Highlights from the June 20 Council Meeting

Woodstock – Following a closed session, Thursday’s Council meeting got started at 7 p.m. with presentations to the Student Civic Award of Excellence recipients. Four students were in attendance and received certificates of recognition from Mayor Acchione.

• Ali Brown – Woodstock Collegiate Institute
• Ethan Fodor – College Avenue Secondary School
• Julian Jean – St. Mary’s High School
• Maeghan Schadenberg – École Secondaire Catholique Notre-Dame

One student was unable to attend the meeting:

• Cullen White – Huron Park Secondary School

Asset Management Plan

Council approved the 2024 Asset Management Plan, which outlines data-driven recommendations on how to best manage the City’s extensive portfolio of capital assets. Capital assets include roads, bridges and stormwater management facilities as well as City facilities.

All municipalities are required to develop an asset management plan under provincial legislation. The purpose of asset management is to ensure municipalities have the information they need to appropriately invest in their assets, minimize overall risk and adopt financial practices that minimize fluctuations.

The legislation requires the plan to be updated every five years and staff will provide annual updates to Council.

Energy Conservation Demand Management Plan

Council also approved the 2025 – 2029 Energy Conservation Demand Plan. The plan outlines improvements to facilities to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions through the capital budget and planning process. Some of the measures that will be put in place over the next five years include:

• Replacing or upgrading equipment and systems to more energy efficient options, such as LED lighting and automated HVAC
• Exploring energy efficient features at facilities undergoing improvements or expansions, as well as new building projects including an arena at Cowan Fields
• Expanding renewable energy initiatives, such as the installation of solar panels at bus shelters

Public agencies and municipalities are required by provincial legislation to report on their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions annually and develop the plan every five years.

Supporting access to childcare

Council directed staff to prepare a report outlining ways the City can support and facilitate the creation of additional childcare spaces in Woodstock. The motion was put forward by Councillor Leatherbarrow and carried unanimously following delegations from three local childcare organizations. The delegations spoke about the challenges and barriers childcare centres and families are facing due to a lack of childcare spaces. The report will be presented at a future Council meeting by September 2024.

More details about these items or any other topics discussed during the meeting can be found at www.cityofwoodstock.ca/agendasandminutes. Council meetings are live streamed on the City’s YouTube channel and recordings are posted online following each meeting.