Council Meeting

the agenda and any addendum distributed for the February 13, 2025 meeting of Council, be approved.

the minutes of the special meeting of Council on January 6, 2025, the regular meeting of Council on January 9, 2025 as amended, the special meeting of Council on January 30, 2025, and the Closed Session of Council on January 30, 2025, be adopted.

funds in the amount of $15,000 from Rate Stabilization Reserve be provided to Crime Stoppers Simcoe Dufferin Muskoka.

funds in the amount of $10,000 from Rate Stabilization Reserve be provided to Crime Stoppers Simcoe Dufferin Muskoka; AND THAT staff reach out to the City of Barrie, Simcoe County and the Municipality of Muskoka staff to find a long term equitable funding solution.

Council move into Closed Session (7:57 pm) in accordance with the Municipal Act, Section 239 2(f) advice that is subject to solicitor client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose.

Council return to open session (8:46 pm).

the report of the Director of Development and Tourism, Report #Planning and Development-2025-006, “402287 County Road 15 – Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) Submission”, dated January 23, 2025, be received; AND THAT the County withdraw the Ontario Land Tribunal appeal due to a filing technicality.

Council move into Closed Session (8:50 pm) in accordance with the Municipal Act, Section 239 2(c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board and 2(h) information explicitly supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board by Canada, a province or territory or a Crown agency of any of them.

Council return to open session (9:19 pm).

staff proceed as discussed in Closed Session.

the minutes of the General Government Services meeting held on January 23, 2025, and the recommendations set out, be adopted.

the minutes of the Community Development and Tourism meeting held on January 23, 2025, and the recommendations set out, excluding item #10.2.5 402287 County Road 15 - Ontario Land Tribunal Submission and item #10.2.6 Pasture Farm Proposal, be adopted.

the motion be tabled.

the minutes of the Health and Human Services meeting held on January 23, 2025, and the recommendations set out, be adopted.

the report from the Director of Development and Tourism, Report # 2025-007, titled Township of East Garafraxa – Official Plan Amendment No. 10 ( 182198 20 Sideroad ) , dated February 13, 2025, be received; THAT Council approve Official Plan Amendment No. 10, as adopted by the Township of East Garafraxa, to permit a reduced minimum lot area for a proposed severance on the lands municipally known as 182198 20 Sideroad.

the report from the Clerk, Council and Committee Meeting Structure Review – Report 2 , dated February 9, 2025 , be received ; AND THAT Council adopt a d irect to Council meeting structure as laid out in Option 1 A (one day time and one evening Council meeting), starting in April 2025 , for an 18-month trial basis.

Seconded by: Warden Horner TH AT the report from the Director of Development and Tourism, Report # Planning and Development- 2025- 020 , titled County Approach to Tariffs , be received; AND THAT staff be directed to be directed to establish a Team Dufferin business support program ; AND THAT $60,000 from the Rate Stabilization Reserve be allocated to acquire services from a data research firm to procure current economic data as it relates to industries in Dufferin County ; AND THAT Council support advocacy efforts of Federation of Canadian Municipalities ( FCM ) , Association of Municipalities of Ontario ( AMO ) , Economic Development Council of Ontario ( EDCO ) , Economic Developers Association of Canada ( EDAC ) and other municipalities in response to the Tariff threat and to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers.

the report from the Manager of Corporate Finance, Treasurer, Report # Corporate Services-2025-006 , titled Potential Financial Impact of Tariffs and Weakened Canadian Dollar on Dufferin County Procurement , dated February 13, 2025 be received ; AND THAT staff be directed to prepare an amendment to the procurement by-law that prioritizes buying local /Canadian where possible at the March 13, 2025 County Council meeting.

