County of Brant Council Minutes — March 17, 2026

Agenda

1. Delegation: Henry Stolp – Northern Rudder Holdings Inc. – Downtown Paris BIA Residential Permit Parking System
2. Delegation: Kristy Guthrie – municiPal AI – AI and Online Service Modernization
3. Adoption of Minutes: Administration and Operations Committee Minutes of February 17, 2026
4. RPT-0083-26 – Award of OPS-RFP-26-01 Curbside Collection of Garbage, Large Items and Yard Waste Contract
5. RPT-0055-26 – OPS-RFT-24-06 – Pavement Markings – Longitudinal Lines Contract Extension
6. RPT-0094-26 – Agreement on Share of Drainage Assessment for the Harley Municipal Drain – 343 Harley Road
7. RPT-0118-26 – Creation of Sponsorship User Fees for County of Brant Events
8. RPT-0020-26 – 2025 Annual Summary Reports for the County of Brant Municipal Drinking Water Systems
9. RPT-0064-26 – Heritage Committee Terms of Reference Updates
10. RPT-0115-26 – 2025 Council / Committee Attendance, Remuneration, and Expenses
11. Fire Services Activity Report – February 2026
12. RPT-0113-26 – 40 km/hr Neighbourhood Area Speed Limit Update
13. RPT-0110-26 – Noise By-law Review
14. RPT-0137-26 – Bill 60 – Water and Wastewater Corporations Act
15. Brant Heritage Committee Report and Minutes of March 5, 2026
16. Notice of Motion Re: Comprehensive Review of the County of Brant Procedural By-law – Councillor Oakley
17. In Camera Session – Bawcutt Centre Expression of Interest and Proposed Sale of Land

Votes at a Glance

#	Motion	Result	Tally
1	Delegation from Henry Stolp – Northern Rudder Holdings Inc. re Downtown Paris BIA Residential Permit Parking System received and referred to staff for report	Passed	9–0
2	Delegation from Kristy Guthrie – municiPal AI received and referred to staff for report on advantages, disadvantages, and costs	Passed	9–0
3	Award OPS-RFP-26-01 Curbside Collection of Garbage, Large Items and Yard Waste to Environmental 360 Solutions Ltd. June 2027–May 2034 at $2,009,897.50/yr one (excl. HST)	Passed	9–0
4	Extend OPS-RFT-24-06 Pavement Marking – Longitudinal Lines contract one year to Provincial Road Marking Inc. at approx. $370,288.23 (excl. HST)	Passed	9–0
5	Approve agreement on share of drainage assessment for the Harley Municipal Drain – 343 Harley Road under Drainage Act s.65(2)	Passed	9–0
6	Establish County of Brant Economic Development and Tourism Event Sponsorship Program with tiered fees effective April 1, 2026; amend Fees and Charges By-Law 118-25	Passed	9–0
7	Receive 2025 Annual Summary Reports for County of Brant Municipal Drinking Water Systems and make available to public by March 31, 2026	Passed	9–0
8	Approve Heritage Committee Terms of Reference updates and amend By-Law 102-00 establishing the County of Brant Heritage Committee	Passed	9–0
9	Receive 2025 Council/Committee Attendance, Remuneration, and Expenses report as information	Passed	9–0
10	Amend Traffic Bylaw 182-05 Schedule J to reduce speed limit to 40 km/hr in designated neighbourhood areas in 2026 and 2027	Passed	9–0
11	Direct staff to create a noise control by-law adopting a hybrid model using quantitative limits for specific recurring issues	Passed	6–3
12	Receive Bill 60 Water and Wastewater Corporations Act report and direct staff to monitor provincial regulations and report back as appropriate	Passed	9–0
13	Approve Brant Heritage Committee Report and Minutes of March 5, 2026 including election of Chair and Vice Chair and Heritage Committee By-Law amendment	Passed	9–0

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Full Minutes

4.1. Delegation: Henry Stolp – Northern Rudder Holdings Inc. – Downtown Paris BIA Residential Permit Parking System

Henry Stolp of Northern Rudder Holdings Inc. appeared before the Committee to raise concerns about the Downtown Paris Residential Parking Permit System. He requested that ten permit parking spaces be moved to municipal lot #3, that local property owners be allowed to rent those spaces, and that the fee structure be reduced with an annual payment option. The Committee referred the matter to staff to prepare a report with a recommendation.

4.2. Delegation: Kristy Guthrie – municiPal AI – AI and Online Service Modernization

Kristy Guthrie from municiPal AI presented an artificial intelligence-powered search and content tool designed for municipal websites, outlining how it could help both staff and residents find information more easily. The Committee discussed how the tool might work with the County of Brant's existing systems, including EngageBrant and eScribe. Staff were directed to prepare a report outlining the advantages, disadvantages, and costs of the service.

5.1. Adoption of Minutes: Administration and Operations Committee Minutes of February 17, 2026

The Committee reviewed and approved the minutes from its previous meeting held on February 17, 2026.

