Stratford City Council
Regular Council Open Session
AGENDA

Meeting #:

4741st

Date:

Monday, April 22, 2024

Time:

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

Location:

Council Chamber, City Hall

Council Present:

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

Staff Present:

• Tatiana Dafoe - City Clerk, 
• Kim McElroy - Director of Social Services, 
• Tim Wolfe - Director of Community Services, 
• Karmen Krueger - Director of Corporate Services, 
• Adam Betteridge - Director of Building and Planning Services, 
• Neil Anderson - Director of Emergency Services/Fire Chief, 
• Audrey Pascual - Deputy Clerk, 
• Nick Sheldon - Project Manager, 
• and Johnny Bowes - Manager of Environmental Services 

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 Beatty and Councillor Burbach provided regrets for this meeting. 

Land Acknowledgment

Moment of Silent Reflection

Singing of O Canada

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 8, 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 April 22, 2024, be added to the Agenda as printed.

5.

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

5.1

The April 22, 2024 Committee of the Whole In-camera Session has been cancelled

6.

Hearings of Deputations and Presentations:

None scheduled. 

7.

Orders of the Day:

7.1

Resolution - 2024 Tax Rates and Tax Policy Matters (COU24-039)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT a by-law be adopted to authorize the 2024 tax ratios and rates.

7.2

Correspondence - Resignation from Ad-Hoc Grand Trunk Renewal Committee

• Motion by

  THAT the resignation of Georgia Neely from the Ad Hoc Grand Trunk Renewal Committee be accepted. 

7.3

Resolution - Road Widening for Site Plan Agreement SP13-21, 1076-1100 Ontario Street (COU24-040)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT the conveyance of Parts 1 and 2 on Reference Plan 44R-6210 from Stratford Holdings Inc. to The Corporation of the City of Stratford, be authorized;

  AND THAT upon conveyance of Parts 1 and 2 on Reference Plan 44R-6210 to the City of Stratford, these lands be dedicated public highway forming part of Ontario Street.

7.4

Resolution - Special Occasion Permit Request

The Kinsmen Club of Stratford is requesting a special occasion permit for the 2024 Ontario Pork Congress to be held June 19-20, 2024 at the Stratford Rotary Complex.

Huron Perth Public Health and the Building Division indicated no concerns with the event.

The Fire Department indicated no concerns provided the following is adhered to at all times for the duration of the event:

• Compliance with Section 2.9 of the Ontario Fire Code;
• Compliance with an approved architects report and diagrams on file;
• Compliance with the approved mapping of the Fire Route; and
• The Fire Route and access to building services such as standpipe connects must remain clear and accessible. 

The Community Service Department provided the following comments:

• The OPC are required to submit insurance to the City for the entire event; and
• the Kinsmen Club of Stratford and all third parties are required to submit their own proof of liability insurance to the OPC and to the Community Service Department. 

• Motion by

  THAT City Council does not express concern with the issuance of a special occasion permit for the Ontario Pork Congress to be held June 19-20, 2024 at the Stratford Rotary Complex subject to the necessary permits being obtained, compliance with the City's Municipal Alcohol Risk Policy, compliance with the conditions outlined by Fire Services are adhered to at all times during the event, and the required certificates of insurance being provided prior to the event.

7.5

Resolution - Grand Trunk Renewal Draft Guiding Principles (COU24-041)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT the Grand Trunk Renewal draft guiding principles, combined with Council feedback, be used as the basis for community consultation;

  AND THAT staff report back with the final vision and guiding principles for approval later in 2024.

7.6

Resolution - Appointments to the Stratford Economic Enterprise Development Corporation Board of Directors (COU24-42)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT Michael Adams, representing the Digital Media/Creative Economy sector, be appointed to the Stratford Economic Enterprise Development Corporation Board of Directors for a three year term to June 2027 or until a successor is appointed by Council;

  THAT Ekin Alfieri, representing the Banking/Financial sector, be appointed to the Stratford Economic Enterprise Development Corporation Board of Directors for a three year term to June 2027 or until a successor is appointed by Council and that an exemption be granted from the residency requirement in the Appointments Policy C.3.1;

  AND THAT Bill Boon, representing the Technology sector, be appointed to the Stratford Economic Enterprise Development Corporation Board of Directors for a three year term to June 2027, or until a successor is appointed by Council.

