For Immediate Release
Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Council Connect: Highlights from November 28, 2023 meetings of Council

Regular Meeting of Council

2024 Police Service Budget Presentation: A presentation of the proposed 2024 Police Services Budget was provided to Council. Budget deliberations will follow in January. The proposed budget indicates an overall decrease in the budget for policing services provided by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) of 3.53 percent, with planned expenditures of $3.2M for 2024. The Police Services Board budget proposes a lift of 1.48% with a proposed budget of $42,995 for 2024. Currently, the Police Services Board is an oversight body for the Town’s policing contract. It is expected that the new Community Safety & Policing Act 2019 will come into effect over the next year and will result in two detachment boards serving all five municipalities, Pelee Island and Caldwell First Nation in the Essex OPP Detachment.

2024 Draft Business Plan & Operating Budget: The CAO, Director Financial Services and Deputy Treasurer & Manager Revenue presented Administration’s Proposed 2024 Operating Budget.  The 2024 Proposed Budget provides for the delivery of municipal programs and services, maintaining the high standard of services our residents are accustomed to.

Highlights include support for the Town’s robust capital plans for the upcoming five years through increased contributions to capital reserves and staffing enhancements intended to support development, improve corporate operational efficiencies and support growing recreational programming. The proposed budget calls for a municipal tax rate increase of 5.55%.

Public engagement is encouraged through the Town’s Placespeak platform from November 30 through to January 5, 2024.

The complete 2024 Proposed Budget document will be posted to the Town’s website by end of day Wednesday November 29, 2023. Council will deliberate the proposed budget at a Special Council Meeting on January 16, 2024.

8th Concession Road Sanitary Sewer Outlet Area Main and Lateral Charges Cost Recovery Part XII By-Law: Council received a presentation from Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. for the Capital Charges Background Study for the 8th Concession Road Sanitary Sewer Outlet Area. The presentation included an overview of the study area and affected properties, identification of sanitary sewer capital costs for accommodating growth and existing properties, including calculation of capital charges for trunk and local sewers as well as lateral charges to connect the sewer to each property. The presentation outlined the methodology for allocating these costs based on conversion to residential single detached dwelling equivalents. Costs for new development would be recovered through development charges while costs for existing landowners are proposed to be recovered through a Part XII By-law under the Municipal Act. All of this information will be provided through a second Public Information Centre (PIC) to be scheduled in the new year. Administration will report back to Council with a summary of comments from the PIC.

Draft Plan of Subdivision Approval Cedarhurst Avenue Business Park Subdivision County of Essex File No. 37-T-23009 South Side of County Road 42: A landowner has filed an application with the County of Essex for Draft Plan of Subdivision approval for a 7.3 acre parcel of land located on the south side of County Road 42, approximately 1,263 feet east of its intersection with Banwell Road. The draft plan proposes the creation of a business park subdivision consisting of five commercial/industrial blocks and one block for a stormwater management facility, all of which front on a new municipal road extending south from County Road 42. Council passed a resolution to support the approval of the draft plan with standard conditions of approval relating to servicing and zoning.

Water and Wastewater Rates for 2024: Council received a report outlining the proposed 2024 rate increases for water and wastewater services.  The updated Rate Study reviewed capital servicing, capital financing, and operating expenditures for water/wastewater services provided by the Windsor Utilities Commission (water) and City of Windsor (wastewater). The recommended water and wastewater rates for 2024 are 3 percent respectively, with this rate increase to recover the Town’s operating and capital servicing costs including an allowance for lifecycle replacement of capital infrastructure. Increases are also proposed for the Oasis Water Filling Station as well as flat rates for unmetered services.

Water Service Vehicle Tender Award: Council approved the purchase of a Water Services Vehicle for the amount of $133,745, be awarded to Oxford Dodge Chrysler. This vehicle can be described as a pick-up truck chassis with a specialized service body (for materials and tools) in place of the regular truck bed. Purchase of the water service vehicle will be funded from the Town’s Fleet Lifecycle Reserve, with an increased allocation from $115,000 to $140,000.

Semi-Annual Direct Mail Publication: Council received recommendations regarding a semi-annual direct mail publication, including a referral to 2024 budget deliberations. The proposed publication aims to provide important Town information, including relevant updates, promotion of key initiatives and highlighting available amenities and events.  Options to facilitate print distribution of Town information and updates has been explored throughout 2023.  The proposed and recommended publication option will be developed in-house (by Administration) with the intention to communicate in inclusive and transparent ways, while maximizing distribution reach and containing costs. A digital strategy will also be developed, and publications will be available on the Town website.  Council received the report and referred the matter to 2024 budget deliberations.

Next Regular Meeting: The next regular meeting of Council is December 12, 2023. The meeting is scheduled to be held electronically. The agenda and livestream will be available on the Town’s website. Follow the Town of Tecumseh on Facebook and Twitter for news and the latest information.