7.1.1. RPT-0083-26 – Award of OPS-RFP-26-01 Curbside Collection of Garbage, Large Items and Yard Waste Contract

The Committee approved awarding a new curbside garbage, large item, and yard waste collection contract to Environmental 360 Solutions Ltd., running from June 1, 2027 to May 31, 2034. The first-year contract price is approximately $2,009,897.50 (excluding HST), with future years adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index. Staff confirmed this contract represents a cost reduction compared to the County's current arrangement, and that Blue Box collection is handled separately.

7.1.2. RPT-0055-26 – OPS-RFT-24-06 – Pavement Markings – Longitudinal Lines Contract Extension

The Committee approved a one-year extension of the road line painting contract with Provincial Road Marking Inc. at an approximate cost of $370,288.23 (excluding HST). The company has performed satisfactorily in 2024 and 2025, and the original contract allowed for this type of extension. Councillor Peirce also requested that 8th Concession Road between Bishopsgate Road and Harley Road be added to the road markings list.

7.1.3. RPT-0094-26 – Agreement on Share of Drainage Assessment for the Harley Municipal Drain – 343 Harley Road

The Committee approved a formal agreement between property owners regarding how drainage assessment costs for the Harley Municipal Drain at 343 Harley Road will be shared following a subdivision of land. Under provincial drainage law, when owners of subdivided land agree on how to split drainage costs in writing and Council approves the agreement, a separate engineering review is not required.

7.1.4. RPT-0118-26 – Creation of Sponsorship User Fees for County of Brant Events

The Committee approved the creation of a formal sponsorship program for County of Brant Economic Development and Tourism events, effective April 1, 2026. The program will include tiered sponsorship levels with associated fees, allow both cash and in-kind contributions, and be administered by the Economic Development and Tourism Division. Sponsorship fees will be added to the County's Fees and Charges By-Law.

7.1.5. RPT-0020-26 – 2025 Annual Summary Reports for the County of Brant Municipal Drinking Water Systems

The Committee received the 2025 annual reports for the County's municipal drinking water systems, as required by provincial regulations. These reports summarize water system operations, major infrastructure costs, and the results of chemical and bacteriological testing conducted throughout 2025. The reports will be made available to the public by March 31, 2026.

7.1.6. RPT-0064-26 – Heritage Committee Terms of Reference Updates

The Committee approved updates to the Terms of Reference for the County of Brant Heritage Committee by amending the existing by-law that established the committee. This item was also recommended by the Brant Heritage Committee at its March 5, 2026 meeting.

7.2.1. RPT-0115-26 – 2025 Council / Committee Attendance, Remuneration, and Expenses

The Committee received for information the 2025 annual report on attendance, pay, and expenses for members of County Council and its committees. Staff clarified what types of costs are included in the expense calculations for Council members.

7.2.2. Fire Services Activity Report – February 2026

The Committee received the County of Brant Fire Services Activity Report for February 2026 as an informational update on fire department operations during that month.

8.1. RPT-0113-26 – 40 km/hr Neighbourhood Area Speed Limit Update

The Committee approved reducing speed limits to 40 km/h in numerous residential neighbourhood areas across the County, including areas in Paris, Onondaga, Scotland, Burford, Oakland, Glen Morris, St. George, Harrisburg, and Middleport, to be rolled out over a three-year period ending in 2027. This initiative follows the County's Road Safety Strategy and Transportation Master Plan, which identified the need to slow traffic on local neighbourhood roads. The Ontario Provincial Police will be notified of the changes, which take effect after the amended bylaws receive final approval.

8.2. RPT-0110-26 – Noise By-law Review

Staff presented a review of the County's Noise By-law, including options for using measurable decibel limits versus a more subjective approach to enforcing noise complaints. After discussion, the Committee directed staff (in a 6 to 3 vote) to develop a new noise control by-law using a hybrid model that applies specific measurable limits for recurring noise issues while retaining flexibility for other situations.

8.3. RPT-0137-26 – Bill 60 – Water and Wastewater Corporations Act

Staff provided an overview of Ontario's Bill 60 (Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025), which allows the province to designate public corporations to deliver water and wastewater services on behalf of municipalities. Key details such as governance, ownership, and rate-setting are still to be determined through future provincial regulations. The Committee directed staff to monitor developments and report back with analysis of any impacts on the County's water and wastewater services.

9.1. Brant Heritage Committee Report and Minutes of March 5, 2026

The Committee approved the report and minutes from the Brant Heritage Committee meeting held March 5, 2026. This included confirming Councillor Howes as Chair and Member Campbell as Vice Chair of the Heritage Committee, and advancing the Heritage Committee Terms of Reference update to Council for final approval.

11.1. Notice of Motion Re: Comprehensive Review of the County of Brant Procedural By-law – Councillor Oakley

A Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Oakley calling for a comprehensive review of the County of Brant's Procedural By-law was acknowledged by the Committee. The motion will be formally brought forward at the March 24, 2026 County of Brant Council meeting.

12. In Camera Session – Bawcutt Centre Expression of Interest and Proposed Sale of Land

The Committee moved into a closed (In Camera) session to discuss two confidential matters: a review of expressions of interest received for the Bawcutt Centre, and a proposed sale of land involving Block 4 and 5 of the Lauderdale (Summit) Estates Subdivision. These items were discussed privately as they involve sensitive land transaction and negotiation information. The Committee returned to open session after approximately 46 minutes.

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