Regular Council

THAT the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council of The Corporation of the City of Stratford dated August 11, 2025, and the Minutes of the Special Meeting of Council of The Corporation of the City of Stratford dated August 13, 2025, be adopted as printed.

THAT the Addenda to the Regular Agenda of Council and Standing Committees dated September 8, 2025 be added to the Agenda as printed.

THAT Stephen Landers, Jane Marie Mitchell, and Mike Sullivan be heard.

THAT the request from Councillor Wordofa regarding legal fee reimbursement be

THAT the request from Councillor Wordofa regarding legal fee reimbursement be denied. Members of Council held a discussion regarding the following:  a member noting based on the Council training they received, they understood that Council is not covered for this type of expense;  a member noting the difficulty in being able to comment on the matter based on privacy; and  a member clarifying that it was not the City's legal counsel who initiated the action against Councillor Wordofa. Regular Council Minutes 6 September 8, 2025 The Mayor called the question on the motion.

THAT Richard Kelly-Ruetz of GSP Group, Barb Shaughnessy, and Sue Satchell, be heard.

THAT Zoning By-law Amendment application Z03-25, submitted by GSP Group Inc. on behalf of Sally's Place for the lands located at 220 Albert Street, to change the zoning of the subject lands from a Residential Third Density (R3) Zone to a Residential Third Density and Mixed Use Residential (R3/MUR-1) Zone with site specific regulations BE DENIED; AND THAT such denial be granted for the following reasons: 1) The request is inconsistent with the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024; 2) The request is not in conformity with the goals, objectives, and policies of the Official Plan; and 3) Public comments have been received, reviewed comprehensively, considered, and appropriately addressed through the planning process. Members of Council and staff held a discussion regarding the motion as follows:  the permitted uses under the City's Short-term Accommodation Licensing By-law;  there being a possibility to operate the property as short-term rental for an entire year;  the application brought forward for another property operating as a short-term accommodation being reviewed under the former iteration of the Provincial Policy Statement; Regular Council Minutes 11 September 8, 2025  the application referenced being

THAT Application for Zoning By-law Amendment Z04-25, submitted by John Wolfe on behalf of Forster Holdings Inc. for the lands located at 225 Oak Street, to amend the subject land's current General Industrial (I2-19) zone to permit a Day Care Centre as an additional permitted land use BE APPROVED; AND THAT such approval be granted for the following reasons: 1) The request is consistent with the Provincial Planning Statement 2024; 2) The request is in conformity with the goals, objectives, and policies of the Official Plan, provided recommended and approved noise mitigation measures are implemented through the site plan approval process and registered on title through an amending site plan agreement; 3) The request would facilitate the development of a day care facility located between residential and employment areas; and 4) Public comments have been received, reviewed, comprehensively considered, and appropriately addressed through the planning process.

THAT Barb Shaughnessy be heard.

THAT staff be directed to establish a Municipal Accommodation Tax Ad-Hoc Committee to provide recommendations on the use of municipal accommodation tax funds and the draft policy developed by staff; AND THAT the Terms of Reference be amended to specify that one (1) member is to be a large accommodator and one (1) member is to be a small accommodator.

THAT the report titled, “Draft 2023 Audited Financial Statements” (COU25-110), dated September 8, 2025, be received for information; AND THAT Council approve the Draft 2023 Audited Financial Statements to be finalized, including any minor changes if required.

THAT Council authorize the conveyance of Part 1 on Reference Plan 44R-6380 from Pol Quality Homes Inc. to The Corporation of the City of Stratford; AND THAT upon conveyance of Part 1 on Reference Plan 44R- 6380 to the City of Stratford, these lands be dedicated as public highway forming part of O’Loane Avenue.

THAT the Noise Control By-law Exemption request from Pining Productions for a film production in Market Square be approved to exempt the production occurring on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Thursday, September Regular Council Minutes 15 September 8, 2025 11, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. and Friday, September 12, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. from the following provisions:  Unreasonable Noise [Schedule 1, clause 8];  The operation of any auditory signaling device [Schedule 2, clause 1];  The operation of loudspeakers and amplification of sound [Schedule 2 clause 2];  Loading and unloading [Schedule 2 clause 4];  Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or signing [Schedule 2, clause 16].

