County of Brant Council - Special Meeting

THAT the County of Brant Special Council Agenda and Addendum of December 18, 2025 be approved. Yes (9): Mayor Bailey, Councillor Kyle, Councillor MacAlpine, Councillor Howes, Councillor Oakley, Councillor Bell, Councillor Peirce, Councillor Miller, and Councillor Coleman Absent (1): Councillor Chambers

THAT County of Brant Council convene In Camera to discuss S.239(2)(c) a proposed acquisition of property by the municipality (potential landfill expansion). Yes (9): Mayor Bailey, Councillor Kyle, Councillor MacAlpine, Councillor Howes, Councillor Oakley, Councillor Bell, Councillor Peirce, Councillor Miller, and Councillor Coleman Absent (1): Councillor Chambers

THAT County of Brant Council approve the purchase of the lands adjacent to the Biggars Lane Landfill; AND THAT the funding of this project be funded from debentures. Yes (9): Mayor Bailey, Councillor Kyle, Councillor MacAlpine, Councillor Howes, Councillor Oakley, Councillor Bell, Councillor Peirce, Councillor Miller, and Councillor Coleman Absent (1): Councillor Chambers

THAT County of Brant Council recommends the inclusion of the following projects into the Long Term Financial Plan and the 10-Year Capital Forecast, as action item from the Housing Needs Assessment: Housing Needs Community Improvement Plan – 3-Year Pilot Project - $25,000 / year for 2026, 2027 and 2028 Housing Financial Incentives Study - $50,000 for 2027 Rental Registry Feasibility Study - $30,000 for 2027 Housing Needs Assessment Update - $60,000 for 2029 and $60,000 for 2035 AND THAT any further action items from the Housing Needs Assessment be brought forward for consideration under future Long Term Financial Plan Annual Reviews. Yes (9): Mayor Bailey, Councillor Kyle, Councillor MacAlpine, Councillor Howes, Councillor Oakley, Councillor Bell, Councillor Peirce, Councillor Miller, and Councillor Coleman Absent (1): Councillor Chambers

THAT County of Brant Council recommends the inclusion of the following projects into the Long Term Financial Plan and the 10-Year Capital Forecast, as action item from the Solid Waste Management Master Plan: Automated Scalehouse Software (Biggars Lane) - $100,000 for 2026 Solid Waste Promotion and Education - $10,000 for 2026 Solid Waste Audit Program - $100,000 for 2027 Curbside Optimization and Funding Program - $100,000 for 2030 Automated Curbside Collection - $1,800,000 for 2032 Organic Waste Collection Program - $3,500,000 for 2032 AND THAT any further action items from the Solid Waste Management Master Plan be brought forward for consideration under future Long Term Financial Plan Annual Reviews. Yes (6): Mayor Bailey, Councillor Kyle, Councillor MacAlpine, Councillor Howes, Councillor Peirce, and Councillor Miller No (3): Councillor Oakley, Councillor Bell, and Councillor Coleman Absent (1): Councillor Chambers

THAT County of Brant Council recommends the creation of an Asset Management Reserve to ensure that sufficient funds are allocated each year towards the maintenance, repair and replacement of the County’s infrastructure; THAT each budget year, an allocation be recommended to either contribute to or draw from this fund to offset the difference between the Asset Management Plan Financing Strategy targets and the actual tax levy expenditures fulfilling the AMP. Yes (9): Mayor Bailey, Councillor Kyle, Councillor MacAlpine, Councillor Howes, Councillor Oakley, Councillor Bell, Councillor Peirce, Councillor Miller, and Councillor Coleman Absent (1): Councillor Chambers

THAT County of Brant Council recommends the inclusion of the following item into the Long-Term Financial Plan and the Capital and Operating forecasts, as follows:  Cybersecurity Enhancements, including a $75,000 capital investment in 2026 and $75,000 annual operating expenses, funded from the tax levy and representing a 0.18% increase in the 2026 budget. Yes (9): Mayor Bailey, Councillor Kyle, Councillor MacAlpine, Councillor Howes, Councillor Oakley, Councillor Bell, Councillor Peirce, Councillor Miller, and Councillor Coleman Absent (1): Councillor Chambers

