Council Meeting

THAT: The minutes of the meeting held on April 7, 2025 be confirmed.

THAT: Report SESS-09-25 relating to the Ontario Works Annual Report: Key 2024 Highlights and 2025 Outlook be received for information.

THAT: Report CMO-04-25 relating to a Draft Corporate Communications Strategy be received for information; and further, THAT: Council receive and adopt the City of St. Thomas Corporate Communications Strategy to enhance internal and external communications, transparency, and engagement with residents, stakeholders, and staff.

THAT: Report PD-16-25 relating to the updated Sign By-Law be received for information; and further, THAT: Council authorize the preparation of a new sign by-law. Yeas (7) Mayor Preston, Councillor Baldwin-Sands, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Herbert, Councillor Kohler, Councillor Wookey, and Councillor Taylor Nays (1) Councillor Clarke Absent (1) Councillor Peters

THAT: Report PD-17-25 relating to a Limiting Distance Agreement for 244-248 Talbot Street be received for information; and further, THAT: Council approve the limiting distance agreement between the Corporation of the City of St Thomas and 2735125 Ontario Inc for the property at 244-248 Talbot Street, and delegate authority to the City Manager, to execute the agreement on behalf of the City of St Thomas as the adjacent property owner.

THAT: Report CMO-06-25 relating to Health Recruitment Partnership - Dr. Allison Wright be received for information; and further, THAT: Council direct that a by-law be prepared to enter into a Health Recruitment Partnership Agreement with Dr. Allison Wright for the provision of $17,000 in Health Recruitment Incentive funding.

THAT: Report CMO-09-25 relating to Health Recruitment Partnership - Dr. Ikechukwu Walter Ibeme be received for information; and further, THAT: Council direct that a by-law be prepared to enter into a Health Recruitment Partnership Agreement with Dr. Ikechukwu Walter Ibeme for the provision of $33,000 in Health Recruitment Incentive funding.

THAT: Report CMO-08-25 relating to Health Recruitment Partnership - Dr. Katharine McLaughlin be received for information; and further, THAT: Council direct that a by-law be prepared to enter into a Health Recruitment Partnership Agreement with Dr. Katharine McLaughlin for the provision of $16,500 in Health Recruitment Incentive funding.

THAT: Report CMO-07-25 relating to Health Recruitment Partnership - Dr. Laura McCracken be received for information; and further, THAT: Council direct that a by-law be prepared to enter into a Health Recruitment Partnership Agreement with Dr. Laura McCracken for the provision of $19,800 in Health Recruitment Incentive funding.

THAT: Report CMO-10-25 relating to Health Recruitment Partnership - Nurse Practitioner Shelby Ethier be received for information; and further, THAT: Council direct that a by-law be prepared to enter into a Health Recruitment Partnership Agreement with Nurse Practitioner Shelby Ethier for the provision of $5,000 in Health Recruitment Incentive funding.

THAT: Report ID-09-25 relating to Yarmouth Sewage Pumping Station – Tender Award be received for information; and further, THAT: Council award the Yarmouth Sewage Pumping Station tender to Birnam Excavating Ltd. in the amount of $ 4,563,251.54 , excluding HST.

THAT: Report ID-08-25 relating to Yarmouth Yards Shunting Yard - Contract Extension be received for information; and further, THAT: Council award the Yarmouth Yards Shunting Yard - Contract Extension to Amico Infrastructures Inc. in the amount of $ 19,983,226.77 , excluding HST.

THAT: The recommendations, directions and actions of Council in Committee of the Whole as recorded in the minutes of this date be confirmed, ratified and adopted.

THAT: The Council of the City of St. Thomas proclaim May 11th to 17th, 2025 as "Victims and Survivors of Crime Week" in the City of St. Thomas and that the Victim Services Elgin flag be flown for the week in the City of St. Thomas; and further, THAT: The Victim Services Elgin flag raising ceremony take place on May 12th, 2025.

THAT: Leave be granted to bring in the following by-laws: 1. A by-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council meeting held on the 14th day of April, 2025. 2. A by-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute and affix the Seal of the Corporation to a certain agreement between the Corporation of the City of St. Thomas and His Majesty the King in right of Ontario as represented by the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. (SD1 Amending Agreement No.2) 3. A by-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute and affix the Seal of the Corporation to a certain agreement between the Corporation of the City of St. Thomas and Indwell Community Homes. (Amending Agreement - 16 Queen Street) 4. A by-law to amend By-Law 50-88, being the Zoning By-law for the City of St. Thomas. (To address shipping containers, oversize vehicles and remove the prohibition on billboards - City initiated - File No. 2-03-24) 5. A by-law to regulate the erection and maintenance of advertising signs and other advertising devices.

THAT: The by-laws be now read a first time,

THAT: The report of Council in Committee of the Whole on the following by-laws be received and adopted, the same be read a third time, engrossed, signed by the Mayor and Clerk, sealed and numbered. 1. A by-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council meeting held on the 14th day of April, 2025. (B/L 37-2025) 2. A by-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute and affix the Seal of the Corporation to a certain agreement between the Corporation of the City of St. Thomas and His Majesty the King in right of Ontario as represented by the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. (SD1 Amending Agreement No.2) (B/L 38-2025) (A/G 12-2025) 3. A by-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute and affix the Seal of the Corporation to a certain agreement between the Corporation of the City of St. Thomas and Indwell Community Homes. (Amending Agreement - 16 Queen Street) (B/L 39-2025) (A/G 13-2025) 4. A by-law to amend By-Law 50-88, being the Zoning By-law for the City of St. Thomas. (To address shipping containers, oversize vehicles and remove the prohibition on billboards - City initiated - File No. 2-03-24) (B/L 40-2025) 5. A by-law to regulate the erection and maintenance of advertising signs and other advertising devices. (BL 41-2025)

THAT: This meeting be closed to deal with a proposed or pending disposition of land, a position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations

THAT: Council rise from Closed Session (7:05 p.m.)

THAT: This meeting be closed to deal with a trade secret or scientific, technical, commercial, financial or labour relations information, supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board, which, if disclosed, could reasonably be expected to prejudice significantly the competitive position or interfere significantly with the contractual or other negotiations of a person, group of persons, or organization and a trade secret or scientific, technical, commercial or financial information that belongs to the municipality or local board and has monetary value or potential monetary value at 7:06 p.m.

THAT: Council now rise from Closed Session (7:18 p.m.)

THAT: We do now adjourn (7:18 p.m.)

THAT: Report PD-16-25 relating to the updated Sign By-Law be received for information; and further, THAT: Council authorize the preparation of a new sign by-law. Yeas (7): Mayor Preston, Councillor Baldwin-Sands, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Herbert, Councillor Kohler, Councillor Taylor, and Councillor Wookey Nays (1): Councillor Clarke Absent (1): Councillor Peters