DUFFERIN COUNTY COUNCIL MINUTES

Thursday, May 08, 2025 at 7:00 P.m. - 9:00 P.m.

W & M Edelbrock Centre, 30 Centre Street, Orangeville

Councillors Present:

• Warden Janet Horner (Mulmur)
• Councillor John Creelman (Mono)
• Councillor Guy Gardhouse (East Garafraxa)
• Councillor Chris Gerrits (Amaranth)
• Councillor Shane Hall (Shelburne)
• Councillor Earl Hawkins (Mulmur)
• Councillor Gail Little (Amaranth)
• Councillor Wade Mills (Shelburne)
• Councillor Fred Nix (Mono)
• Councillor Lisa Post (Orangeville)
• Councillor Philip Rentsch (Grand Valley)
• Councillor Steve Soloman (Grand Valley)
• Councillor Todd Taylor (Orangeville)
• Councillor Darren White (Melancthon)

Councillors Absent:

• Councillor James McLean (Melancthon) (prior notice)

Staff Present:

• Sonya Pritchard, Chief Administrative Officer
• Michelle Dunne, Clerk
• Rebecca Whelan, Deputy Clerk
• Aimee Raves, Manager of Corporate Finance, Treasurer
• Rajbir Sian, Director of Development and Tourism
• Gary Staples, Chief Paramedic
• Rohan Thompson, Director of People & Equity
• Brenda Wagner, Director of Health and Human Services

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

Warden Horner called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.

Warden Horner announced that the meeting is being live streamed and publicly broadcast. The recording of this meeting will also be available on our website in the future.

2.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT

Warden Horner shared the Land Acknowledgement Statement.

3.

ROLL CALL

The Clerk verbally took a roll call of the Councillors in attendance.

4.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

• Moved by: Councillor Nix
  Seconded by: Councillor Taylor

  THAT the agenda and any addendum distributed for the May 8, 2025 meeting of Council, be approved.

  CARRIED

5.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST BY MEMBERS

There were no declarations of pecuniary interest.

6.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

• Moved by: Councillor Post
  Seconded by: Councillor Mills

  THAT the open session minutes and closed session minutes of the regular meeting of Council on April 24, 2025, be adopted.

  CARRIED

7.

PROCLAMATIONS, DELEGATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

7.1

Paramedic Services Week - May 18 - 24, 2025

Councillor Creelman joined the meeting at 7:03 pm.

Warden Horner declared the week of May 18 - 24, 2025 as Paramedic Services Week in the County of Dufferin. Gary Staples, Chief Paramedic, accepted the proclamation.

7.2

Sexual Violence Prevention Month - May 2025

Warden Horner declared the month of May 2025 as Sexual Violence Prevention Month in the County of Dufferin. Lynnette Pole-Langdon, Family Transition Place, was in attendance to accept the proclamation.

8.

PUBLIC QUESTION PERIOD

There were no questions from the public.

9.

DETERMINATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION

The following items were requested to be moved to Section 12 for discussion:

• 10.1 - Tariff Response Update: Primary Data Collection
• 11.1 - Town of Orangeville Official Plan Amendments No 132 and 135
• 11.5 - Community Safety and Well-Being Plan 2025-2028
• 11.6 - Masterplan and Service Delivery Review Update

10.

PRESENTATION AND CONSIDERATION OF INFORMATION REPORTS

• Moved by: Councillor Mills
  Seconded by: Councillor Taylor

  THAT reports 10.1 through to 10.3, be received for information.

  CARRIED

10.1

Community Development and Tourism: Explore Dufferin Investors’ Tour

A report from the Director of Community Development and Tourism, dated May 8, 2025, to provide an overview of the recent Explore Dufferin Investors' Tour.

• THAT the report from the Director of Community Development and Tourism, Report #Planning and Development-2025-035, “Explore Dufferin Investors’ Tour”, dated May 8, 2025, be received.

  CARRIED BY CONSENT

10.2

Community Development and Tourism: Tourism Development Q1 Update

A report from the Director of Community Development and Tourism, dated May 8, 2025, to provide an update on tourism activities for the first quarter of 2025.

