Regular Council Meeting Agenda

Monday, January 13, 2025 at 6:00 P.m. - 9:00 P.m.

Location: Essex Municipal Building, 33 Talbot Street South

​Accessible formats or communication supports are available upon request. Please contact the Clerk’s Office at [email protected] or 519-776-7336 extension 1100 or 1101.

---

1.

Call to Order

2.

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that this land is the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations (comprised of the Ojibway, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi Peoples), and of the Huron-Wendat Peoples. We value the significant historical and contemporary contributions of local and regional First Nations and all of the Original Peoples of Turtle Island who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial.

3.

National Anthem

4.

Closed Meeting Report

• Closed Council Meeting - January 13, 2025

5.

Declarations of Conflict of Interest

6.

Adoption of Published Agenda

6.1

Regular Council Meeting Agenda for January 13, 2025

• That the published agenda for the January 13, 2025 Regular Council Meeting be adopted as presented / amended.

7.

Adoption of Minutes

7.1

Regular Council Meeting Minutes for December 16, 2024

• That the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held December 16, 2024 be adopted as circulated.

8.

Public Presentations

8.1

Dane Sanford, Owner of Sanford and Son Super Market

RE: Parking Concerns on Walnut Street near Sanford and Son Super Market's east entrance 

• That the delegation by Dane Sanford, Owner of Sanford and Son Super Market, regarding parking concerns on Walnut Street near Sanford and Son's Super Market be received.

8.2

Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA)

RE: Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) 2025 Draft Budget

• That the presentation by Tim Byrne, CAO/Secretary Treasurer, Essex Region Conservation Authority, regarding the Draft 2025 Budget be received; and

  That the correspondence from the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) dated December 13, 2024 containing the ERCA 2025 Draft Budget, Discussion and Analysis be received.

9.

Unfinished Business

10.

Reports from Administration

10.1

Verbal Report by Doug Sweet, CAO

RE: Holiday Garbage Pickup

• That the verbal report by Doug Sweet, CAO, regarding the holiday garbage pickup be received.

10.2

Capital Works and Asset Management-2025-01

RE: Update on Driveway at 33 Irwin Avenue

Recommended Action:

• That Capital Works and Asset Management Report-2025-01 entitled Update on Driveway at 33 Irwin Avenue by David McBeth, Manager, Capital Works and Asset Management, dated January 13, 2025, be received; and

  That Council approve the construction for approximately 600mm (2’) of additional driveway with a 300mm (1’) flare on the south side of the existing driveway at 33 Irwin Avenue from the Irwin Avenue Reconstruction project budget.

10.3

Planning-2025-01

RE: ZBA-10-24 (0 Maidstone Avenue West, Essex Centre)

Recommended Action:

• That Planning Report-2025-01 entitled ZBA-10-24 (0 Maidstone Avenue West, Essex Centre) prepared by Ian Rawlings, Junior Planner, dated January 13, 2025 be received; and
  That By-Law Number 2400, being a By-Law to amend By-Law 1037, the Comprehensive Zoning By-Law for the Town of Essex, be read a third time and finally passed on January 13, 2025.

10.3.1

By-Law 2400

10.4

Capital Works and Asset Management-2025-02

RE: CLI-ECA Amherstburg Access Agreement, Ducharme Lane

Recommended Action:

• That Capital Works and Asset Management Report-2025-02 entitled CLI-ECA Amherstburg Access Agreement, Ducharme Lane prepared by Erica Tilley, Assistant Manager, Capital Works and Asset Management dated January 13, 2025, be received; and

  That Council authorizes Administration to enter into the Authorization Agreement for Phase 2 of the Ducharme Lane Development with the Town of Amherstburg as attached.

11.

Reports from Youth Members

12.

County Council Update

• That the County of Essex, Regular Meeting minutes listed in Agenda Item 12, be received.

12.1

County of Essex, Regular Council Meeting Minutes - November 20, 2024

13.

Correspondence

13.1

Correspondence to be received

• That all of the correspondence listed in Agenda Item 13.1 be received and, where indicated, to further share such information with the community using suitable methods of communication.

13.1.1

City of Toronto

RE: Paid Plasma Free Zone

13.1.2

The Municipality of Kincardine

RE: Property Taxation Implications Related to Non-Market Valuation of Electricity Industry Properties

13.1.3

The Corporation of the Town of Cobalt

RE: Resume the Assessment Cycle

13.2

Correspondence to be considered for receipt and support

13.2.1

Arts, Culture, and Tourism Committee

RE: Appointment of Arts, Culture and Tourism Committee Member

• That the application by Devika Thunnaru Kandi to be appointed to the Arts, Culture, and Tourism Committee be received/received and supported.

14.

Committee Meeting Minutes

• That the Committee Meeting minutes listed in Agenda Item 14, together with any recommendations to Council noted therein, be received, approved and adopted as circulated.

14.1

Court of Revision - December 5, 2024

14.2

Personnel Committee - December 10, 2024

Recommendations to Council:

PC-24-14
Moved By Deputy Mayor Shepley, Vice Chair
Seconded By Sherry Bondy, Mayor

That the Personnel Committee recommend to Council the adoption of the Flextime Policy as presented in HR Report 2024-06 for a trial period of 18 months, by resolution at the next regular Council meeting.

