Highlights from the Oct. 2 Council Meeting

Woodstock – Thursday’s Council meeting began at 1:30 p.m. following a closed session. Items of note include:

Cowapolooza Budget

Council approved the budget for Cowapolooza in advance of the 2026 budget process. Approving the budget in advance allows staff to begin booking performers and equipment to secure availability. Cowapolooza 2026 takes place Aug. 14 and 15 and will once again feature Cowapolooza Country on the Friday evening, Cowapolooza Kids on Saturday afternoon and Cowapolooza Rocks to close out the event Saturday evening. The list of performers will be announced in the spring. Final approval for the City’s 2026 budget is scheduled for March 19.

Downtown Parking Requirements for Developments

Council approved an amendment to temporarily reduce the current fee structure outlined in Chapter 504 of the City’s municipal code that establishes a cash in lieu of parking option for developments in the downtown. The City’s zoning bylaw requires developments like hotels or residential properties to provide a specific number of required parking spaces based on the number of units in the development. When new developments in the downtown area are unable to meet their parking requirements there is an option to provide a cash in lieu payment to satisfy the requirement. In light of the number of parking spaces available throughout the downtown, and the strategic priority to bring more residential development downtown, this amendment will provide an alternative process to seek relief for up to 10 required parking spaces for larger downtown residential developments. This amendment is valid until April 6, 2026 and will allow planning staff time to complete a review of the downtown parking requirements for residential developments.

2026 Council Meeting Schedule

Council approved modifications to the 2026 Council meeting schedule. Typically, Council meets on the first Thursday of each month at 1:30 p.m. and the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. There are four months where there is only one meeting per month which in 2026 will be:

• Thursday, July 9, 2026 at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, December 10, 2026 at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, January 14, 2027 at 7 p.m.

Since the next Municipal and School Board election takes place in 2026, there is one additional meeting that will be affected. The Committee of Adjustment meeting and the Planning meeting scheduled for Monday, Nov. 15, 2026 be rescheduled to Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2026, due to the 2026 – 2030 term of Council inaugural meeting.

Waste Updates

Staff continues to provide regular updates on the implementation of the changes to the waste collection program. The report by staff confirmed that delivery of the green bins will begin the week of Oct. 6 and continue through the end of November. Bins, along with information about what can be composted through the organics program will be distributed to residential properties by Oxford County’s contractor ORBIS. The report also confirmed that recycling will be moving to “single stream” meaning residents will not need to separate plastics and paper recycling materials. Discussions with Circular Materials Ontario (CMO), the provincial agency who will be responsible for the recycling program, are ongoing related to the collection schedule and impacts of the program on the EnviroDepot services. Keep up to date on the changes at www.oxfordcounty.ca/new-waste-collection

City Hall Expansion

Councillor Schadenberg brought forward a motion, that was approved by Council, to direct staff to bring back options to scale down the proposed city hall expansion. Currently identified for planning purposes in the 2028 capital budget forecast, the expansion is being proposed to accommodate the growing population and staff complement, improve public access to services, and create a larger Council Chambers with additional seating for the public. Staff will report to Council with options and seek direction to advance one of these options to schematic design. 

Details about all the agenda items and 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.

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