Council Meeting Summary: August 11, 2026

The following is a brief recap of the main issues and matters that Council dealt with at the meetings held on August 11, 2026. A video recording of the meeting will also be posted at Lakeshore.ca/TV.

These highlights are not official minutes of the meeting and are meant solely for the purpose of general communications. The approved minutes provide the only official record of Council Proceedings and decisions.  

Council: 

• Held a public meeting regarding Section 357 and Section 358, Municipal Act Tax Adjustments and authorized the reduction of taxes totaling $12,152.97 for adjustments affecting the 2024, 2025 and 2026 taxation years. 
• Held a public meeting regarding Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA-07-2026 (Renaud Line Road Subdivision) and approved the amendment to rezone the lands from “Residential Type 2 Exception 26 (R2-26)” to “Residential Type 2 Zone Exception 28 (R2-28)” zone.  
• Received the following reports for information only: 
  • 2026 By-law Enforcement Second Quarter Activity Report 
  • 2026 Building Services First Quarter Activity Report
  • Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority – Green Bin Promotion and Education

• Received the Petition regarding Skatepark Noise at Optimist Park and directed Administration to conduct a third party assessment of the noise levels affecting residents of Optimist Street related to the new skate park; and, if noise mitigation measures are recommended by the third party assessment, authorize Administration to complete such measures using available Parks surplus funds where sufficient; and further, directed Administration to report back to Council with any additional recommended mitigation measures that cannot be accommodated within available Parks surplus funds, and further that standardized park signage with the relevant enforcement contact information be installed. 
• Approved the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2024 and directed Administration to post them on the municipal website; and   
• Received the Audit Findings Report of KPMG for the year ended December 31, 2024, the Statement of Revenue and Expenses and Accumulated Net Expense for Building Services for the year ended December 31, 2024, the Development Charges Reserve Funds Statement, for the year ended December 31, 2024, and the Parkland Dedication Reserve Statement, for the year ended December 31, 2024. 
• Received the 2025 Year End Variances for the general (taxation funded), water and wastewater (sanitary sewer) funds; approved the taxation-supported operational surplus of $254,321 for the year ended December 31, 2025 and approved the following transfers: 
  • $254,321 to the Assessment Stabilization Reserve; 
  • $112,678 to the Building Services – Operating Fund Reserve; 
  • $(419,075) from the Water Reserve Fund; and 
  • $3,453,269 to the Wastewater Reserve Fund. 

• Approved extending the current contract with M & M Concessions for the provision of concession operations within the Atlas Tube Recreation Centre (ATRC) for an additional 8-month operating season (September to April).  
• Expressed support for the submission of the residents' petition to the Province of Ontario requesting action to address navigation hazards at the mouth of the Thames River in Lighthouse Cove and directed the Clerk to forward the resolution to the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Natural Resources, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, the Minister of Transportation, the local MPPs, the local MP, Transport Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the applicable Conservation Authority, the County of Essex, and neighbouring municipalities. 
• Directed Administration to immediate return to its loose tar/pothole filling and other general road maintenance that it had been undertaking prior to January 2019 on the sections of private roadways. The private road sections that Lakeshore states were inadvertently maintained by the municipality in the past are Ross Beach Road, Charron Beach Road and Couture Road. 
• Directed Administration to further investigate Laforet Beach Road and Caille Avenue and whether the private sections of the road were also inadvertently maintained by the municipality, thus determining whether the road qualifies for the direction issued in that motion. 
• Directed Administration to implement a sick and/or injured wildlife trapping program as soon as possible with a budget of up to $5,000 for the duration of 2026 (to be funded from a negative operational variance in By-law Services) to be administered and delivered by the Municipality's contracted Animal Control Officer; and requested that Administration include a sick and/or injured wildlife trapping program with an annual budget of up to $10,000 as part of the proposed 2027 municipal budget. 
• Directed Administration to: 
  • bring back the draft bylaw required to establish a Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) in Lakeshore at 6%, with the deferred report appended;  
  • establish a new Regional Parks Reserve dedicated to the development, enhancement, expansion, and long-term sustainability of Lakeshore's regional parks;  
  • draft all policies to ensure that 70% of Lakeshore's share of MAT revenues be directed to the new Regional Parks Reserve and 30% to the Economic Development Reserve; 
  • present these reports and draft bylaws to the new council ahead of 2027 budget deliberations so that they are included in revenue forecasts; 
  • utilize internal resources wherever practical to collect the MAT; and 
  • request that Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island provide an annual update on how Lakeshore's portion of the MAT is spent. 

• Directed Administration to prepare an interim control by-law under section 38 of the Planning Act to prohibit the establishment of AI data centres within the Municipality of Lakeshore for a period of up to 12 months, while the County of Essex complete its review of AI data centres and develops planning policy recommendations in consultation and cooperation with all lower-tier municipalities; that the interim control by-law be presented for consideration following the presentation of the interim report on AI data centres to County Council, in order to accurately capture the project timelines; and to report back to Council with any additional planning or zoning amendments necessary to ensure the Municipality’s planning framework aligns with the County’s recommendations and protects the long-term interests of the Municipality. 
• Directed Administration to consult with Marina staff and regulatory bodies to bring back a report on options to improve lighting, visibility, and navigational safety for boaters entering and exiting the Belle River Marina. 
• Directed Administration to bring back a report regarding flood mitigation measures, grant programs and any recommendations for enhancements to the program. 
• Adopted the following by-laws: 
  • By-law 45-2026, Being a By-law to amend By-law 2-2012, the Zoning By-law for the Municipality of Lakeshore (ZBA-07-2026) 
  • By-law 49-2026, Being a By-law to Authorize an Agreement with M & M Concessions 
  • By-law 50-2026, Being a By-law to Confirm the Proceedings of the July 14, 2026 Council Meeting 
  • By-law 52-2026, Being a By-law to Establish the Role of Chief Administrative Officer for the Municipality of Lakeshore