Brockville City Council Meeting Highlights – April 22, 2025

Brockville – Here are highlights from Brockville City Council’s April 22, 2025, Council Meeting.

– 2023-2026 Strategic Priorities Update –

Council has identified Strategic Priorities under the pillars of Our People and Our Community, Sustainability and Well Being, Asset Management and Governance and Policy for the current term of Council. City Manager Sandra MacDonald provided an update report on the status of a number of initiatives at the mid-way point in the term. Additional updates on the status of the priorities will be provided every six months until 2026.

– Community Grants Program –

During 2025 Budget deliberations, Council directed staff to develop a Community Grants program to support the rewarding of financial support to community organizations and events. At the meeting on Tuesday, a draft policy was reviewed along with recommended amendments arising from the General Standing Committee. The final policy allocates 15% of the Municipal Accommodation Tax collected in future years to fund the program, which will be reliant on the Fiscal Policy Reserve and funds previously allocated for fee waivers this year. Applications to the program will be accepted on or before May 1, 202,5, and efforts will be made by staff to share information about the new program, including the hosting of a Public Information Session for interested applicants.

– Strong Mayor Powers –

Earlier this month, the Honourable Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, announced the expansion of Strong Mayor Powers to 169 additional municipalities across the province, including the City of Brockville, effective May 1, 2025. These powers were first brought about in 2022 through the enactment of the Better Municipal Governance Act. The powers are intended to support housing development and associated infrastructure by “streamlining local governance and helping to ensure municipalities have the tools they need to reduce obstacles that can stand in the way of new housing and infrastructure”. Mayor Wren issued a public statement with respect to these new powers, noting that in his opinion, “Council’s priorities would seem already in line with the Provincial Priorities”. Council discussed the implications of the pending changes and additional information, and recommended that policy amendments will be forthcoming at a future meeting.

– Museum Graduate Intern –

Council approved the hiring of a Museum Graduate Intern to inventory and organize the collection of large objects. More than half of the funding for this position will be covered by the Young Canada Works in Building Careers in Heritage Grants, and the Friends of the Brockville Museum have committed to covering the balance. Once inventoried and organized, these objects will be added to the museum’s online catalogue database, making them accessible to the public online. Funding is based on a 22-week internship to be completed no later than March 31, 2026. The grant will cover just over 52% of estimated costs.

– Proclamations –

Council proclaimed May 1, 2025, as Doctor’s Day in the City of Brockville.

– Looking ahead –

• Planning and Development Meeting May 6, 2025 at 4:30 pm
• Public Planning Meeting May 6, 2025 at 4:30 pm
• Council Meeting May 13, 2025 at 5:30 pm

Agendas and meeting minutes are available at the Brockville Civic web https://brockville.civicweb.net/portal/