Agenda - Essex County Council, Regular Meeting

Meeting #:

Date:

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

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

There is no Closed Meeting scheduled for February 19, 2025.

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 Regular Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the Essex County Council, Regular Meeting, dated February 5, 2025

• Recommendation:

  That the minutes of the February 5, 2025 Regular Meeting of Essex County Council be adopted as presented.

  (Vote by show of hands)

9.

Delegations and Presentations

9.1

The Bridge Youth Resource Centre

Krista Rempel, Executive Director, to provide an update regarding The Bridge's Tiny Home Community

10.

Communications

10.1

Correspondence

• Recommendation:

  That the correspondence listed on the Regular Agenda for February 19, 2025, be received and any noted action approved. 

  (Vote by show of hands)

10.1.1

Peterborough County

February 5, 2025 - US Imposition of Tariffs on Canadian Goods

10.1.2

Town of Hanover

February 5, 2025 - US Imposition of Tariffs on Canadian Goods

10.1.3

Northumberland County

January 31, 2025 - Deposit Return Program

10.1.4

Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)

• AMO Watchfile Newsletter
• AMO Policy Updates
• AMO Calendar - Education Events 

 

10.2

Resolutions

There are no resolutions for consideration for February 19, 2025

11.

Consent Agenda

• Recommendation:

  That the recommendations in the Administrative Reports listed as items 11.1 and 11.2 on the Consent Agenda for February 19, 2025, be received and approved as required.

  (Vote Electronically)

11.1

2024 Statement of Councillors’ Remuneration

Report number 2025-0219-FIN-R04-MR, 2024 Statement of Councillors’ Remuneration, dated February 19, 2025

11.2

Summary of Outstanding Reports

Report number 2025-0219-LLS-R07-KH, Summary of Outstanding Reports, dated February 19, 2025 from Katherine Hebert, County Clerk

12.

Reports and Questions

12.1

2025 Tax Policy Discussion and Recommendation

Report number 2025-0219-FIN-R07-MR, 2025 Tax Policy Discussion and Recommendation, dated February 19, 2025 from Melissa Ryan, Director, Financial Services/Treasurer 

• Recommendation:

  That Essex County Council receive this report for information.

  And further that Essex County Council adopt the tax ratios as set out in By-law 2025-07 for the 2025 taxation year;

  And further that the Essex County Tax Assistance Program for Low-Income Seniors and Low-Income Persons with disabilities established under By-law 04-2004 and amended under By-law 2021-05 continue with no amendments;

  And further that the Essex County Charity tax Rebate Program established under By-law 16-2007 continue with no amendments.

  (Vote Electronically)

12.2

Annual Credit Rating-Evaluation-Cost Benefit Analysis

Report number 2025-0219-FIN-R06-MR, Annual Credit Rating-Evaluation-Cost Benefit Analysis, dated February 19, 2025, from Melissa Ryan, Director, Financial Services/Treasurer

• Recommendation:

  That Essex County Council approve receive report number 2025-0219-06-FIN-MR, Annual Credit Rating Evaluation-Cost Benefit Analysis as information.

  (Vote Electronically)

12.3

Appointment of Auditors for the County of Essex

Report number 2025-0219-FIN-R05-MR, Appointment of Auditors for the County of Essex, dated February 19, 2025, from Melissa Ryan, Director, Financial Services/Treasurer

• Recommendation:

  That Essex County Council receive report number 2025-0219-FIN-R05-MR, Appointment of Auditor and;

  That Essex County Council approve the re-appointment of KPMG LLP for a five-year period, commencing January 1, 2025, subject to renewal and confirmation by By-law, in accordance with the fees presented on pg.15 of Appendix A-KPMG Fee Proposal 2025-2029.

  (Vote Electronically)

12.4

Administration Building Renovations Phases

Report number 2025-0219-IPS-R05-AB, Administration Building Renovations Phases, dated February 19, 2025, from Allan Botham, Director, Infrastructure and Planning Services

• Recommendation:

  That Essex County Council receive report number 2025-0219-IPS-R05-AB, Administration Building Renovation Phases as information.

  (Vote Electronically)

13.

Unfinished Business

14.

