Highlights from the March 2 Council Meeting
Woodstock – Thursday’s Council meeting included budget presentations from the Art Gallery Advisory Board, the Woodstock Public Library Board and the Police Services Board. The proposed budget is scheduled to be approved by Council on March 16. Council also considered:
Sprucedale Road Reconstruction
Council approved the first road reconstruction project of the year. Sprucedale Road will undergo reconstruction from Springbank Avenue to Abbott Place, replacing a portion of the storm and sanitary infrastructure. Due to its proximity to Springbank Public School, the project will start in late June to ensure construction takes place while school is out. The list of 2023 projects slated for reconstruction or resurfacing will be posted online shortly at www.cityofwoodstock.ca/roadclosures
Downtown Façade Improvement Guidelines
Council approved new Façade Improvement Guidelines that will support the ongoing revitalization of our core by providing clear direction to property owners looking to update building facades in the downtown. The guidelines will help improve the overall quality of building facades and create attractive and inviting places to work, live, shop and be entertained. The guidelines will be available as a resource for property owners and developers on the City’s website.
Annual Accessibility Plan
Council approved the 2022 Accessibility Plan that summarizes the actions taken towards removing barriers for people in Woodstock. Some of those actions include park improvements to make our parks, trails and playgrounds more accessible, ongoing efforts to remediate the information and documents on the City’s website and introducing new tools to help visitors at the Art Gallery experience the exhibits. Staff also worked to remove barriers around last fall’s municipal and school board election. This marked the final year of the five-year accessibility plan and work is already underway on the 2023-2027 Plan. The public will have an opportunity to provide input on the next plan later this spring.
Notice of Motion
Councillor Leatherbarrow also put forward a notice of motion, asking Council to consider directing staff at a future meeting to prepare a report looking into recent complaints around fireworks and review what actions other municipalities are doing to address non-compliance with and enforcement of municipal fireworks bylaws. Council will discuss this motion on March 16.
If you would like more information about these, or any of the other topics discussed during the meeting, visit www.cityofwoodstock.ca/agendasandminutes. Council meetings are live streamed on the City’s YouTube channel and recordings of the meetings are also posted online following the meetings.