Agenda - Essex County Council, Regular Meeting

Meeting #:

Date:

Wednesday, December 03, 2025

Time:

9:00 A.m. - 5:00 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

---

1.

Call to Order

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 Minutes

There are no minutes for consideration. 

9.

Delegations and Presentations

There are no delegations for December 3, 2025.

10.

Communications

10.1

Correspondence

There were no items of correspondence received in relation to the 2026 Draft Budget.

10.2

Resolutions

There are no resolutions for consideration for December 3, 2025.

11.

Consent Agenda

• Recommendation:

  That the recommendations included in the reports listed as items 11.1 and 11.2 on the Consent Agenda for December 3, 2025, be approved.   

11.1

2025 County of Essex Credit Rating - Standard & Poor’s

Report number 2025-1203-FIN-R28-MR, 2025 County of Essex Credit Rating - Standard & Poor’s, dated December 3, 2025, from Melissa Ryan, Director, Financial Services/Treasurer 

11.2

County Administration Building Ground Floor Renovation

Report number 2025-1203-IPS-R28-AB, County Administration Building Ground Floor Renovation, dated December 3, 2025, from Allan Botham, Director, Infrastructure and Planning Services.

12.

Reports and Questions

12.1

Chief Administrative Officer's Summary - 2026 County of Essex Budget

Sandra Zwiers, Chief Administrative Officer to provide remarks regarding the development and planning of the 2026 County of Essex Budget

12.1.1

County of Essex 2026 Advocacy Priorities

Report number 2025-1203-CAO-R12-SZ, County of Essex 2026 Advocacy Priorities, dated December 3, 2025, from Sandra Zwiers, Chief Administrative Officer.

• Recommendation:

  That Essex County Council receive report number 2025-1203-CAO-R12-SZ, County of Essex 2026 Advocacy Priorities as information and direct Administration to integrate the endorsed priorities into the County’s Advocacy Strategy and 2026 Advocacy Calendar.

12.2

2026 Budget Overview - Treasurer's Report

Report Number 2025-1203-FIN-R34-MR, 2026 Budget Overview -Treasurer's Report, dated December 3, 2025 from Melissa Ryan, Director, Financial Services/Treasurer

• Recommendation:

  That Essex County Council receive report number 2025-1203-FIN-R35-MR, 2026 Budget Overview- Treasurer’s Report, as information; and, 

  That the 2026 Budget package be received for public deliberation.

12.3

2026 Budget - Community Services/Residential Services Homes

David Sundin, Director, Legislative and Legal Services/County Solicitor, Natasha Sheeler, Director Health and Community Services/Sun Parlor Home Administrator, and Jeanie Diamond-Francis, Manager, Community Services, to provide a presentation regarding the Community Services/Residential Services Homes 2026 Budget Estimates.

• Recommendation:

  That the presentation for the proposed 2026 Community Services/Residential Services Homes budget be received and further that the 2026 Budget Estimates for Community Services/Residential Services Homes be [Received or Received and Approved]. 

12.4

2026 Budget - Sun Parlor Home

Natasha Sheeler, Director, Health and Community Services/Sun Parlor Home Administrator, to provide a presentation regarding the Sun Parlor Home 2026 Budget Estimates. 

• Recommendation:

  That the presentation for the proposed 2026 Sun Parlor Home budget be received and further that the 2026 Budget Estimates for Sun Parlor Home be [Received or Received and Approved].

12.5

2026 Budget - Essex-Windsor Emergency Medical Services

Justin Lammers, Chief Essex-Windsor Emergency Medical Services, to provide a presentation regarding the Essex-Windsor Emergency Medical Services 2026 Budget.  

• Recommendation:

  That the presentation for the proposed 2026 Essex-Windsor Emergency Medical Services budget be received and further that the 2026 Budget Estimates for Essex-Windsor Emergency Medical Services be [Received or Received and Approved].

12.6

2026 Budget - Infrastructure and Planning Services

Allan Botham, Director, Infrastructure and Planning Services to provide a presentation regarding the 2026 Infrastructure and Planning Services Budget Estimates.

• Rebecca Belanger, Manager, Planning Services, to provide a presentation regarding the 2026 Planning Services Budget Estimates.

• Recommendation:

  That the presentation for the proposed 2026 Infrastructure and Planning Services budget be received and further that the 2026 Budget Estimates for Infrastructure and Planning Services be [Received or Received and Approved].

12.7

2026 Budget - Essex County Library Board

Adam Craig, Chief Librarian/Chief Executive Officer, to provide a presentation regarding the Essex County Library 2026 Budget Estimates. 

• Recommendation:

  That the presentation for the proposed 2026 Essex County Library Board budget be received and further that the 2026 Budget Estimates for Essex County Library Board be [Received or Received and Approved].

12.8

2026 Budget - General Government Services

Melissa Ryan, Director, Financial Services/Treasurer, to provide a presentation regarding an overview of the General Government Services 2026 Budget Estimates.

• David Sundin, Director, Legal and Legislative Services/County Solicitor to provide a presentation regarding the 2026 Legislative and Legal Services Departmental Budget as well as the 2026 Council Budget.
• Melissa Ryan, Director, Financial Services/Treasurer, to provide a presentation regarding the 2026 Financial Services Departmental Budget.
• Darrel Laurendeau, Director, Information Technology Services, to provide a presentation regarding the 2026 Information Technology Services Departmental Budget. 
• Kyla Pritiko, Director, Human Resources, to provide a presentation regarding the 2026 Human Resources Departmental Budget.

• Recommendation:

  That the presentation for the proposed 2026 General Government budget be received and further that the 2026 Budget Estimates for General Government be [Received or Received and Approved].

12.9

2026 Budget - External Commitments

Melissa Ryan, Director, Financial Services/Treasurer, to provide a presentation regarding the 2026 External Commitments Budget Estimates.

• Recommendation:

  That the presentation for the 2026 proposed External Commitments budget be received and, that the 2026 Budget Estimates for External Commitments be [Received or Received and Approved].

12.10

2026 Final Budget

Consideration of the overall proposed 2026 Budget.

• Recommendation:

  That Essex County Council [Approve/Approve as amended] the overall proposed 2026 Net Levy requirement for the County of Essex in the amount of $145,716,550.

13.

Unfinished Business

There are no items of Unfinished Business for consideration for December 3, 2025.

14.

New Business

There are no items of New Business for consideration for December 3, 2025.

15.

Adoption of By-Laws

• Recommendation:

  That By-law 2025-53 be given three readings, and having been read a first, second and third time, be finally passed and enacted. 

15.1

By-law Number 2025-53

Being a By-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council of the Corporation of the County of Essex Regular Meeting - 2026 Budget Deliberations, for December 3, 2025

16.

Notice of Motion

There are no Notices of Motion for consideration for December 3, 2025.

17.

Adjournment

• Recommendation:

  That the Essex County Council meeting for December 3, 2025 be adjourned at [time] PM.