Regular Council

THAT the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council of The Corporation of the City of Stratford dated February 23, 2026 be adopted as printed.

THAT the report titled, “Asset Management Plan 2026 Update” (COU26-026), be received; THAT Council adopt the City’s Asset Management Plan 2026 and direct staff to begin implementing the recommendations included in the Plan as presented; THAT $1,800,000 of unallocated proceeds from the sale of 3188 Vivian Line 37 in 2024 be transferred to the Public Works Capital Reserve Fund R-R11-PWCA; AND THAT $262,481.78 be transferred to the Community Improvement Plan Incentive Reserve G-R18-CIPI for the heritage façade and masonry loan program. Members of Council and staff held a discussion regarding the motion. Highlights of the discussion included:  the unallocated proceeds augmenting the transfers to reserves and can help with the infrastructure backlog;  there being an increase in the contribution to reserves in the last few years to reset it to baseline levels; and  staff envisioning that the transfers to reserves to continue to increase but not at same pace as previous years. The Mayor called the question on the motion.

THAT the 2026 community grant recommendations (one time and multi-year) as outlined in the attached summary to Report COU26-030; Regular Council Minutes 6 March 9, 2026 AND THAT any appeals received from applicants be considered by Council. Councillor Burbach requested Items 4 and 6 in Report COU26-030 be taken separately as she is a board member for the Here For Now Theatre Company and therefore has a pecuniary interest with this item. The Mayor called the question on the motion, excluding Items 4 and 6 in Report COU26-030.

THAT the report titled, “2026 Tax Rates and Tax Policy Matters” (COU26-025), be received for information; THAT Council approve the 2026 tax rates and tax ratios; AND THAT the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute the by- law to set tax ratios, tax rates and tax reductions for prescribed subclasses for the year 2026 and govern and regulate the finances of The Corporation of the City of Stratford. Members of Council and staff held a discussion regarding the motion. Highlights of the discussion included: Regular Council Minutes 7 March 9, 2026  a member noting their preference for the approval of Option 2, the reduction of the multi-residential tax ratio;  the reduction of the multi-residential tax ratio to help maintain rent-geared-to-income units in older buildings;  an overview of how the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) classifies assessments for residential/farm, farmlands, and farmland waiting development; and  there being no lands in the City currently assessed as farmland waiting development. The Mayor called the question on the motion.

THAT staff be directed to reduce the multi-residential tax ratio by 10% in 2027 as part of the budget process. Members of Council and staff held a discussion regarding the motion. Highlights of the discussion included:  the reduction of the multi-residential tax ratio to level the playing field between new and older multi-residential properties;  a comparison of the tax ratios between residential and new and older multi-residential properties;  the municipality being required to set tax ratios within the ratio of fairness established by the Province;  the impact of the phased-in reduction being approximately $250,000 based on 2026 calculation;  there being no taxes

THAT the report titled, “Implementation of a Directly Operated Licensed Home Child Care Agency” (COU26-027), be received for information; THAT Council authorize staff to proceed with establishing a new directly-operated licensed home child care agency, to be operated by the City of Stratford; AND THAT 1 FTE Home Child Care Visitor be authorized in addition to the City’s current staffing complement to meet the legislative requirements of a licensed home child care agency. Members of Council and staff held a discussion regarding the motion. Highlights of the discussion included:  the City needing a business case to see what is viable should the Province change the funding for child care services;  there being a significant need for child care spaces in the community;  the program being of great value to the community and would be worth the continued funding from the City should the provincial funding not continue;  the Province having negotiated a one-year agreement with the federal government; and  there being ongoing discussions between the provincial and federal governments regarding the program. The Mayor called the question on the motion.

THAT the request from the Communities in Bloom Advisory Committee for an additional amount of $4,032.00 for travel expenses related to sending four members of the Committee to the Cervia Città Giardino – Special Edition dedicated to the 80th Anniversary of the Republic: Flowers of Freedom, Roots of Hope, be approved; AND THAT the amount be funded from the Local Boards and Committee Reserve G-R18-BRDS-0000. Members of Council held a discussion regarding the motion. Highlights of the discussion included:  the Stratfords of the World Committee having a similar funding request in 2025 which was denied by Council;  there being a need to be consistent with what will be funded to be fair to all committees;  an overview of the work done by the Communities and Bloom and the Stratfords of the World Committees;  there being a historic connection with the Perth Regiment and the Communities in Bloom Committee having a special obligation to present at the conference; and  it being important to establish economic connections with other parts of the world given the current global situation. The Mayor called the question on the motion.

THAT Council authorize the Mayor and Clerk, or their respective delegates, to enter into a Contribution Agreement for CP-001039 Capital Plan between The Corporation of the City of Stratford and the federal Ministry of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities for the Canada Public Transit Fund (CPTF), to fund the transit capital projects outlined in the agreement.

THAT the Proposal (RFP-2026-01) for Source Separated Organics Processing be awarded to Generate Upcycle; THAT the Mayor and Clerk, or their respective delegates, be authorized to sign the contract agreement for RFP-2026-01; AND THAT the Director of Infrastructure Services be authorized to extend the contract for an additional two (2) one (1) year terms between April 1, 2029-March 31, 2030, and April 1, 2030- March 30, 2031 subject to successful contract performance and consumer price index increases.

THAT the Proposal (RFP 2026-05) for the lease of 150 McCarthy Road West be awarded to Brad DeBoer, operating as Sunova Farm Incorporated; Regular Council Minutes 12 March 9, 2026 THAT Council authorize staff to prepare and finalize the lease agreement for the property known as 150 McCarthy Road West for an initial period to December 31, 2027, with two one-year options to extend; AND THAT the Mayor and Clerk, or their respective delegates, be authorized to sign the lease agreement.

THAT the 2025 Annual Reports from the following Committees of Council be received for information:  Active Transportation Advisory Committee,  Heritage Stratford Committee,  Accessibility Advisory Committee,  Stratfords of the World Committee,  Communities in Bloom Committee, and  Energy and Environment Committee.

THAT Stratford City Council hereby proclaims April 1 to April 4, 2026 as "Dairy Week" in the City of Stratford in celebration of the Dairy Sector in Perth County, and authorizes the flying of a Dairy Producer flag at City Hall on April 1 to April 4, 2026 in recognition of the hard work and dedication behind the foods we eat.

THAT By-laws 33-2026 to 36-2026 be taken collectively.

THAT By-laws 33-2026 to 36-2026 be read a First and Second Time.

THAT By-laws 33-2026 to 36-2026 be read a Third Time and Finally Passed.

THAT CA-2026-026, being a resolution from The Corporation of the Township of Perry regarding Reduced Rate Distribution of Library Resources, be endorsed.

THAT the Council meeting adjourn to convene into Standing Committees as follows:  Infrastructure, Transportation and Safety Committee [7:05 or thereafter following the Regular Council meeting]; and  Planning and Heritage Committee [7:10 or thereafter following the Regular Council meeting] and to Committee of the Whole if necessary, and to reconvene into Council.

THAT By-law 37-2026 be read a First and Second Time.

THAT By-law 37-2026 be read a Third Time and Finally Passed.

THAT the March 9, 2026, Regular Council meeting adjourn.