County of Brant Council Minutes — April 25, 2023

Agenda

1. Delegation – Brooke Hayward, CEO, Brant Municipal Enterprises
2. Adoption of Council Minutes – March 28, 2023
3. Consent Item – Brant County Health Unit: West Nile Virus
4. Consent Items to be Received (General)
5. Long Point Region Conservation Authority – Annual Report and Financial Statement 2022
6. City of Brantford – Social Services Resolutions
7. Planning and Development Committee Report – April 4, 2023
8. Grants Committee Report – April 11, 2023
9. Administration and Operations Committee Report – April 11, 2023
10. RPT 98-23 – Hillside Avenue and Race Street Sanitary Sewer Replacement
11. RPT 115-23 – Vansickle Bridge Deck Replacement
12. RPT 116-23 – Grand River Street North Reconstruction Trunk Sewer and Watermain
13. RPT 160-23 – Dundas Street West, Chapel Street, Main Street Trunk Watermain Replacement and Roadwork
14. Other Business – Letter from Xplorenet Inc. (Broadband Funding Support)
15. In Camera Session
16. By-laws – First, Second, and Third Readings

Votes at a Glance

#	Motion	Result	Tally
1	Authorize West Nile virus larvicide permit applications within County of Brant by licensed exterminators	Passed	unanimous
2	Receive City of Brantford Social Services Resolutions as information	Passed	unanimous
3	Approve Planning and Development Committee report of April 4, 2023 including telecom tower, ZBAs, and Committee of Adjustment	Passed	unanimous
4	Approve Grants Committee Report of April 11, 2023 including community grant allocations and 2024 review committee	Passed	unanimous
5	Approve Administration and Operations Committee Report of April 11, 2023 including contracts, tax rates, traffic, and heritage items	Passed	unanimous
6	Award OPS-RFT-23-15 Hillside Avenue and Race Street Sanitary Sewer Replacement to BEECH Infrastructure Group Ltd. for $2,879,277.40	Passed	unanimous
7	Award OPS-RFT-23-07 Vansickle Bridge Deck Replacement to Urbanlink Civil Ltd. for $1,207,700.00	Passed	unanimous
8	Award OPS-RFT-23-08 Grand River Street North Reconstruction Trunk Sewer and Watermain to Regional Sewer and Watermain Ltd. for $6,111,381.67	Passed	unanimous
9	Award OPS-RFT-23-17 Dundas Street West, Chapel Street, Main Street Trunk Watermain Replacement and Roadwork to Sierra Infrastructure Inc. for $3,672,566.37	Passed	unanimous
10	Authorize Mayor to send letter of support to Xplorenet Inc. for their CRTC Broadband Fund application	Passed	unanimous

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Full Minutes

4.1. Delegation – Brooke Hayward, CEO, Brant Municipal Enterprises

Brooke Hayward, CEO of Brant Municipal Enterprises (BME), presented an overview of BME's objectives, mandate, and strategic planning process, including its business units and ongoing projects. She clarified that Council sets BME's objectives through the shareholders agreement, and that any activities outside those objectives would require direction from the shareholder (County of Brant). Council received the presentation as information.

5.1. Adoption of Council Minutes – March 28, 2023

Council approved the minutes from the previous Council meeting held on March 28, 2023.

7.1.1. Consent Item – Brant County Health Unit: West Nile Virus

Council authorized permit applications submitted to the Ministry of the Environment for West Nile virus control within the County of Brant. This allows licensed exterminators to apply larvicide to catch basins and surface waters to reduce the risk of West Nile virus transmission.

7.2. Consent Items to be Received (General)

Council received several informational items including the Grand River Conservation Authority general membership meeting summary, the City of Brantford 2022 Water System Annual Report, a resolution from the Municipality of Calvin regarding school accommodation reviews, Long Point Region Conservation Authority meeting minutes, and a Giant Hogweed Mitigation Project report.

7.2.2. Long Point Region Conservation Authority – Annual Report and Financial Statement 2022

Council discussed the contents of the Long Point Region Conservation Authority's 2022 Annual Report and Financial Statement before receiving it as information. This item was separated from the main consent block for additional discussion.