THAT the tender (T-2025-57) for Bridge Repairs be awarded to VanDriel Excavating Inc., for a total tender price of $556,308.60, including HST; AND THAT the Mayor and Clerk, or their respective delegates, be authorized to sign the necessary Contract Agreement for construction contract T-2025-57.

THAT Council receive the report titled, ‘Contract Extension for the Supply and Delivery of Bulk Highway Salt’ (COU25-112), for information; THAT Council authorize staff to enter a six-year extension of the Perth County contract for the supply of bulk highway salt with Compass Minerals Canada Corporation; AND THAT Council authorize staff to enter a six-year extension of the Perth County contract for the delivery and hauling of bulk highway salt with Bossence McCann Corporation Incorporated.

THAT Jason Davis, Stephen Landers, Trevor Biehn, Bruno Hacquebard, Suzi Higgins, Mitchell Demars, Erin Zimmer, Brad Turk, Rob Wreford, Jane Marie Mitchell, Mike Sullivan be heard.

THAT the Procedural By-law be suspended to hear Tanner Bergsma.

THAT the Mayor be asked to include a temporary shelter in the Rotary Complex for homeless people in the winter as part of the 2026 budget. Members of Council and staff held a discussion regarding the motion as follows:  a shelter not being temporary and can only be closed down once there is adequate housing available;  there being resources available for the winter season;  shelters needing to operate as a triage point and that without transitional housing, shelters stagnate individuals;  the City potentially changing its parameters for emergency shelters;  agencies in the community having access to grants and volunteers and the City leveraging their connections with these groups;  there being financial realities that need to be considered as a plan is developed; Regular Council Minutes 23 September 8, 2025  there being a need to provide housing as well as the supports required by individuals;  it being important to prioritize supportive housing for the City;  the Waterloo tiny home project being noted as quite expensive;  the City having limited taxpayer money which should be directed to permanent supportive housing, a community housing with wraparound support;  municipalities in Ontario having spent significant amounts to address homelessness and the Provincial and Federal governments needing to fund these programs;  the Director of Social Services providing an overview of the City's programs on supportive housing and affordable housing subsidies;  staff lookin

THAT the meeting be extended to 11:30 P.M.

THAT staff be directed to request an update from the Ending Homelessness Leadership Group and the Council of Churches on emergency shelter plans during the winter and that the update be provided at a future Council meeting.

THAT the meeting be extended to 12:00 A.M.

THAT a traffic light be installed at the intersection of George Street and Downie Street. Members of Council and staff held a discussion regarding the following:  the Director of Infrastructure Services noting that a pedestrian crossover is scheduled to be installed in the intersection in the fall of 2025;  the Director adding that the project is currently in the design phase;  a member noting that they will not be supporting the motion as there are already three pedestrian crossovers included in the 2025 budget which were identified in the Transportation Master Plan;  a member noting that a traffic light in the intersection would negatively affect the flow of downtown traffic;  the Director of Infrastructure Services noting that the design of the pedestrian crossover and intersection improvements for the location were provided in the 2021 Downtown Parking Study;  a member noting the request is a result of accidents occurring in the intersection; and  the Director of Infrastructure Services noting that the intersection has a low collision rate and that there are other areas in the City with higher incident rates that would require the traffic lights first. The Mayor called the question on the motion.

THAT Items 9.1.1, 9.1.2, 9.1.3, and 9.1.5 of the Report of the Finance and Labour Relations Committee dated September 8, 2025, be adopted as printed.

THAT Item 9.1.4 of the Report of the Finance and Labour Relations Committee dated September 8, 2025, be adopted as printed.

THAT By-laws 105-2025 to 110-2025 be taken collectively.

THAT By-laws 105-2025 to 110-2025 be read a First and Second Time.

THAT By-laws 105-2025 to 110-2025 be read a Third Time and Finally Passed.

THAT By-law 111-2025 be read a First and Second Time.

THAT By-law 111-2025 be read a Third Time and Finally Passed.

THAT the September 8, 2025, Regular Council meeting adjourn.