Revised Agenda - Essex County Council, Regular Meeting

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
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


A Closed Meeting has been scheduled for 4:00PM. Public Reporting of the Closed Meeting is included as New Business item 14.1 of this Agenda.

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.

Minutes of the Essex County Council Regular Meeting, dated January 21, 2026.

  • Recommendation:

    That the minutes of the January 21, 2026 Regular Meeting of Essex County Council be adopted as presented.

  • Recommendation:

    That the order of business be amended to consider the Administrative Report, listed as item 12.1 Final Draft County Development Charges By-law, in conjunction with Delegation item 9.1. 

To be considered with agenda item 12.1 Final Draft County Development Charges By-law

Alyssa Ismail, President-Elect, Windsor-Essex County Association of Realtors (WECAR) to provide a presentation regarding Development Charges.

Ryan McNamara, Resident - County of Essex, to provide a presentation regarding Development Charges.

Tim Vickerd, Resident - County of Essex, to provide a presentation regarding the Green Bin Program.

Carolyn Crankshaw, Resident - County of Essex, to provide a presentation regarding the Green Bin Program.  

  • Recommendation:

    That the recommendations in the Administrative Reports listed as items 11.1 through 11.3 on the Consent Agenda for February 4, 2026, be received and approved and further that the Minutes presented as information listed as items 11.4 on the said Consent Agenda be received.

Report number 2026-0204-LLS-R09-KH, Summary of Outstanding Regular Agenda Matters - February 4, 2026, from Katherine Hebert, Clerk

Report number 2026-0204-CAO-R04-SZ, Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) 2026 Delegation Update, dated February 4, 2026, from Sandra Zwiers, Chief Administrative Officer

Report number 2026-0204-FIN-R04-MR, Green Bin Organics Recycling Program - Summary of County Council Direction and Funding, dated February 4, 2026, from Melissa Ryan, Director, Financial Services/Treasurer 

Minutes of the Windsor Essex Regional Community Safety and Well-being Systems Leadership Table meeting, dated June 11, 2025 and September 10, 2025

Report number 2026-0204-FIN-R03-MR, Final Draft - County Development Charges By-law, dated February 4, 2026, from Melissa Ryan, Director, Financial Services/Treasurer


To be considered in conjunction with Delegation item 9.1 Development Charges By-law

  • Recommendation:

    That Essex County Council receive report number 2026-0204-FIN-R03-MR, Final Draft-County Development Charges By-law as information and approve one of the two options for the County of Essex Development Charges By-law as presented in the Appendices to this report:

    Option A: The original By-law presented at the October 1, 2025 statutory public meeting with a five-year term and implementation date of January 1, 2027 with updated schedules.

    or

    Option B: The revised By-law reflecting Council direction for a ten-year term and an implementation date of January 1, 2027 with updated schedules.

Report number 2026-0204-FIN-R01-MR, 2026 Tax Policy Discussion and Recommendation, dated February 4, 2026, from Melissa Ryan, Director, Financial Services/Treasurer

  • Recommendation:

    That Essex County Council receive report number 2026-0204-FIN-R01-MR, 2026 Tax Policy Discussion and Recommendation as information.

Report number 2026-0204-ITS-R01-DL, 2026 Virtualized Environment Purchase, dated February 4, 2026, from Darrel Laurendeau, Director, Information Technology Services  

  • Recommendation:

    That Essex County Council receive report number 2026-0204-ITS-R01-DL, 2026 Virtualized Environment Purchase, as information and approve funding of the replacement equipment, including the additional $457,500 required, to be funded from the Rate Stabilization Reserve.

There are no matters of Unfinished Business for February 4, 2026

On January 21, 2026, at the Regular County Council Meeting, Councillor Sherry Bondy introduced a Notice of Motion as follows:

  • Recommendation:

    Whereas an organic waste program is being rolled out to the seven (7) local municipalities of the County of Essex and the City of Windsor, as a Regional Organic Green Bin Program (the “Program”); and,

    Whereas it is understood that the Region needs to divert organic waste from the Regional Landfill to extend its life expectancy; and,

    Whereas residents have many inquires about the Program including the cost, the contract, and rationale for why those who compost or wish to opt out cannot do so; and,

    Whereas the Program is regional in nature and is managed by the Essex Windsor Solid Waste Authority (the “Authority”) on behalf of the entire Region and manages the contract for the Program; and,

    Whereas County Council is responsible for setting the service levels for the Program; and,

    Whereas County Council does not have the necessary information on the Program’s effectiveness in the County, or the effectiveness in rural areas versus urban areas, in order for County Council to evaluate the proper service levels for the Program in the County.

    Now therefore be it resolved that Council direct Administration to request that the Authority provide the following in writing to the County for Council’s information:

    • Available statistics to date on the effectiveness of the Program in each of the County’s seven (7) local municipalities;
    • Available statistics to date on the effectiveness of the Program in urban areas and in rural areas;
    • Details of the public education campaign to date for the Program and details of future planned public education campaigns;
    • Details about the cost of the Program to each of the seven (7) local municipalities.
  • Recommendation:

    That By-laws 2026-02 and 2026-03, be given three readings, and having been read a first, second and third time, be finally passed and enacted. 

Being a By-law to Establish Development Charges for the County of Essex (Five Year Phase-In)

Being a By-law to Establish Development Charges for the County of Essex (Ten Year Phase-In)

Being a By-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council of the Corporation of the County of Essex, Regular and Closed Meetings for February 4, 2026

  • Recommendation:

    That the Essex County Council meeting for February 4, 2026 be adjourned at ______ PM.