7.7

Proclamation - Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month

• Motion by

  THAT Stratford City Council hereby proclaims May 2024 as "Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month" to keep our community aware, informed and vigilant about the potential risks of over-exposure to the UV radiation of the sun. 

8.

Business for Which Previous Notice Has Been Given:

None scheduled. 

9.

Reports of the Standing Committees:

9.1

Report of the Infrastructure, Transportation and Safety Committee:

• Motion by

  THAT the Report of the Infrastructure, Transportation and Safety Committee dated April 22, 2024, be adopted as printed.

9.1.1

2023 Annual Water Summary Report to Council (ITS24-005)

THAT the 2023 Water Summary Report (COU24-030) be received for information to adhere to the compliance standards set out in Ontario Regulation 170/03.

9.2

Report of the Finance and Labour Relations Committee:

• Motion by

  THAT the Report of the Finance and Labour Relations Committee dated April 22, 2024, be adopted as printed.

9.2.1

Destination Stratford 2024 Update 1 (FIN24-008)

THAT the Destination Stratford 2024 Update 1 (FIN24-008) dated March 19, 2024, be received for information.

9.2.2

Festival Hydro Update Q3 for the period ended September 30, 2023 (FIN24-009)

THAT the Festival Hydro Inc. financial statements and commentary for the period ended September 30, 2023, be received for information;

AND THAT the Festival Hydro Services Inc. financial statements and commentary for the period ended September 30, 2023, 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 11.4 be taken collectively. 

• Motion by

  THAT By-laws 11.1 to 11.4 be read a First and Second Time. 

• Motion by

  THAT By-laws 11.1 to 11.4 be read a Third Time and Finally Passed. 

11.1

Conveyance for the Widening of Ontario Street

To accept the transfer (conveyance) from Stratford Holdings Inc. of Parts 1 and 2 on Reference Plan 44R-6210.

11.2

Dedication of Part of Ontario Street as Public Highway

To dedicate Parts 1 and 2 on Reference Plan 44R-6210 as public highway forming part of Ontario Street in the City of Stratford.

11.3

Appointments to the Stratford Economic Enterprise Development Corporation Board of Directors

To amend By-law 4-2023, as amended, to make appointments to the Stratford Economic Enterprise Development Corporation Board of Directors.

11.4

Tax Rates and Ratios for 2024

To set tax ratios, tax rates and tax reductions for prescribed subclasses for the year 2024 and govern and regulate the finances of The Corporation of the City of Stratford.

12.

Consent Agenda: CA-2024-057 to CA-2024-68

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 May 13, 2024 in the Council Chamber, City Hall.

• Motion by

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

  • Community Services Committee [7:05 P.M. 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 April 22, 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

Committee Reports

15.2.1

Community Services Committee

• Motion by

  THAT Item 6.2 of the Community Services Committee meeting dated April 22, 2024, be adopted as follows:

  6.2 Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) Transit Funding Agreement (COM24-003)

  THAT the Mayor and Clerk, or their respective delegates, be authorized to execute the Amending Agreement No. 1 to the Transfer Payment Agreement for the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) with His Majesty the King in Right of the Province of Ontario as represented by the Minister of Transportation for the Province of Ontario.

15.3

Reading of the By-laws (reconvene):

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:

By-law 11.5 Authorize Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program Amending Agreement No. 1

To authorize the entering into and execution of the Amending Agreement No. 1 to the Transfer Payment Agreement with His Majesty the King in Right of Ontario as represented by the Minister of Transportation, for the Province of Ontario for the Investing in Canada Infrastructure program public transit stream.

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 April 22, 2024.

• Motion by

  THAT By-laws 11.5 and 11.6 be taken collectively. 

• Motion by

  THAT By-laws 11.5 and 11.6 be read a First and Second Time.

• Motion by

  THAT By-laws 11.5 and 11.6 be read a Third Time and Finally Passed. 

15.4

Adjournment of Council Meeting

Meeting Start Time:
Meeting End Time:

• Motion by

  THAT the April 22, 2024 Regular Council meeting adjourn.