Council support the following resolution made by the Town of Orangeville on February 10, 2025: WHEREAS road safety has been identified as a priority for County of Dufferin Council, staff, and residents; and WHEREAS significant increases in truck traffic on Highway 10 have led to safety concerns along the entire corridor from Melancthon down to the southern point of Caledon; and WHEREAS trucking companies avoid Highway 407 due to its tolls, leading to higher volumes of traffic on other roads and highways; and WHEREAS a pilot project to subsidize truck lanes on Highway 407 would provide valuable insights into the economic and road safety impact of diverting truck traffic to the 407; and THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Town of Orangeville support the City of Vaughan's recent resolution to request that the Province of Ontario implement a one-year pilot program that will subsidize or eliminate tolls for dedicated truck lanes on Highway 407, evaluating the impact on overall transportation efficiency and road safety; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT a copy of this motion be circulated to Premier Doug Ford, Hon. Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Dufferin-Caledon MPP, Hon. Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation, Steven Del Duca, Mayor of the City of Vaughan and all Dufferin municipalities.

Council supports the resolution from the Town of Shelburne, dated February 10, 2025, to urge the Provincial and Federal governments to promote the use of Canadian companies and to request Dufferin County develop a "buy local" campaign.

Council supports the resolution from the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus (EOWC), dated February 10, 2025, to support the federal and provincial negations with the United States on trade tariffs.

Council supports the actions of the Western Ontario Warden's Caucus as outlined in the media release from Kevin Marriot, Vice Chair, Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus (WOWC), dated February 11, 2025, regarding tariffs.

the County of Dufferin Act received Assent on May 31, 1994; AND WHEREAS it would represent good governance for the County of Dufferin Council to review the 30 year old Act to ensure that it meets the current conditions and priorities of the County of Dufferin; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that County Council discuss the County of Dufferin Act at the March County Council meeting to determine which items are no longer relevant or require updating.

the meeting be allowed to continue past 11:00 pm.

By-Law 2025-06 through to By-Law 2025-13, inclusive, be read a first, second and third time and enacted.

By-Law 2025-14 be read a first, second and third time and enacted.

the meeting adjourn.

THAT the agenda and any addendum distributed for the February 13, 2025 meeting of Council, be approved.

THAT funds in the amount of $10,000 from Rate Stabilization Reserve be provided to Crime Stoppers Simcoe Dufferin Muskoka; AND THAT staff reach out to the City of Barrie, Simcoe County and the Municipality of Muskoka staff to find a long term equitable funding solution. For (25): Councillor Mills, Warden Horner, Councillor Creelman, Councillor Gardhouse, Councillor Gerrits, Councillor Hall, Councillor Hawkins, Councillor Little, Councillor Nix, Councillor Post, Councillor Soloman, and Councillor White Against (8): Councillor Rentsch, and Councillor Taylor Absent (1): Councillor McLean

THAT Council move into Closed Session (7:57 pm) in accordance with the Municipal Act, Section 239 2(f) advice that is subject to solicitor client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose.

THAT Council return to open session (8:46 pm).

THAT the report of the Director of Development and Tourism, Report #Planning and Development-2025-006, “402287 County Road 15 – Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) Submission”, dated January 23, 2025, be received; AND THAT the County withdraw the Ontario Land Tribunal appeal due to a filing technicality.

THAT Council move into Closed Session (8:50 pm) in accordance with the Municipal Act, Section 239 2(c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board and 2(h) information explicitly supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board by Canada, a province or territory or a Crown agency of any of them.

THAT Council return to open session (9:19 pm).

THAT staff proceed as discussed in Closed Session.

THAT the minutes of the General Government Services meeting held on January 23, 2025, and the recommendations set out, be adopted.

THAT the minutes of the Community Development and Tourism meeting held on January 23, 2025, and the recommendations set out, excluding item #10.2.5 402287 County Road 15 - Ontario Land Tribunal Submission and item #10.2.6 Pasture Farm Proposal, be adopted.

THAT the minutes of the Health and Human Services meeting held on January 23, 2025, and the recommendations set out, be adopted.

