Agenda - Essex County Council, Regular Meeting

Meeting #:

Date:

Wednesday, April 01, 2026

Time:

6:00 P.m. - 11:00 P.m.

Location:

Council Chambers, 2nd Floor

360 Fairview Avenue West

Essex, Ontario N8M 1Y6

https://video.isilive.ca/countyofessex/live.html

Accessible formats or communication supports are available upon request. Contact Clerk’s Office, [email protected], 519-776-6441 extension 1353

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1.

Closed Meeting

A Closed Meeting has been scheduled for 5:00PM. Public Reporting of Closed Meetings is delivered under New Business item 14.1. 

2.

Moment of Reflection

3.

Singing of ‘O Canada’

4.

Land Acknowledgement Statement

We acknowledge the land on which the County of Essex is located is the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations, comprised of the Ojibway, Odawa and Potawatomie Peoples. 

We specifically recognize Caldwell First Nation and other First Nations which have provided significant historical and contemporary contributions to this region. 

We also value the contributions of all Original Peoples of Turtle Island, who have been living and working on this land from time immemorial.

5.

Recording of Attendance

6.

County Warden’s Welcome and Remarks

7.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest

8.

Adoption of  Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the Essex County Council Regular and Special Meetings, dated March 18, 2026.

• Recommendation:

  That the minutes of the March 18, 2026 Regular and Special Meetings of Essex County Council be adopted as presented.

9.

Delegations and Presentations

There are no Delegations or Presentations for April 1, 2026.

10.

Communications

10.1

Correspondence

• Recommendation:

  That the correspondence listed on the Regular Agenda for April 1, 2026, be received and any noted action approved. 

10.1.1

Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)

• AMO Watchfile Newsletter
• AMO Policy Advocacy Updates
• AMO Education Workshops
• AMO Training Events

10.1.2

Town of LaSalle

March 23, 2026 Correspondence RE Support of Finley's Law

10.1.3

Town of Whitby

March 13, 2026 Correspondence RE Request for a Comprehensive Review of the Provincial-Municipal Fiscal Framework

10.1.4

Township of Oro Medonte

March 13, 2026 Correspondence RE Request for Provincial Legislation Amendments, Health and Safety Concerns

10.1.5

Township of Perry

February 18, 2026 Correspondence RE Request to Government of Canada to maintain and protect reduced-rate postal distribution for library materials through legislation

Supported by:

• Township of Greater Madawaska
• Township of Puslinch

10.1.6

Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc

March 16, 2026 Correspondence RE Support for Bill 21, Protect Our Food Act, 2025 and Food Security

Supported by:

• Municipality of Chatham-Kent

10.2

Resolutions

There are no Resolutions for consideration for April 1, 2026.

11.

Consent Agenda

• Recommendation:

  That the recommendations in the Administrative Report listed as item 11.1, and the Minutes listed as item 11.2 on the Consent Agenda for April 1, 2026, be received and approved.

11.1

Summary of Outstanding Matters - April 1, 2026

Report number 2026-0401-LLS-R23-KH, Summary of Outstanding Matters, dated April 1, 2026,  from Katherine Hebert, County Clerk

11.2

Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee (ECAAC)

Minutes of the ECAAC Meeting dated February 5, 2026

12.

Reports and Questions

12.1

County Wide Active Transportation System (CWATS) - Asset Management

Report Number 2026-0401-IPS-R05-JB, County Wide Active Transportation System (CWATS) - Asset Management, dated April 1, 2026, from Jerry Behl, Manager, Transportation Planning and Development

• Recommendation:

  That Council receives report number , CWATS Asset Management for information; and,

  That Council approves that the County assumes ownership of all CWATS infrastructure within the County ROW following initial installation, effective March 1, 2027; and,

  That Council approves that the County is responsible for the lifecycle replacement of all CWATS infrastructure located within the County ROW, with initial installation costs continuing to follow the approved CWATS cost-sharing framework; and,

  That Council approve a shared maintenance model whereby:

  LMPs are responsible for day-to-day and seasonal maintenance of CWATS facilities on County roads that are separated from the travelled portion of the roadway; and

  The County is responsible for day-to-day and seasonal maintenance of on-street CWATS infrastructure on County roads; and,

  That County Administration be directed to negotiate and execute Memorandums of Understanding with each LMP to define levels of service, operational standards, and implementational timelines.

12.2

Advancement of a Regional Specialty Crop Area Study

Report number 2026-0401-IPS-R03-RB, Advancement of a Regional Specialty Crop Area Study, dated April 1, 2026, from Rebecca Belanger, Manager, Planning Services  

• Recommendation:

  That Essex County Council receive report number 2026-0401-IPS-R03-RB, Regional Specialty Crop Area Study as information.

12.3

Road Rationalization

Report number 2026-0401-IPS-R04-AB, Road Rationalization, dated April 1, 2026, from Allan Botham, Director, Infrastructure and Planning Services

• Recommendation:

  That Essex County Council receive report number 2026-0401-IPS-R04-AB, Road Rationalization Study 2026 as information; and

  That Essex County Council approve the 2026 Road Rationalization Study (Appendix A) as the guiding framework for jurisdictional changes to the County Road Network; and

  That Essex County Council approves the proposed multiyear transfer plan, including all roads, bridges and culverts identified for transfer to or from Local Municipal Partners, County Connecting Link additions and deletions as detailed in Appendix B; and

  That Essex County Council authorize Administration to implement the transfers in accordance with the phased Implementation Plan (Section 9.0 and Appendix I), ensuring that all assets are delivered in a state of good repair or with agreed-upon settlements where appropriate; and

  That Essex County Council funds any monetary settlements for assets not in a state of good repair, and the rehabilitation of incoming/outgoing County roads, through the County’s annual State of Good Repair (SOGR) levy, consistent with the Financial Implications section of this report; and

  That Essex County Council directs Administration to update all County Connecting Link agreements with Local Municipal Partners using the modernized template, ensuring consistency, transparency, and alignment with the approved Study.

12.4

Pathway to Potential (P2P) – 2026 Administration and Service Delivery Options

Report number 2026-0401-HCS-R02-NS, Pathway to Potential (P2P) - 2026 Administration and Service Delivery Options, dated April 1, 2026, from Natasha Sheeler, Director, Health and Community Services/Sun Parlor Home Administrator

• Recommendation:

  That Essex County Council receive report , Pathway to Potential (P2P) – 2026 Administration and Service Delivery Options as information and provide direction to Administration to assume oversight of the APP and RAP programs effective July 1, 2026.

13.

Unfinished Business

There are no matters of Unfinished Business for April 1, 2026.

14.

New Business

14.1

Public Reporting of Closed Meeting

15.

Adoption of By-Laws

• Recommendation:

  That By-law 2026-10 be given three readings, and having been read a first, second and third time, be finally passed and enacted. 

15.1

By-law Number 2026-10

Being a By-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council of the Corporation of the County of Essex, Regular and Closed Meetings, for April 1, 2026

16.

Notice of Motion

There are no Notices of Motion for April 1, 2026.

17.

Adjournment

• Recommendation:

  That the Essex County Council meeting for April 1, 2026 be adjourned at          PM.