Council Meeting

That Council amend the February 18, 2025 Council agenda to add to correspondence section 16.1 a letter from Northumberland County regarding designating a Female Council member to participate in International Women's Day professional development event.

That Council suspend the rules of the Procedural Bylaw to hear the Notice of Motion from Councillor Jeff Wheeldon as a motion for debate.

That Council approve the February 18, 2025 Council agenda as amended.

That Council adopt the February 3, 2025 Council meeting minutes as presented.

That Council adopt the February 10, 2025 Council Planning meeting minutes as presented.

That Council adopt the Committee of the Whole Budget meeting minutes for January 15th, 29th and February 7th, 2025 as presented.

Whereas council received the DC background study on June 13, 2024 and held a public meeting on July 15, 2024; And Whereas additional consultation was afforded to and comments were provided by the development community; Now therefore be it resolved that Council receive and approve without any further public meetings the Brighton 2024 DC Background Study and the DC Addendum as presented this evening by Peter Simcisko, Watson & Associates; And further direct staff to provide council with recommendations around affordable/attainable housing options as it relates to DC's at the April 14, 2025 Council Planning meeting; And further direct staff to draft a policy for the deferral of DC's to be brought to Council at the April 14, 2025 Council Planning meeting.

That Council receive the Brighton 2025 Water and Wastewater Rate Study and approve the Water Financial Plan as presented by Peter Simcisko, Watson & Associates.

That Council approve the water and wastewater rates presented in Table 6-1 and direct staff to prepare and bring forward a new Water and Wastewater Fees and Charges By-law for adoption.

That Council receive the 2025 Budget Presentation and comments submitted by members of the public.  Comments submitted by Amy McQuaid - Municipal Grant Funding and continued support for Rainbow Youth Centre

That Council approve the 2025 Budget with a 7.61% tax increase; and Further that Council direct staff to bring a bylaw to approve the budget estimate at the March 3, 2025 meeting.

That Council receive citizens comments submitted at the February 18, 2025 Council meeting:  Amy McQuaid, comments regarding section 11.1 Motion regarding Educational Funding.

That Council endorse the application for the Government of Canada Active Transportation Fund grant to fund potentially 60% to 100% of the active transportation infrastructure costs of the Harbour Street Reconstruction project.

That Council rename and restructure the Citizen of the Year Award to align with the addition of the Volunteer of the Year event and to direct staff to bring forward an updated terms of reference.

That Council adopt the draft Terms of Reference for the Homelessness Taskforce; and That Council direct staff to proceed with contacting the applicable community groups and agencies to inquire about a representative from each being appointed to the Taskforce; and That Council appoint Councillor Jeff Wheeldon and Councillor Hannah MacAusland as the Council representatives of the Taskforce; and That Council direct staff to proceed with filling 1 community member position on the Taskforce in accordance with the Committees of Council Administration Policy.

That Council receive the CAO Ongoing Report and Capital Projects Update as information.

AS AMENDED WHEREAS post-secondary education is critical for enhancing our quality of life, supporting innovation and the development of intellectual property, and preparing our youth for skilled labour; and in 2014 was estimated to add $55-75 Billion to the economy, according to the Conference Board of Canada; AND WHEREAS the Ontario Government pays the lowest amount among the provinces for higher education, and have required post-secondary institutions to look to other revenue streams in order to develop and grow; AND WHEREAS a pre-existing and growing housing shortage has greatly impacted all local and international students negatively, and has resulted in a federal cap in study permits; AND WHEREAS this cap on study permits has significant impacts on a revenue stream post-secondary institutions have come to rely on, prompting layoffs and programming cuts that translate to a significant loss in local GDP, donations, and educational opportunities in our community; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Municipality of Brighton call upon the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada to allocate sufficient funding to higher education to allow post-secondary institutions to thrive, and in so doing to support local communities and economies, without relying on international student tuition to make up their shortfalls; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be sent to Ontario officials including the Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario; the Honourable Nolan Quinn,

That Council gives a bylaw its first, second and third reading and finally passes on this date: Being a by-law to Stop Up, Close and Sell a portion of an unopened road allowance comprising a portion of original road allowance described as Part 2 on 39R14657, being the southerly portion of road allowance lying west of County Road 30, and between Concession 1, Concession Gore in the former Township of Seymour and Part of Lot 37, Concession 10 of the former Township of Brighton.

That Council gives a bylaw its first, second and third reading and finally passes on this date: Being a by-law for the imposition of Development Charges

That Council receive the report from Mayor Ostrander; And further that Council appoints Members of Council to committees, boards and external agencies as noted in the report; And further that Council directs staff to make the necessary arrangements for Council appointments.

That Council receive the Brighton Public Library Board meeting minutes November 27, 2024 as presented.

That Council designate Councillor Hannah MacAusland to attend the Northumberland County International Women's Day professional event on March 26, 2026.

That Council receive the THINK tiny Homes Northumberland newsletter January 2025 as information.

That Council received the Updates from Northumberland County February 3 – February 14, 2025 as information.

That Council support the correspondence from the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus resolution of support of the Canadian and Ontario Governments' Negotiations with the United States Government on Trade Tariffs.

That Council resolve into Closed Session February 18, 2025 at 9:45 pm, pursuant to the Ontario Municipal Act, R.S.O. 2001, as amended, Subsection 239 (2) (b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees; Review of Committee and Board applications.

That Council rise and report from Closed Session February 18, 2025 at 10:15 p.m.:  Item 1 – Approval of the Closed Session meeting minutes for February 10, 2025 A procedural motion to adopt the minutes was voted on in closed session, therefore there remains nothing to be done in public session.  Item 2 – (b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees; Review of Committee and Board applications. I have a motions before me to provide direction.

That Council receive the confidential Boards and Committees applications for appointments in Closed Session February 18, 2025; and further, That Council appoint Ann Vowles and Sheryl Loucks to the Brighton Public Library Board for the remainder of the 2022-2026 term; and That Council appoint Doug Bennett to the Applefest Steering Committee for the remainder of the 2022-2026 term.

That Council gives a bylaw its first, second and third reading and finally passes on this date: being a bylaw to confirm the proceedings of the Corporation of the Municipality of Brighton Council meeting held on February 18, 2025.

That the February 15, 2025 Council meeting adjourn at 10:16 p.m.