Highlights from the June 4 Council Meeting

Thursday’s Council meeting got underway at 1:30 p.m. and began with two community delegations.

• The Oxford Age Friendly Steering Committee presented the 2026 Oxford Age Friendly Strategy and Council endorsed the strategy. 
• Council heard from a resident regarding desired options for downtown parking changes.

Request for Downtown Parking Changes

The Business Improvement Area asked Council to investigate changes to the downtown parking regulations. Staff provided a follow-up report with an analysis of each of the requests, including the potential benefits and risks associated with the proposed changes. 

Council approved authorizing 3-hours of free parking in all municipal parking lots without a permit; and to take the necessary steps to implement Options 1, 3 and 4 as outlined in the report.

These approved options include introducing an interchangeable permit system, enabling payment via app and business partners, and simplifying by-law language for enforceability.

Property and Facility Naming Policy

Council approved changes to the Property and Facility Naming Policy to provide a more detailed process to property and facility naming of municipal properties and buildings, park assets and features, building assets and new park developments. The revisions more clearly define what the policy covers and what it does not and improves the application and administrative process. 

Sponsorship and Advertisement Policy

Council approved updates to the Sponsorship and Advertising Policy, which explains how we handle sponsorships and advertising for city programs, services and assets. The policy changes include clearer definitions, more detail about what must be included in agreements, rules to make sure sponsorships reflect fair market value, limits on how long agreements can last, and clearer processes for approvals and decision making. 

Temporary Parking Exemption on Algonquin Road for the 2026 Election

To improve parking capacity and accessibility at the voting location at Algonquin Public School on Voting Day (Oct. 26, 2026) for the Municipal and School Board Elections, Council approved a temporary waiver to the traffic bylaw to allow parking on Algonquin Road between Springbank Avenue North and Mohawk Street.

Volunteer Recognition Program – Friendly City Volunteer Award Framework and Implementation

Council approved moving forward with the Friendly City Volunteer Award program, policy, framework, and implementation plans. The Award Program will recognize and celebrate individuals, groups, and organizations whose volunteer contributions strengthen the social, cultural, and economic fabric of the City of Woodstock.

For more information about the items above, or any of the other topics discussed during the council 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.