Special Meeting of Council, Monday, January 26, 2026
What was decided, in plain words. Every item links back to the official minutes, which are the record.
Plain-language summary based on the official minutes; see the minutes PDF for the full wording.
Present: Mayor Drew Dilkens, Councillor Fred Francis, Councillor Frazier Fathers, Councillor Renaldo Agostino, Councillor Mark McKenzie, Councillor Ed Sleiman, Councillor Jo-Anne Gignac, Councillor Angelo Marignani, Councillor Gary Kaschak, Councillor Kieran McKenzie, Councillor Jim Morrison.
What they decided (19 items, 1 lost)
7.1 Correspondence Report for Monday, January 26, 2026 City Council Meeting
the following Communication Items 7.1.1 through 7.1.6 as set forth in the Council Agenda be referred as noted: No. Sender Subject 7.1.1 Government of Update on the proposed environmental assessment Ontario, Ministry of regulation for municipal infrastructure. Environment, Conservation and Administrative Lead: Commissioner, Infrastructure…
7.2 Peche Island Preservability Project Update, Ward 7
the report of the Acting Executive Director Parks, Recreation & Facilities dated January 9, 2026, entitled “Peche Island Preservability Project Update, Ward 7” be received for information.
11.1 Support for Invest WindsorEssex (IWE) Grant Application to the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI)
City Council support Invest Windsor Essex’s (iwe) application to the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario’s Regional Tariff Response Initiative (rtri)
- $94,600: …of their application to the RTRI grant to provide in-kind support to an upset limit of $94,600 annually for a four year period toward…
11.3 Joint Hosting AMO AGM and Annual Conference, Bid for 2028, 2029, 2030 and 2031 - City Wide
City Council support the submission by Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island (twepi) to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (amo) For the city of Windsor and the County of Essex to be considered as the host municipalities for the amo Annual Conference for 2028, 2029,…
10.4 Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority 2026 Budget - City Wide
City Council approve the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority 2026 Budget, attached as Appendix A.
10.3 2026 Stormwater and Wastewater Budget Amendments - City Wide
City Council approve the 2026 proposed Stormwater and Wastewater budget amendments which are presented as part of the 2026 Proposed Operating Budget, subject to any further amendments that may be considered
- $5.5M: …to fund the 2026 transitional funding and the 2026 budget increases, estimated to be $5.5M and as detailed in the Financial Matter…
11.2 On-Street Parking Supply and Revenue Optimization, Ward 3
the report from the Manager, Transportation Operations dated January 15, 2026 entitled “On- Street Parking Supply and Revenue Optimization, Ward 3” be received for information
- $2.50: …enforcement period, and increase the cash payment rate at on-street parking meters to $2.50 per hour from the $2.25 per hour existi…
- $2.25: …increase the cash payment rate at on-street parking meters to $2.50 per hour from the $2.25 per hour existing rate; and, That the C…
11.4 Response to MD-01-2026; Options to Provide Additional Access for Twin Oaks Business Park, Ward 9
City Council approve the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (mcea) Study, design, construction and contract administration related to implementation of a new access to eastbound ec Row Expressway from Anchor Drive (Appendix C, Alternative 1) at an estimated cost of $1,475,000 (including applicable taxes)
- $1,475,000: …EC Row Expressway from Anchor Drive (Appendix C, Alternative 1) at an estimated cost of $1,475,000 (including applicable taxes); and furth…
- $1,475,000,: …a result of the request outlined in this report City Council SUPPORTS an expenditure of $1,475,000, therefore the City Treasurer BE DIRECTE…
- $240,000: …administration for Alternative 1 as detailed in this report, to an upset limit of $240,000 (excluding applicable taxes); satisfact…
11.4 Response to MD-01-2026; Options to Provide Additional Access for Twin Oaks Business Park, Ward 9
funding for the following Agencies, Boards, Committees/Commissions: Artcite Inc.; Arts Council Windsor Essex; The Safety Village; Windsor Symphony; Life after Fifty; Handi-Transit; Invest- Windsor Essex be reinstated in the amount of $294,072 at the approved 2025 level, save and except for Invest Windsor Essex which…
- $294,072: …Life after Fifty; Handi-Transit; Invest- Windsor Essex BE REINSTATED in the amount of $294,072 at the approved 2025 level, save and ex…
11.4 Response to MD-01-2026; Options to Provide Additional Access for Twin Oaks Business Park, Ward 9
the Proposed Recreation User Fees be reduced from a proposed 8% increase to a 3% increase and any fees not at a 3% increase be increased and rounded up to the nearest quarter
- $40: …and rounded up to the nearest quarter; and that Day camp user fees WILL BE set at $40 per day inclusive of all additional fee…
11.4 Response to MD-01-2026; Options to Provide Additional Access for Twin Oaks Business Park, Ward 9
administration be directed to add the Transit Windsor Route 1000 bus back into circulation for the remainder of this calendar year-2026, until the end of December 2026
- $4.00: …until the end of December 2026; and that the proposed bus fare increase BE REDUCED from $4.00 per trip to $3.95 per trip; and, That A…
- $3.95: …December 2026; and that the proposed bus fare increase BE REDUCED from $4.00 per trip to $3.95 per trip; and, That Administration BE D…
11.4 Response to MD-01-2026; Options to Provide Additional Access for Twin Oaks Business Park, Ward 9
with regards to “Elimination of the MBNCanada Benchmarking Initiative” that the elimination of funding in the amount of $25,500 be not approved
- $25,500: …the MBNCanada Benchmarking Initiative” that the elimination of funding in the amount of $25,500 BE NOT APPROVED; and, That Administrati…
- $10,000: …could replace MBNCanada for 2027 and in the absence of another tool, that an additional $10,000 be provided for a total of $35,500 TO B…
- $35,500: …in the absence of another tool, that an additional $10,000 be provided for a total of $35,500 TO BE FUNDED through the Budget Stabili…
| For | Kieran McKenzie, Frazier Fathers |
|---|---|
| Against | Angelo Marignani, Ed Sleiman, Fred Francis, Gary Kaschak, Jim Morrison, Jo-Anne Gignac, Mark McKenzie, Renaldo Agostino |
11.4 Response to MD-01-2026; Options to Provide Additional Access for Twin Oaks Business Park, Ward 9
Administration be directed to write a letter to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (amo) and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (fcm) requesting that they consider potentially providing some sort of benchmarking method for municipalities.