THAT County of Brant Council recommends the inclusion of the following item into the Long-Term Financial Plan and the Capital and Operating forecasts, as follows:  Additional attachments for roads equipment, including a $136,000 capital investment for 2026, funded from the tax levy and representing a 0.16% increase in the 2026 budget. Yes (9): Mayor Bailey, Councillor Kyle, Councillor MacAlpine, Councillor Howes, Councillor Oakley, Councillor Bell, Councillor Peirce, Councillor Miller, and Councillor Coleman Absent (1): Councillor Chambers

THAT County of Brant Council recommends the inclusion of the following item into the Long-Term Financial Plan and the Capital and Operating forecasts, as follows:  Additional survey equipment, including a $51,300 capital investment for 2026, funded from the tax levy and representing a 0.06% increase in the 2026 budget. Yes (9): Mayor Bailey, Councillor Kyle, Councillor MacAlpine, Councillor Howes, Councillor Oakley, Councillor Bell, Councillor Peirce, Councillor Miller, and Councillor Coleman Absent (1): Councillor Chambers

THAT County of Brant Council recommends the inclusion of the following item into the Long-Term Financial Plan and the Capital and Operating forecasts, as follows:  Additional Paris parks landscape trailer, including a $15,000 capital investment for 2026, funded from the tax levy and representing a 0.02% increase in the 2026 budget. Yes (8): Mayor Bailey, Councillor Kyle, Councillor MacAlpine, Councillor Howes, Councillor Bell, Councillor Peirce, Councillor Miller, and Councillor Coleman No (1): Councillor Oakley Absent (1): Councillor Chambers

THAT County of Brant Council recommends the inclusion of the following item into the Long-Term Financial Plan and the Capital and Operating forecasts, as follows:  Mount Pleasant Park Multi-Sport Pad, including a $275,000 capital investment for 2026, funded from the tax levy and donations, representing a 0.29% increase in the 2026 budget. Yes (8): Mayor Bailey, Councillor Kyle, Councillor MacAlpine, Councillor Howes, Councillor Bell, Councillor Peirce, Councillor Miller, and Councillor Coleman No (1): Councillor Oakley Absent (1): Councillor Chambers

THAT County of Brant Council recommends the inclusion of the following item into the Long-Term Financial Plan and the Capital and Operating forecasts, as follows:  Additional library services for seniors and newcomers, including a 0.1 full-time employee (FTE) equivalent and a net $28,700 operating expense in 2026 and $17,386 annual operating expenses thereafter, funded from the tax levy and representing a % increase in the 2026 budget. Yes (5): Mayor Bailey, Councillor MacAlpine, Councillor Howes, Councillor Bell, and Councillor Peirce No (4): Councillor Kyle, Councillor Oakley, Councillor Miller, and Councillor Coleman Absent (1): Councillor Chambers

THAT County of Brant Council recommends the inclusion of the following item into the Long-Term Financial Plan and the Capital and Operating forecasts, as follows:  Contribution to the Lansdowne Children’s Centre capital campaign, including a $200,000 operating investment for 2026, funded from the tax levy and representing a 0.23% increase in the 2026 budget; AND THAT further capital contributions be

THAT County of Brant Council recommends the inclusion of the following item into the Long-Term Financial Plan and the Capital and Operating forecasts, as follows:  Contribution to the Woodland Cultural Centre capital campaign, including a $250,000 operating investment for 2026, funded from the tax levy and representing a 0.29% increase in the 2026 budget; AND THAT further capital contributions be

THAT the County of Brant's contribution to the Woodland Cultural Centre be amended to be proportionate to the City of Brantford's contribution, if it were on a population basis. Yes (8): Mayor Bailey, Councillor Kyle, Councillor MacAlpine, Councillor Howes, Councillor Bell, Councillor Peirce, Councillor Miller, and Councillor Coleman No (1): Councillor Oakley Absent (1): Councillor Chambers

THAT County of Brant Council recommends the inclusion of the following item into the Long-Term Financial Plan and the Capital and Operating forecasts, as follows:  Contribution to the Woodland Cultural Centre capital campaign, including $69,750 operating investment for 2026, funded form the tax levy. AND THAT further capital contributions be