New Business

14.1

Invest Windsor-Essex - Rescind Previous Decision of Council and Approval of 2025 Budget for Invest Windsor-Essex

At the February 5, 2025 Regular Meeting of Essex County Council, Joe Bachetti raised the following:

Preamble:

Whereas at its December 4, 2024 meeting County Council passed resolution number 337-2024 which was duly moved by Tracey Bailey and seconded by Sherry Bondy as follows:

That Essex County Council reduce the funding allocation to Invest WindsorEssex by 15% to $953,750; and

That a letter be sent to the Board of Directors and the interim CEO advising them of the reduction.

Whereas that motion was carried by a vote of 8-6 in favour by members of County Council.

Motion:

I move to rescind resolution 337-2024 which states That Essex County Council reduce the funding allocation to Invest Windsor Essex by 15% to $953,750.

• Recommendation:

  That Essex County Council resolution # 337-2024 which states 'That Essex County Council reduce the funding allocation to Invest Windsor Essex by 15% to $953,750', be rescinded.

  (Vote Electronically)

• Recommendation:

  That Essex County Council approve 2025 funding of Invest Windsor Essex at the originally proposed level of $1,122,060.

  (Vote Electronically) 

14.2

Removal of Interprovincial Trade Barriers

At the February 5, 2025 Regular Meeting of Essex County Council, Michael Akpata raised the following:

Preamble/Background:

Whereas the recent threats of an imposition of tariffs on Canadian production would have had a substantial effect on the items produced in the County of Essex. 

And that there has only been granted a 30-day reprieve before they may be implemented.

And that these tariffs were going to be applied by another country and therefore can be deemed as being external to the Province and the Country. 

And Whereby the Internal trade has been deemed by the Canadian Federation of Independent business (CFIB) to represent 18 % of Canada’s GDP. And that in July, the CFIB released a report that said removing interprovincial barriers could boost the economy by up to $200 billion annually. And that items produced, grown, and manufactured in Essex County are sent across Canada and are in many cases subject to these interprovincial barriers. 

Motion:

That the County of Essex call upon both the Provincial and Federal Government to eliminate inter provincial trade barriers to ensure that items produced in the County of Essex can move without barriers freely across the country. 

• Recommendation:

  That the County of Essex call upon both the Provincial and Federal Government to eliminate inter provincial trade barriers to ensure that items produced in the County of Essex can move without barriers freely across the country. 

  (Vote Electronically)

14.3

Buy Canadian Procurement Strategy

At the February 5, 2025 Regular Meeting of Essex County Council, Michael Akpata raised the following:

Preamble/Background:

Whereas the recent threats of an imposition of tariffs on Canadian production would have had a substantial effect on the items produced in the County of Essex.

And that there has only been granted a 30-day reprieve before they may be implemented.

And that these tariffs were going to be applied by another country and therefore can be deemed as being external to the Province and the Country. And that the County of Essex, the Province of Ontario, and Canada as a whole has a widely diverse economic base. 

And that much like any other 2 tier system the County of Essex is a consumer of both goods and services.

Motion:

That the County of Essex begin the process to examine the viability of beginning a “Buy Canadian Procurement strategy” And that as part of the strategy Canadian content is reviewed and percentages of Canadian content are clearly defined as part of the procurement; and,

That the County of Essex clearly define the term” Canadian Content” for the purposes of procurement of both goods and services. 

• Recommendation:

  That the County of Essex begin the process to examine the viability of beginning a “Buy Canadian Procurement strategy” And that as part of the strategy Canadian content is reviewed and percentages of Canadian content are clearly defined as part of the procurement; and,

  That the County of Essex clearly define the term "Canadian Content” for the purposes of procurement of both goods and services. 

  (Vote Electronically)

15.

Adoption of By-Laws

• Recommendation:

  That By-laws 2025-06 through 2025-08, be given three readings, and having been read a first, second and third time, be finally passed and enacted. 

  (Vote Electronically)

15.1

By-law Number 2025-06

Being a By-law to Appoint Auditors of the Corporation of the County of Essex for the five-year period commencing for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025

15.2

By-law Number 2025-07

Being a By-law to Establish Tax Policy and Levy Property Taxes for the year 2025

15.3

By-law Number 2025-08

Being a by-law to Confirm the Proceedings of the Council of the Corporation of the County of Essex for the Regular Meeting held February 19, 2025

16.

Notice of Motion

17.

Adjournment

• Recommendation:

  That the Essex County Council meeting for February 19, 2025 be adjourned at [Time] PM.

  (Vote by show of hands)