Council Meeting

That Council do now proceed to meet in Closed Session at 5:32 p.m. under:  Section 239(2)(c) of the Municipal Act, 2001, where a closed meeting is held if the subject matter being considered is a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board; and  Section 239(2)(i) of the Municipal Act, 2001, where a closed meeting is held if the subject matter being considered is a trade secret or scientific, technical, commercial, financial or labour relations information, supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board, which, if disclosed, could reasonably be expected to prejudice significantly the competitive position or interfere significantly with the contractual or other negotiations of a person, group of persons, or organization.

That Council does now rise and reconvene from Closed Session at 6:44 p.m. with report:  Item 6.1 - Approval of Closed Session Minutes 1. That the Closed Session Meeting minutes from the March 11, 2025 Council meeting be approved as presented.

That Council hereby approves the listed consent items on the April 8, 2025 Council agenda; and That the consent items be approved on the recommendations as contained therein.

That Corporate Services Department Report 2025-78 be received; and That Council direct staff to move forward with a request for proposal for a childcare facility at 76 Main Street using a two-stage design-build project model; stage one to include the design of the facility and stage two to include the construction of the facility (subject to funding); and That Council approve $250,000 from the Opportunity Reserve Fund for stage one of the project; and That Council direct staff to come back with a recommended funding model for stage two, that also reimburses the Opportunity Reserve Fund for stage one costs, upon updating the development charge background study.

That Public Works Department Report 2025-21 be received; and That the Drainage Superintendent be directed to bill the outstanding drainage maintenance work by adding the calculated charges to the final tax bill of assessed property owners; and That the By-law, attached as Appendix A, be brought forward for approval in order to amend the Assessment Schedules and levy the actual costs incurred for the maintenance of the following drains: Point Abino Drain, Biederman Drain, Wignell Drain, Oil Mill Creek Drain, Bearss West Branch West Drain, Marsh Drain, Zavitz Drain, Skelton Drain, Beaver Dam Drain, Michener 2 Drain, Henry Drain, Wm Michael Drain, Bearss Drain, Wagner Branch Drain, East Branch Lyons Creek Drain.

That Community Safety & Enforcement Department Report 2025-69 be received; and That Council approve a permit to exempt Sun Retreats Sherkston Shores from Section 4(3) of By-law 4588/119/04 with the following terms and conditions:  That a noise variance with modifications be approved for the period starting from May 1, 2025, to Oct 25, 2025, from noon to 11:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and ending at 10:00 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays for a variety of amplified noise, including noise from a DJ with equipment and live bands being able to amplify music.  The permit is applicable only to the production, reproduction, and amplification of sound in connection with these events listed in the application with the modifications by the City of Port Colborne

That Corporate Services Department Report 2025-66 be received; and That the license agreement with Sir John Colborne Youth Soccer Club, attached hereto as Appendix A, be amended by removing section 4.a.vii and replacing it with the following: “Minor soccer sponsors shall not be advertised in any designated space on the premises of T.A. Lannan Sports Complex without the express written consent of the City.” That Council approve entering into a renewed license agreement with Sir John Colborne Youth Soccer Club, attached hereto as Appendix A, as amended; and That Council approve the introduction of a per registered player user fee as outlined in the attached license agreement.

That the license agreement with Sir John Colborne Youth Soccer Club, attached hereto as Appendix A, be amended by removing section 4.a.vii and replacing it with the following: “Minor soccer sponsors shall not be advertised in any designated space on the premises of T.A. Lannan Sports Complex without the express written consent of the City.”

Whereas the Province of Ontario has appointed Dr. Philpott as the Chair of the New Primary Care Action Team to develop a strategy to address the shortage of primary care physicians with a mandate to attach all Ontarians to primary care in the next five years (2030); and Whereas the City of Port Colborne has a population of over 20,000 residents, with just under 10,000 who do not have a primary care physician within the city of Port Colborne, demonstrating a need for improved primary care in the community; and Whereas residents in Port Colborne require access to local primary care, resulting in a reliance on the Port Colborne Urgent Care Centre as their first point of contact with the healthcare system, which will continue beyond the opening of the South Niagara Hospital in 2028; and Whereas accessing healthcare services outside of Port Colborne is challenging for residents due to transportation concerns, with all routes to other communities only having one lane for both directions of traffic, and three bridge canal crossings, any obstruction – whether from an accident, construction, or even heavy traffic – can cause serious delays. This limited access raises concerns not only about access but also about safety, especially in emergencies; and Whereas Port Colborne is expecting an incredible amount of housing and industrial growth, with over $2 billion in building permits in 2024, and 7,000 housing units in the development pipeline, which is more than double the number of house

That Niagara Health and the Ontario Medical Association be added to the circulation list; and That the word "laboratory" be added after diagnostic services in the letter.

That the following by-law be passed and enacted, as presented:  By-law No. 7334/25/25

That the following by-laws be passed and enacted, as presented:  By-law No. 7335/26/25  By-law No. 7336/27/25, as amended  By-law No. 7337/28/25  By-law No. 7338/29/25  By-law No. 7339/30/25  By-law No. 7340/31/25