• THAT the report from the Director of Community Development and Tourism, Report #Planning and Development-2025-036, “Tourism Development Q1 Update”, dated May 8, 2025, be received.

  CARRIED BY CONSENT

10.3

Monthly Update from Outside Boards

A report from the Chief Administrative Officer, dated May 8, 2025, to provide a monthly update from outside boards.

• THAT the report of the Chief Administrative Officer, Report #Office of the CAO-2025-022, with respect to Reports from Outside Boards, dated May 8, 2025, be received.

  CARRIED BY CONSENT

11.

PRESENTATION AND CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS FOR DIRECTION

• Moved by: Councillor Nix
  Seconded by: Councillor Mills

  THAT Items 11.1 to 11.4, and the recommendations set out below, be approved.

  CARRIED

11.1

Community Development and Tourism: Museum of Dufferin Digital Strategy

A report from the Director of Community Development and Tourism, dated May 8, 2025, to seek approval of the Museum of Dufferin Digital Strategy for 2025-2027.

• THAT the report from Director of Community Development and Tourism, Report #Planning and Development-2025-034, Museum of Dufferin Digital Strategy, dated May 8, 2025, be received;

  AND THAT the Museum’s Digital Strategy for 2025-2027, be approved.

  CARRIED BY CONSENT

11.2

General Government Services: Joint Accessibility Committees Minutes - April 3, 2025

• THAT the minutes from the Joint Accessibility Committees meeting on April 3, 2025, be adopted.

  CARRIED BY CONSENT

11.3

Health and Human Services: Homelessness Task Force Minutes - April 24, 2025

• THAT the minutes from the Homelessness Task Force meeting on April 24, 2025, be adopted.

  CARRIED BY CONSENT

11.4

Infrastructure and Environmental Services: Fields Estates Subdivision – Dufferin Road 18 Improvements

A report from the Director of Public Works/County Engineer, dated May 8, 2025, to seek approval to execute necessary agreement(s) with the developer of the Fields Estates Subdivision to enable the localized road improvement.

• THAT the report from the Director of Public Works/County Engineer, Report #Public Works-2025-016, “Fields Estates Subdivision – Dufferin Road 18 Improvements”, dated May 8, 2025, be received.

  AND THAT staff be directed to proceed with executing the required agreement(s) with the developer of the Fields Estates Subdivision to enable road improvements to Dufferin County Road 18 (Airport Road).

  CARRIED BY CONSENT

12.

DISCUSSION OF REPORTS SEPARATED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA

12.1

Community Development and Tourism: Tariff Response Update: Primary Data Collection

A report from the Director of Community Development and Tourism, dated May 8, 2024, to provide an update on primary economic data collection as part of the response to tariffs.

• Moved by: Councillor Mills
  Seconded by: Councillor Taylor

  THAT the report from the Director of Community Development and Tourism, Report #Planning and Development-2025-037, “Tariff Response Update: Primary Data Collection”, dated May 8, 2025, be received.

  CARRIED

12.2

Community Development and Tourism: Town of Orangeville – Official Plan Amendments 132 and 135

A report from the Director of Community Development and Tourism, dated May 8, 2025, to seek approval of the Town of Orangeville Official Plan Amendment No. 132 and No. 135.

• Moved by: Councillor Post
  Seconded by: Councillor Mills

  THAT the report from the Director of Community Development and Tourism, Report #Planning and Development-2025-039, titled Town of Orangeville – Official Plan Amendments 132 and 135, dated May 8, 2025, be received;

  AND THAT Council approve Official Plan Amendment 132, with the proposed County modifications, to amend policies relating to the pre-consultation process, complete application requirements, and public consultation process;

  AND THAT Council approve Official Plan Amendment 135, as adopted by the Town of Orangeville, to implement new policies and a new schedule to conform with the Credit Valley-Toronto and Region-Central Lake Ontario (CTC) Source Protection Plan.

  CARRIED

12.3

Health and Human Services: Community Safety and Well-Being Plan 2025-2028

A report from the Director of health and Human Services, dated May 8, 2025, to request approval of the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan for 2025-2028.

Councillor Gerrits joined the meeting at 7:31 pm.

