Council Connect - April 23, 2024

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Council Connect: Highlights from April 23, 2024, meetings of Council

Special Meeting of Council

New Development Charges By-Law from Watson & Associates:  Council received a report on the process for updating the Town’s Development Charges By-law as required by Provincial legislation every 5 years. The Development Charges By-law projects growth anticipated in the Town over the next 20 years and determines the cost of infrastructure required to support that growth. These costs form the basis for updating development charges for new development. A further report will be brought forward to Council at the May 28, 2024 regular council meeting outlining proposed changes to the Town’s development charges. 

Regular Meeting of Council

Windsor-Essex Provincial Offences Act Annual Report 2023: Council received a report on the Windsor-Essex Provincial Offences Program, which was created as a special purpose channel to accept the transfer of the Provincial Offences Act (POA) responsibilities from the province. The program is delivered by the City of Windsor under the guidance of the Windsor-Essex Court Service Area Liaison Committee. The program generates a net surplus from operations that is shared among the participating municipalities.  The Town’s share of the net surplus from the POA revenues has been declining since 2016 due to the steady decline in charging volumes and the COVID-19 pandemic. The past five-year average annual revenue for Tecumseh from the program has been approximately $76,000. 

Larviciding for the 2024 West Nile Virus Program: The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has selected Pestalto Environmental Health Services Inc. to provide the 2024 larviciding program aimed at reducing the transmission of West Nile virus in the region. The program costs are shared between the health unit and the municipalities at a 75/25 split. The Town’s costs in the amount of $6,000 will be funded from the approved 2024 Public Works operating budget.  

2023 Town of Tecumseh CLI-ECA Annual Performance Reports Sewage Collection & Stormwater Management Systems:  Under the new CLI-ECA program, the Town has to prepare Annual Performance Reports (APRs) pertaining to yearly activity, performance, and alterations to public sewage collection and stormwater management systems and make reports available to the public. Council adopted the 2023 Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks Annual Performance Reports for the Town of Tecumseh Sewage Collection and Stormwater Management Systems.

Operating and Facility Use Agreements for Bert Lacasse Baseball Stadium: Council received the report outlining the Operating and Facility Use Agreements for Bert Lacasse Baseball Stadium, including the financial obligations and maintenance responsibilities of the Tecumseh Baseball Club and St. Clair College. For the Tecumseh Baseball Club, the proposed Operating Agreement outlines terms of the Agreement and roles and responsibilities for the operations and maintenance of the facilities between the Town and the Club. The term of the Operating Agreement is for a ten (10) year period (with options to renew). The Club will be responsible for all maintenance, and additional terms located here. St. Clair College also agrees to provide the Town with an annual operating amount of up to $10,000 to support operations, along with additional terms located here. Council received the report and adopted By-Laws 2024-040 and 2024-041.  

St. Clair College Alumni Association Sponsorship Agreement: The St. Clair College Alumni Association enthusiastically backs Saints Baseball and has shown interest in supporting the refurbishment of the Bert Lacasse Baseball Stadium, which serves as the home field for St. Clair College Saints Baseball. The St. Clair College Alumni Association has contributed $50,000 towards the capital costs of the Bert Lacasse Baseball Stadium refurbishment project, which will ensure that the scoreboard is resurfaced and that new landscaping features are installed on the exterior of the outfield fence and the entryway into Lacasse Park. Council received the report and adopted By-Law 2024-042.  

Encroachment Agreement Amendment Outdoor Patio Redesign 1125 Lesperance Road (Brotto Investments Inc.): Brotto Investments Inc approached the Town with a request to amend the existing encroachment agreement to update the approved site plan illustrating the location/dimensions of the outdoor patio. Town Administration reviewed the proposed site plan drawing and found that the design/layout is appropriate, in keeping with the policies of the CIP and is properly integrated with the recent streetscape improvements. Council amended the existing bylaw and authorized the encroachment agreement amendment.   

Financial Incentive Program Grant Application Tecumseh Road Main Street Community Improvement Plan 1125 Lesperance Road (Brotto Developments Inc.) Sidewalk Café Grant Program:  Council approved the grant application for the Tecumseh Road Main Street Community Improvement Plan (CIP) Financial Incentive Program for the property located at 1125 Lesperance Road for the Sidewalk Café Grant Program in the amount of $2,000. The grant will go towards the costs associated with the construction and installation of an outdoor patio associated with a new restaurant at this location. 

Lesperance Road Trail (County Road 22 to County Road 42) – Tender Award: Council received the report and awarded the tender for the Lesperance Road Trail (County Road 22 to County Road 42) in the amount of $1,996,305 excluding HST to Total Source Contracting. The total project cost, including engineering, survey, geotechnical, utility relocation and contingency is estimated at $2,632,177, less than the original budget envelope by $166,572.26. The original budget allocated for this project was based on a 2022 estimate of probable costs provided by Dillon Consulting Ltd., which had been created prior to the detailed design. By-law 2024-039 was adopted.  

Next Regular Meeting: The next regular meeting of Council is May 14, 2024. The meeting is scheduled to be held electronically. The agenda and livestream will be available on the Town’s website. Follow the Town of Tecumseh on Facebook and X for news and the latest information.