THAT the Cleaver Road Bridge remain closed to vehicular traffic and be converted to pedestrian-only traffic; THAT the conversion include a turnaround feature on the north side of the bridge for winter maintenance, buses and waste collection; THAT the Cleaver Road Bridge remain as a pedestrian-only bridge until such time as the existing structure can no longer sustain this use and at that time, another evaluation be completed to determine if pedestrian access or no access is the long-term solution; THAT Mill Street between Highway 53 and Highland Drive be improved for both geometry and drainage and Mill Street from Highland Drive to Robinson Road be resurfaced; AND THAT the Robinson Road Bridge be rehabilitated, and upon completion of the Robinson Road Bridge rehabilitation, Robinson Road between Highway 24 and Cleaver Road have minor geometry improvements and be resurfaced with asphalt. Yes (5): Mayor Bailey, Councillor MacAlpine, Councillor Oakley, Councillor Bell, and Councillor Peirce No (4): Councillor Kyle, Councillor Howes, Councillor Miller, and Councillor Coleman Absent (1): Councillor Chambers

THAT $10,000,000 from the Brant County Power Investment Fund be allocated towards the local contribution required from the County of Brant towards the new hospital project; AND THAT this money remain in the investment account until such time as it is needed, upon project completion. Yes (7): Mayor Bailey, Councillor Kyle, Councillor MacAlpine, Councillor Oakley, Councillor Bell, Councillor Peirce, and Councillor Coleman No (2): Councillor Howes, and Councillor Miller Absent (1): Councillor Chambers

THAT the new hospital local contribution recommendation be amended to reflect cumulative 1% tax levy increases each year through the timeframe of the Long Term Financial Plan, resulting in a total 2% special levy on the 2026 tax bill with regards to the local contribution towards the New Hospital Project Yes (6): Mayor Bailey, Councillor MacAlpine, Councillor Oakley, Councillor Bell, Councillor Peirce, and Councillor Coleman No (3): Councillor Kyle, Councillor Howes, and Councillor Miller Absent (1): Councillor Chambers

THAT County of Brant Council recommends the inclusion of the following item into the Long-Term Financial Plan and the Capital and Operating forecasts, as follows:  2% Special Levy on the 2026 Tax Bill towards the Local Contribution to the New Hospital Project; and  Cumulative 1% additional increases to the tax levy to be applied as special levies towards the new hospital project on each forecast year. Yes (6): Mayor Bailey, Councillor MacAlpine, Councillor Oakley, Councillor Bell, Councillor Peirce, and Councillor Coleman No (3): Councillor Kyle, Councillor Howes, and Councillor Miller Absent (1): Councillor Chambers

THAT the amount of $15,000,000 in the first clause be replaced with $10,000,000. Yes (5): Mayor Bailey, Councillor Bell, Councillor Peirce, Councillor Miller, and Councillor Coleman No (4): Councillor Kyle, Councillor MacAlpine, Councillor Howes, and Councillor Oakley Absent (1): Councillor Chambers

THAT $10,000,000 from the Brant County Power Investment Fund be allocated towards Affordable Housing Projects in the County of Brant and be used as the funding source for the Trillium Way Project, to be recuperated through internal payments from the tax levy to replace this funding amount over a twenty-five year period. Yes (9): Mayor Bailey, Councillor Kyle, Councillor MacAlpine, Councillor Howes, Councillor Oakley, Councillor Bell, Councillor Peirce, Councillor Miller, and Councillor Coleman Absent (1): Councillor Chambers

THAT County of Brant Council recommends the inclusion of the following item into the Long-Term Financial Plan and the 2026 Operating Forecast:  A contribution from the Contingency / Rate Stabilization Reserve to maintain a tax levy of 5.0%. Yes (8): Mayor Bailey, Councillor Kyle, Councillor MacAlpine, Councillor Howes, Councillor Bell, Councillor Peirce, Councillor Miller, and Councillor Coleman No (1): Councillor Oakley Absent (1): Councillor Chambers