• Moved by: Councillor Nix
  Seconded by: Councillor Hall

  THAT the report from the Director of Health and Human Services, Health and Human Services-2025-013, Community Safety and Well-being Plan 2025-2028, dated May 8, 2025, be received;

  AND THAT the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan 2025-2028, be approved.

  CARRIED

12.4

Health and Human Services: Masterplan and Service Delivery Review Update

A report from the Chief Paramedic, dated May 8, 2025, to provide an update on the Paramedic Services Masterplan and Service Delivery review.

• Moved by: Councillor Little
  Seconded by: Councillor Mills

  THAT the report from the Chief Paramedic, Report #Paramedic Services-2025-004, Masterplan and Service Delivery Review Update, dated May 8, 2025, be received;

  AND THAT the additional cost for the Paramedic Masterplan and Service Delivery Review be funded from the Reserve for Paramedic Operations.

  CARRIED

13.

STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE

A presentation from the Chief Administrative Officer, dated May 8, 2025, to introduce an intergovernmental relations strategy.

Council discussed their intergovernmental priorities for the remainder of the Council term, which included:

• homelessness prevention
• road safety
• municipal fiscal situation and infrastructure funding

Next steps will be refining the identified priorities and preparing an intergovernmental relations strategy to present to Council. It will involve defining the priorities, determining the tactics to support those priorities, timelines, and who will be involved.

• Moved by: Councillor Post
  Seconded by: Councillor Taylor

  THAT the presentation from the Chief Administrative Officer, dated May 8, 2025, to propose an inter-governmental relations strategy, be received.

  CARRIED

14.

CORRESPONDENCE

• Moved by: Councillor Soloman
  Seconded by: Councillor Gardhouse

  THAT items 14.1 to 14.3 be received.

  CARRIED

14.1

Township of Amaranth

A resolution from the Township of Amaranth, dated April 16, 2025, regarding the Critical Ground report and implementing the recommendations.

14.2

Town of Grand Valley

A resolution from the Town of Grand Valley, dated April 23, 2025, to participate in the BetterHomes Dufferin project.

14.3

Association of Municipalities of Ontario

Correspondence from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), dated May 1, 2025, to share that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) has opened their request for delegation process for AMO 2025.

15.

NOTICE OF MOTIONS

16.

MOTIONS

17.

CLOSED SESSION

18.

BY-LAWS

• Moved by: Councillor Gerrits
  Seconded by: Councillor Hall

  THAT By-Law 2025-27 through to By-Law 2025-28, inclusive, be read a first, second and third time and enacted.

  CARRIED

18.1

2025-27 Federation of Canadian Municipalities (Green Municipal Fund Loan and Grant Agreement)

A by-law to ratify the actions of the Warden and the Clerk for executing an agreement between the County of Dufferin and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
Authorization: Infrastructure and Environmental Services - March 23, 2023

18.2

2025-28 Repeal By-Law 2019-10 Pre-Consultation By-Law

A by-law to repeal by-laws 2019-10 and 2023-12, a by-law to require pre-consultation on Planning Act applications in the County of Dufferin.
Authorization: Council - April 24, 2025

19.

OTHER BUSINESS

Councillor Little and Councillor Mills thanked the Economic Development Division for their event on May 7, 2025 with University of Guelph professor Ryan Gibson.

Councillor Nix expressed his concerns for provincial Bill 5: Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025. The Director of Community Development and Tourism noted it will have significant environmental implications. Staff will prepare a comment package of the proposed changes and implications in the Act and circulate it to the local planners for their comments. Comments will be submitted to the Environmental Registry of Ontario before the May 17, 2025 deadline.

20.

CONFIRMATORY BY-LAW

2025-29 Confirmatory By-Law - May 8, 2025

A by-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council of the Corporation of the County of Dufferin at its meeting held on May 8, 2025.

• Moved by: Councillor Mills
  Seconded by: Councillor Nix

  THAT By-Law 2025-29 be read a first, second and third time and enacted.

  CARRIED

21.

NEXT MEETING

The next Council meeting will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 9 am in the Dufferin Room at 30 Centre St, Orangeville.

22.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm.

• Moved by: Councillor Little
  Seconded by: Councillor Gardhouse

  THAT the meeting adjourn.

  CARRIED