THAT the report from the Director of Development and Tourism, Report # 2025-007, titled Township of East Garafraxa – Official Plan Amendment No. 10 (182198 20 Sideroad), dated February 13, 2025, be received; THAT Council approve Official Plan Amendment No. 10, as adopted by the Township of East Garafraxa, to permit a reduced minimum lot area for a proposed severance on the lands municipally known as 182198 20 Sideroad.

THAT the report from the Clerk, Council and Committee Meeting Structure Review – Report 2, dated February 9, 2025, be received; AND THAT Council adopt a direct to Council meeting structure as laid out in Option 1A (one day time and one evening Council meeting), starting in April 2025, for an 18-month trial basis.

THAT the report from the Director of Development and Tourism, Report #Planning and Development-2025-020, titled County Approach to Tariffs, be received; AND THAT staff be directed to be directed to establish a Team Dufferin business support program; AND THAT $60,000 from the Rate Stabilization Reserve be allocated to acquire services from a data research firm to procure current economic data as it relates to industries in Dufferin County; AND THAT Council support advocacy efforts of Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), Economic Development Council of Ontario (EDCO), Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC) and other municipalities in response to the Tariff threat and to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers. For (28): Councillor Mills, Warden Horner, Councillor Creelman, Councillor Gardhouse, Councillor Hall, Councillor Hawkins, Councillor Little, Councillor Post, Councillor Taylor, and Councillor White Against (5): Councillor Gerrits, Councillor Nix, Councillor Rentsch, and Councillor Soloman Absent (1): Councillor McLean

THAT the report from the Manager of Corporate Finance, Treasurer, Report #Corporate Services-2025-006, titled Potential Financial Impact of Tariffs and Weakened Canadian Dollar on Dufferin County Procurement, dated February 13, 2025 be received; AND THAT staff be directed to prepare an amendment to the procurement by-law that prioritizes buying local/Canadian where possible at the March 13, 2025 County Council meeting.

THAT Council support the following resolution made by the Town of Orangeville on February 10, 2025: WHEREAS road safety has been identified as a priority for County of Dufferin Council, staff, and residents; and WHEREAS significant increases in truck traffic on Highway 10 have led to safety concerns along the entire corridor from Melancthon down to the southern point of Caledon; and WHEREAS trucking companies avoid Highway 407 due to its tolls, leading to higher volumes of traffic on other roads and highways; and WHEREAS a pilot project to subsidize truck lanes on Highway 407 would provide valuable insights into the economic and road safety impact of diverting truck traffic to the 407; and THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Town of Orangeville support the City of Vaughan's recent resolution to request that the Province of Ontario implement a one-year pilot program that will subsidize or eliminate tolls for dedicated truck lanes on Highway 407, evaluating the impact on overall transportation efficiency and road safety; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT a copy of this motion be circulated to Premier Doug Ford, Hon. Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Dufferin-Caledon MPP, Hon. Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation, Steven Del Duca, Mayor of the City of Vaughan and all Dufferin municipalities.

THAT Council supports the resolution from the Town of Shelburne, dated February 10, 2025, to urge the Provincial and Federal governments to promote the use of Canadian companies and to request Dufferin County develop a "buy local" campaign.

THAT Council supports the resolution from the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus (EOWC), dated February 10, 2025, to support the federal and provincial negations with the United States on trade tariffs.

THAT Council supports the actions of the Western Ontario Warden's Caucus as outlined in the media release from Kevin Marriot, Vice Chair, Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus (WOWC), dated February 11, 2025, regarding tariffs.

WHEREAS the County of Dufferin Act received Assent on May 31, 1994; AND WHEREAS it would represent good governance for the County of Dufferin Council to review the 30 year old Act to ensure that it meets the current conditions and priorities of the County of Dufferin; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that County Council discuss the County of Dufferin Act at the March County Council meeting to determine which items are no longer relevant or require updating.

THAT the meeting be allowed to continue past 11:00 pm.

THAT By-Law 2025-06 through to By-Law 2025-13, inclusive, be read a first, second and third time and enacted.

THAT By-Law 2025-14 be read a first, second and third time and enacted.

THAT the meeting adjourn.