Highlights from the Sept. 19 Council Meeting

Woodstock – Thursday’s Council meeting got underway at 7 p.m. and adjourned just before 8:30 p.m. Details about the highlighted items below, or any of the other topics discussed during the council meeting, can be found at www.cityofwoodstock.ca/agendasandminutes. Council meetings are live streamed on the City’s YouTube channel and recordings of the meetings are posted online following the meetings. 

Proceeds from the Sale of the Small Business Centre

In June, Council approved the sale of the former Small Business Centre building at 453 Dundas St. The sale has now closed and staff brought forward a report seeking direction from Council on where to allocate the proceeds from the sale. Council’s direction was to apply the $432,009.44 to reduce the amount to be financed for the west end Market Centre renovation. The space was renovated to accommodate the City’s Economic Development Department, including the Small Business Centre, as well as the City’s Human Resources Department.

2025 Budget Schedule

Council approved the 2025 budget schedule. While the Municipal Act assigns the power to propose and adopt the budget to the head of Council, Mayor Acchione directed staff to prepare the annual Capital and Revenue budget following the City’s usual practice.

Capital budget meetings will begin Nov. 21, and the capital budget is scheduled to be adopted Dec. 12. Revenue budget presentations will begin Feb. 20, 2025, with final budget scheduled to be adopted March 20, 2025. The full budget schedule is attached.

Options for Increasing Childcare Spaces

In June, Council directed staff to prepare a report outlining ways the City could facilitate the creation of more childcare spaces in Woodstock. Specifically, Council asked staff to explore how zoning amendments or current and future municipal space could play a role in creating these spaces. The staff report provided an overview of the current childcare landscape across Oxford County, the ways the City is currently supporting the creation of childcare spaces and six additional policy and program initiatives that Council could consider going forward. These six options include:

• Support for home-based childcare from the Small Business Centre
• Including incentives for home-based childcare in the Community Improvement Plan update
• Consideration for childcare centre use when disposing of surplus municipal properties
• Consideration for childcare space in municipal buildings
• Encouraging employers to create childcare space within private businesses

• Partner with developers to integrate childcare spaces into residential or commercial developments

While Council supported staff’s recommendation, their approval is just the first step in the process. Staff must now develop the details within the proposed programs and initiatives and develop a policy which will be brought back for Council’s consideration before coming to fruition. 

As part of the development of the City’s Housing Pledge, which was submitted to the province in 2023, Council was clear that the City must take a broader view of housing supportive infrastructure to include necessities like adequate health and childcare services, educational institutions and recreational facilities.

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Attachments

2025 Budget Schedule