11.4 Response to MD-01-2026; Options to Provide Additional Access for Twin Oaks Business Park, Ward 9
Administration be directed to increase the Vacant Home Tax from 3% to 4%
10.1 2026 Proposed Operating Budget Amendment Report - City Wide
City Council approve the 2026 proposed operating budget amendments which are reflective of an overall levy increase of 0%, including any further amendments that which may be considered
10.2 2026 Proposed Capital Budget - City Wide
City Council approve the 2026 10-Year Capital Budget documents reflective of $2,259,082,195 in total funding, inclusive of funding required for pre-commitments and placeholders; for 2026 capital projects totalling $317,264,628
- $2,259,082,195: …That City Council APPROVE the 2026 10-Year Capital Budget documents reflective of $2,259,082,195 in total funding, inclusive of funding…
- $317,264,628: …required for pre-commitments and placeholders; for 2026 capital projects totalling $317,264,628; and for the recommended allocation of…
- $1,941,817,567,: …allocation of the 2027 through 2035 available funding for capital projects totalling $1,941,817,567, including any further amendments that m…
15.1 Support for OBCM Emergency Declaration on Homelessness, Mental Health, and Addictions
whereas the Ontario Big City Mayors (OBCM) officially requested in December 2025 that the Government of Ontario declare a provincial state of emergency to address the "community safety and humanitarian crisis" caused by homelessness, mental health, and addictions
- $4 billion: …a disproportionate share of the costs for mental health and housing, spending over $4 billion in 2024, despite these being primarily p…
15.2 Sandpoint Beach Master Plan
administration be directed to submit a comprehensive status report that benchmarks the Sandpoint Beach master plan against the Lifesaving Society of Canada’s safety standards, identifies the technical requirements to ensure the project is shovel ready for provincial and federal grants, and confirms alignment with the…
15.2 Sandpoint Beach Master Plan
the 30-day budget amendment period prescribed in Ontario Regulation 530/22 Section 7 (3) for the 2026 Recommended Operating and Capital Budgets be shortened and the final day for amendments be January 26, 2026.
Conflicts of interest declared
- Councillor Frazier Fathers discloses an interest and abstains from voting on the proposed 2026 Operating Budget amendment Item 2026-0097 (Reference No. D 184), specifically in relation to the “Position / Plan / Procedure to be Applied to Negotiation,” as he has an Employment / Business relationship with the named party.
Routine business
- Adopted the minutes of an earlier meeting. (Moved by Councillor Frazier Fathers, seconded by Councillor Fred Francis. Carried.)
- Moved into Committee of the Whole to deal with the agenda. (Moved by Councillor Jo-Anne Gignac, seconded by Councillor Gary Kaschak. Carried.)
- Adopted a committee report. (Moved by Councillor Frazier Fathers, seconded by Councillor Fred Francis. Carried.)
- Adopted a committee report. (Moved by Councillor Frazier Fathers, seconded by Councillor Fred Francis. Carried.)
- Adopted a committee report. (Moved by Councillor Frazier Fathers, seconded by Councillor Fred Francis. Carried.)
- Adopted a committee report. (Moved by Councillor Frazier Fathers, seconded by Councillor Fred Francis. Carried.)
- Gave first and second reading to the by-laws on the agenda. (Moved by Councillor Jo-Anne Gignac, seconded by Councillor Gary Kaschak. Carried.)
- Ended Committee of the Whole and reported back to Council. (Moved by Councillor Angelo Marignani, seconded by Councillor Kieran McKenzie. Carried.)
- Gave first and second reading to the by-laws on the agenda. (Moved by Councillor Mark McKenzie, seconded by Councillor Jim Morrison. Carried.)
- Adjourned the meeting. (Moved by Councillor Jo-Anne Gignac, seconded by Councillor Gary Kaschak. Carried.)
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