PC-24-15
Moved By Deputy Mayor Shepley, Vice Chair
Seconded By Sherry Bondy, Mayor

That the Personnel Committee recommend to Council the adoption of the Attendance Management Policy as presented in HR Report 2024-07 by resolution at the next regular Council meeting.

14.3

Arts, Culture and Tourism - December 11, 2024

14.4

Striking Committee - December 16, 2024

Recommendations to Council:

SC24-12-003
Moved By Kim Verbeek, Councillor Ward 2
Seconded By Rob Shepley, Deputy Mayor

That the Recommendation to Council is to increase the number of Community Members on the Affordable Housing Task Force for the remainder of the current Task Force term, ending November 15, 2026, to a maximum of eleven (11) Community Members.

Carried

SC24-12-004
Moved By Rob Shepley, Deputy Mayor
Seconded By Jason Matyi, Councillor Ward 3

That the Recommendation to Council is for Jo-Ann Conard and Rachael Mills to be the appointed members of the Affordable Housing Task Force for the term ending November 15, 2026.

Carried

SC24-12-005
Moved By Rob Shepley, Deputy Mayor
Seconded By Jason Matyi, Councillor Ward 3

That the Recommendation to Council is for Nancy Shangi to be an appointed member of the Essex Accessibility Advisory Committee for the term ending November 15, 2026.

15.

Financial

16.

New Business

17.

Notices of Motion

17.1

The following Notice of Motion was presented at the December 16, 2024 Regular Council Meeting and is being brought forward this evening for Council's consideration:

17.1.1

Mayor Bondy

• Moved by Mayor Bondy

  That Council request a report from Administration outlining initiatives and projects completed in 2024 and planned for in 2025 that help to address flooding in the municipality.

17.2

The following Notices of Motion are for presentment only and will be brought forward for Council's consideration at the February 3, 2025 Regular Council Meeting:

17.2.1

Councillor McGuire-Blais

Moved by Councillor McGuire-Blais

That Council direct Administration to provide a report on the status of negotiations with the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) on the sidewalk expansion on South Talbot from the Cypher Systems Group Greenway to Reed Street and the Hanlan Road Expansion; and

That the report should include information and timelines on the funding the Town is expected to receive from the MTO for both projects.

17.2.2

Councillor McGuire-Blais

Moved by Councillor McGuire-Blais

Whereas in 2023, Association of Municipalities Ontario (with industry partners) began advocating for a timely return to the assessment cycle given that outdated assessments can be inaccurate, increase volatility, and are not fully transparent; and

Whereas a result of this advocacy was a letter from the Minster of Finance Office, Peter Bethlenfalvy stating that a review of the property assessment and taxation system would be conducted and therefore reassessment would be deferred until such review was completed; and

Whereas to date no further information has been provided on a potential reassessment or findings on the review of the system.

Now Therefore, be it resolved that the Council of the Town of Essex direct Administration to send a letter to the local MPP office, MPAC representatives and the office of the Minister of Finance, with AMO included for receipt, requesting a status update on the property taxation and assessment review and timelines for the introduction of the next reassessment cycle.

18.

Reports and Announcements from Council Members

19.

By-Laws

19.1

By-Laws that require a third and final reading

19.1.1

By-Law 2411

RE: Being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the December 16, 2024, Regular Meeting of Council of the Corporation of the Town of Essex

• That By-Law 2411 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the December 16, 2024, Regular Meeting of Council of the Corporation of the Town of Essex be read a third time and finally passed on January 13 2024.

19.1.2

By-Law 2396

RE: Being a by-law to provide for the 14th Concession East Drain and Branch (Inspiration Industrial Park Bridge) in the Town of Essex

• That By-Law 2396 being a by-law to provide for the 14th Concession East Drain and Branch (Inspiration Industrial Park Bridge) in the Town of Essex be read a third time and finally passed on January 13, 2024.

19.1.3

By-Law 2397

RE: Being a by-law to provide for Walker Drain Repairs and Improvements

• That By-Law 2397 being a by-law to provide for Walker Drain Repairs and Improvements be read a third time and finally passed on January 13, 2025.

19.2

By-Laws that require a first, second, third and final reading

19.3

By-Laws that require a first and second reading

19.3.1

By-Law 2413

RE: Being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the January 13, 2025, Regular Meeting of Council of the Corporation of the Town of Essex

• That By-Law 2413 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the January 13, 2025, Regular Meeting of Council of the Corporation of the Town of Essex be read a first and a second time and provisionally passed on January 13, 2025.

20.

Adjournment

• That the meeting be adjourned at [TIME].

21.

Future Meetings

21.1

Monday, January 20, 2024, 5:00 - 7:00 PM, Special Council Meeting

RE: Committee of the Whole

Location: 33 Talbot Street South, Essex, ON N8M 1A8
Livestream available at https://www.youtube.come/EssexOntario

21.2

Monday, February 3, 2024, 6:00 - 9:00 PM, Regular Council Meeting

Location: 33 Talbot Street South, Essex, ON N8M 1A8
Livestream available at https://www.youtube.come/EssexOntario