Council Meeting Summary: June 24, 2025

The following is a brief recap of the main issues and matters that Council dealt with at the meeting held on June 24, 2025. 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:

• Recognized the heroic efforts of Lakeshore firefighters involved with a lifesaving effort on August 9, 2024. These firefighters were acknowledged during the 2025 Survivor Day event hosted by the County of Essex and Essex-Windsor EMS earlier this year.

• Considered a notice of motion regarding the renaming of Lakeview Park and Marina and instead directed that Tom Bain be considered as the first member recognized when a new Naming Rights/Recognition Policy is brought back by Administration.

• Received the Results – Belle River Marina Request for Proposals report for information and directed Administration to conduct a safety assessment of the marina restaurant as soon as possible and should it be found to be safe, to allow for the rental of the space for the remainder of the 2025 season and delegate authority to the Chief Administrative Officer to enter into the agreement.

• Directed Administration to bring forward an amendment to the Parking By-law to increase the maximum on-street parking time to 3 consecutive days.

• Received the Municipality Issued Donation Receipts and Reserve Requirements report for information only. 

• Received a petition and directed Administration to bring back a report regarding the paving of alleyways for consideration and that Hydro One funds not be used for this purpose.

• Awarded the tender for the 2025 Sidewalk Construction Program to Giorgi Bros (1994) Inc in the amount of $190,016.45 including applicable HST, and further authorized the Corporate Leader – Operations to prepare and issue a tender for the extension of the 2025 Sidewalk Construction Program in the remaining underbudget amount to Giorgi Bros (1994) Inc as allowed in the tender; and delegated authority to the Mayor and Clerk to award a subsequent tender for the additional separate sidewalk contract.

• Awarded the tender for Firehall 1 and 2 Generators to Elric Contractors of Wallaceburg in the amount of $129,557.77 including tax; and approved an over budget amount of $29,557.77, to be funded by the facilities reserves.

• Authorized the Division Leader – Facilities and Parks to execute a design/build contract with Canada Ramp Company, in the amount of $200,000.00 including applicable HST.

• Approved the revised Medical Tiered Response Agreement between the Municipality of Lakeshore and The Corporation of the County of Essex and adopted By-law 45-2025to authorize the execution of the agreement. 

• Considered the Disposition of Municipal Lands for Housing report and:

  • Directed Administration to explore the feasibility to develop the property located at 7340 Tecumseh Road for the primary purposes of developing no more than 21 senior-friendly (65+) housing units, with public space for a public library and a community hub, and with public access to the municipal park located north of the site, with minor impact to the park for limited parking spaces and no delay to the construction of the park.

  • Directed Administration to issue a Request for Expressions of Interest (ROI) for the development of 396 River Ridge Drive, with the primary objective of creating housing units; and that the ROI should also explore opportunities for integrated neighbourhood commercial uses that support community needs and contribute to complete, walkable communities; and further, directed Administration to engage Horizons in assessment of community alignment, identification of potential partners, and determination of overall project viability, including detailed development costs; and further, directed Administration to bring back a report regarding the reuse of amenities at the park.

• Authorized $100,000 (inclusive of a 15% contingency and applicable HST) to be funded from the Wastewater Reserve for the purpose of retaining a qualified consultant to undertake the detailed design for the replacement of a sanitary pumping station for Maidstone Pump Station #1, located at 1580 County Road 22.

• Directed Administration to use the remaining funds from Phase 1 in the amount of $287,515.58 towards Option 1 being various recommended improvements to the Comber fairgrounds and the contribution for annual fireworks for an additional 3 years, up to and including 2027.

• Directed Administration to proceed with a comprehensive and financially responsible approach to managing the excess wastewater flows from the Stoney Point and Comber lagoon systems by supporting and funding the following interim measures, for a total budget of $4,187,000.00 for 2025:

  • Interim Measure #1 – Hauling to Denis St. Pierre Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) in the amount of $865,000.00 for the remainder of 2025 (will be included in the annual budget moving forward);

  • Interim Measure #2 – Temporary On-Site Treatment in the amount of $1,822,000.00 for 2025 (will be included in the annual budget moving forward);

  • Interim Measure #3 – Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) Reduction in the amount of $1,500,000.00 (one time cost); and

  • Interim Measure #4 – Acti-Zyme Biosolids Reduction and has already been approved in the 2025 budget. Annual maintenance costs will be included in future operating budgets.

• Approved the Municipality of Lakeshore Asset Management Plan 2024; directed the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer - Chief Financial Officer to submit the Municipality of Lakeshore Asset Management Plan 2024 to the Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure; directed that the Municipality of Lakeshore Asset Management Plan 2024 be made available on the Municipal website; and directed that the financial strategies outlined in Municipality of Lakeshore Asset Management Plan 2024 Report presented at the June 24, 2025 Council meeting be adopted and implemented in future budgets and fiscal planning and policy documents.