Asset Management Plan considerations;

  THAT staff be directed to formalize partnerships with the YMCA of Three Rivers and the Stratford Public Library through Memoranda of Understanding;

  THAT staff be directed to undertake the next phase of work on a shared community facility, including design, governance and ownership models, and operating and funding strategies, with details to be brought forward for Council consideration through future reports;

  THAT following completion of the Downtown Parking Study, staff be directed to prepare a report with information and recommendations on parking at the Grand Trunk site;

  AND THAT Council direct staff to undertake a market sounding process to assess private sector interest in the development of the Grand Trunk site and report back to Council on the findings.

7.2

Resolution - Chamber of Commerce Council Representative Appointment (COU26-048)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT direction be given on the appointment of a member of Council to the Chamber of Commerce for the remainder of a four year term to November 14, 2026;

  AND THAT a By-law amending the Appointments By-law 4-2023 to confirm the appointment be adopted.

7.3

Resolution - Municipal Accommodation Tax Ad-Hoc Committee Term Extension Request (COU26-049)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT the term of the Municipal Accommodation Tax Ad-Hoc Committee and its members be amended to July 2026 for the purpose of holding an additional 2-3 meetings as required;

  THAT the City Clerk be directed to amend the Terms of Reference for the Municipal Accommodation Tax Ad-Hoc Committee to extend the term of the Committee to July 2026;

  AND THAT the City Clerk be directed to prepare an amendment to By-law 4-2023 to amend the term limit of members to July 2026.

7.4

Resolution - Tender Award for Contract T2025-51 Huron Street Reconstruction Phase 2 (COU26-051)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT the Tender (T-2025-51) for the Huron Street Reconstruction Phase 2 project be awarded to Birnam Excavating Limited at a total cost of $8,615,936.82 including HST;

  AND THAT the Mayor and Clerk, or their respective delegates, be authorized to sign the contract agreement for T-2025-51.

7.5

Proclamation - Hope Air Day

• Motion by

  THAT Stratford City Council hereby proclaims May 6, 2026 as Hope Air Day in the City of Stratford in celebration of Hope Airs 40th year working to provide free travel arrangements for patients who must travel to access medical treatment. 

8.

Business for Which Previous Notice Has Been Given:

8.1

Notice of Motion - Councillor Burbach

At the March 23, 2026 Regular Council meeting, notice was given that Councillor Burbach intended to put forward the following motion for consideration:

"THAT the Council of the City of Stratford support Bill 21, Protect Our Food Act, 2025 and strongly urges the provincial government to support this and every measure to protect our farmland, to aggressively prevent further losses and to ensure the future of agriculture in Ontario for future generations; and

THAT a copy of this resolution be sent to the Premier of Ontario; the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks; Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner, Perth Wellington MPP Matthew Rae, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and all Municipalities in Ontario."

MPP Mike Shreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario, will be presenting the proposal brought forward by himself and MPP Brady to introduce legislation to protect Ontario’s farmland through the creation of a “Foodbelt”.

• Motion by

  THAT MPP Michael Shreiner be heard.

• Motion by

  THAT the Council of the City of Stratford support Bill 21, Protect Our Food Act, 2025 and strongly urges the provincial government to support this and every measure to protect our farmland, to aggressively prevent further losses and to ensure the future of agriculture in Ontario for future generations; and

  THAT a copy of this resolution be sent to the Premier of Ontario; the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks; Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner, Perth Wellington MPP Matthew Rae, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and all Municipalities in Ontario.

8.2

Notice of Motion - Councillor Biehn

At the April 13, 2026, Regular Meeting, notice was given that Councillor Biehn intended to put forward the following motion for consideration at the April 27th Meeting:

THAT Resolution R2026-07 adopted at the January 12, 2026, Regular Meeting be reconsidered.

Should the reconsideration motion be successful, the following motion is to be considered:

THAT the maximum number of Erie Street Parking Lot monthly permits be increased from twenty-four (24) to thirty-five (35);

THAT the Erie Lot Overnight Parking Pilot Program be approved to provide the following parking permits on a first-come-first-served basis:

• • 5 monthly overnight parking permits (downtown residents only), and
  • 10 daily overnight parking permits;

THAT monthly overnight Erie Lot parking permit holders be permitted to park in the lot 24 hours per day;

THAT staff be directed to prepare an amendment to the Fees and Charges By-law to include the expansion of the Erie Street Parking Lot permits;

AND THAT staff be directed to prepare an amendment to the Traffic and Parking By-law to designate the Erie Lot for overnight parking.

• Motion by

  THAT Resolution R2026-07 adopted at the January 12, 2026, Regular Meeting be reconsidered.

9.

Reports of the Standing Committees:

There are no Standing Committee reports to be considered at the April 27, 2026 meeting.

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

Chamber of Commerce Council Representative Appointment

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

11.2

Amendment to the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) Ad Hoc Committee Term Limit

To amend By-law 4-2023, as amended, to modify the term limit of the Municipal Accommodation Tax Ad-Hoc Committee members.

11.3

Award Tender (T-2025-51) Huron Street Reconstruction Phase 2

To authorize the acceptance of a tender, execution of the contract and the undertaking of work by Birnam Excavating Limited for the Huron Street Reconstruction Phase 2 project (T-2025-51).

12.

Consent Agenda: CA-2026-041 to CA-2025-046

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

13.

New Business:

14.

Adjournment to Standing Committees:

There are no Standing Committee meetings to be held.

The next Regular Council meeting is May 11, 2026 in the Council Chamber, City Hall.

15.

Reading of the Confirmatory By-law:

To confirm the proceedings of Council of The Corporation of the City of Stratford at its meeting held on April 27, 2026.

• 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. 

16.

Adjournment of Council Meeting

Meeting Start Time:
Meeting End Time:

• Motion by

  THAT the April 27, 2026 Regular Council meeting adjourn.