7.2.5. City of Brantford – Social Services Resolutions

Council received resolutions from the City of Brantford related to social services. Councillor Garneau declared a conflict of interest and did not participate. Staff were asked to follow up with the City of Brantford to clarify a reference to 'North Brantford High School' in relation to projected child spaces.

8.1. Planning and Development Committee Report – April 4, 2023

Council approved recommendations from the Planning and Development Committee, including support for a telecommunications tower at 510 Brant-Waterloo Road despite it not meeting natural heritage setback guidelines, approval of a zoning change at 6 Maple Ave North in Burford to allow multi-unit housing subject to a servicing condition, approval of a zoning amendment at 524 Old Onondaga Road East to recognize a smaller lot frontage and agricultural area, and a decision to continue the existing Committee of Adjustment structure with updated Terms of Reference.

8.2. Grants Committee Report – April 11, 2023

Council approved the distribution of $360,000 in Community Grants for 2023, allocating 50% ($180,000) to the Brantford General Hospital new build, $10,000 to agricultural societies, and the remaining $170,000 proportionally to over 60 community organizations based on staff scoring. An ad hoc review committee of five councillors was established to oversee the 2024 grants process, and staff were directed to review and update the grants criteria before the next application window.

8.3. Administration and Operations Committee Report – April 11, 2023

Council approved a wide-ranging set of recommendations covering road resurfacing and rehabilitation contracts, a recycling diversion contract, 2023 tax rates for all property classes, a Culture Days sponsorship program, updated special events and patio application processes, AI traffic signal technology at two intersections, a new Traffic Calming Policy, interim measures for Mile Hill Road, a joint parking lot agreement with Paris Presbyterian Church, parking bylaw amendments, renaming of the Burford Optimist Pavilion to the Dale Weatherbee Pavilion, approval of the Transportation Master Plan Update, and heritage committee decisions on demolition and alteration applications.

9.1. RPT 98-23 – Hillside Avenue and Race Street Sanitary Sewer Replacement

Council awarded the contract for the Hillside Avenue and Race Street Sanitary Sewer Replacement project to BEECH Infrastructure Group Ltd. for $2,879,277.40 (excluding HST). Staff confirmed sidewalk placement details and noted that utility coordination meetings help align infrastructure upgrades.

9.2. RPT 115-23 – Vansickle Bridge Deck Replacement

Council awarded the Vansickle Bridge Deck Replacement contract to Urbanlink Civil Ltd. for $1,207,700.00 (excluding HST). This project involves replacing the deck of an existing bridge within the County.

9.3. RPT 116-23 – Grand River Street North Reconstruction Trunk Sewer and Watermain

Council awarded the Grand River Street North Reconstruction Trunk Sewer and Watermain contract to Regional Sewer and Watermain Ltd. for $6,111,381.67 (excluding HST). Additional funding of $800,000 for water works and $700,000 for wastewater works was approved through transfers from reserves and development charges.

9.4. RPT 160-23 – Dundas Street West, Chapel Street, Main Street Trunk Watermain Replacement and Roadwork

Council awarded the contract for watermain replacement and roadwork on Dundas Street West, Chapel Street, and Main Street to Sierra Infrastructure Inc. for $3,672,566.37. This project involves replacing aging underground water infrastructure and associated road repairs.

12.1. Other Business – Letter from Xplorenet Inc. (Broadband Funding Support)

Mayor Bailey brought forward a letter from Xplorenet Inc. requesting a letter of support for their application to the CRTC Broadband Fund for a regional broadband expansion project. Council authorized the Mayor to send a letter of support for the application.

13. In Camera Session

Council moved into a closed (in camera) session to discuss three Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) appeals related to properties at 282A Highway 5, 269 German School Road, and 29 Thirteenth Concession, as well as a confidential staffing update. Council reconvened in open session after approximately one hour.

14. By-laws – First, Second, and Third Readings

Council passed eleven by-laws covering zoning amendments for two properties, updates to the Committee of Adjustment and Procedural By-law, adoption of 2023 tax rates, parking and fees updates, delegation of authority changes, a Planning Act land severance, appointment of bylaw enforcement officers, a drainage works by-law, and the confirming by-law for the meeting's proceedings.

This post was automatically generated by BrantVotes from the official County of Brant council minutes. Always refer to the official minutes for authoritative records.