THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WEST LINCOLN
COUNCIL AGENDA

MEETING NO. FOUR

Monday, April 27, 2026 at 6:30 P.m. - 7:30 P.m.

Township Administration Building

318 Canborough Street, Smithville, Ontario

NOTE TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: All Cell Phones, Pagers and/or PDAs to be turned off. Members of the public who are attending and participating virtually are reminded to keep their microphones muted until they are acknowledged to speak. Additionally, for your information, please be advised that this meeting will be livestreamed as well as recorded and will be available on the Township's website.

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1.

SINGING OF "O CANADA" - Caistor Centre Public School

Prior to commencing with the Council meeting, Mayor Ganann will provide the following announcements:

1. The public may submit comments for matters that are on the agenda to [email protected] before 4:30 pm. on the day of the meeting. Comments submitted will be considered as public information and read into public record.
2. This meeting is being livestreamed as well as recorded and will be available on the Township's website. 

2.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT

The Township of West Lincoln, being part of Niagara Region is situated on treaty land. This land is steeped in the rich history of the First Nations such as the Hatiwendaronk, the Haudenosaunee, and the Anishinaabe, including the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. There are many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit from across Turtle Island that live and work in Niagara today. The Township of West Lincoln, as part of the Regional Municipality of Niagara, stands with all Indigenous people, past and present, in promoting the wise stewardship of the lands on which we live.

3.

OPENING PETITION - Councillor Shelley Bradaric

4.

CHANGE IN ORDER OF ITEMS ON AGENDA

5.

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND/OR CONFLICT OF INTEREST

6.

REQUEST TO ADDRESS ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

NOTE: Requests to address items on the agenda are restricted to specific items as follows per Section 6.7 of the Procedural By-law:
6.7 Public Comment at Council
There shall be no comments from the public permitted at Council unless:
(a) a specific appointment has been scheduled; or,
(b) an item is included under the “Other Business” or “Communications” or “Appointments” section of the agenda and relates to a matter which would normally be dealt with at Committee.

Chair to inquire if there are any members of the public present who wish to address a specific item on the agenda as permitted by Section 6.7 of the Procedural By-law.

7.

APPOINTMENTS/PRESENTATIONS

There are no appointments/presentations

8.

REGIONAL COUNCILLOR’S REMARKS

9.

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

9.1

Council Minutes

Re:  Minutes March 23, 2026
CONFIDENTIAL MINUTES UNDER SEPARATE COVER

• Moved By Councillor Jason Trombetta
  1. That the minutes relating to the March 23, 2026, Council Meeting, be accepted; and,
  2. That the confidential minutes relating to the closed session portion on March 23, 2026, Growth and Sustainability Committee Meeting be accepted; and that the minutes remain confidential and restricted from public disclosure in accordance with exemptions provided in Section 239 of the Municipal Act.

9.2

Public Meeting under the Planning Act

Re:  Minutes - April 13, 2026

• Moved By Councillor Joann Chechalk
  1. That the minutes relating to the April 13, 2026,  Public Meetings, be accepted.

9.3

Public Consultation

Re:  Minutes - March 25, 2026

• Moved By Councillor Jason Trombetta
  1. That the minutes relating to the March 25, 2026, Public Consultation Meeting, be received.

10.

COMMUNICATIONS

10.1

Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee

Re:  Minutes - March 12, 2026

• Moved By Councillor Mike Rehner
  1. That the Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee Minutes dated March 12, 2026, be received.

10.2

Mayor's Youth Advisory Committee

Re:  Minutes - March 4, 2026

• Moved By Councillor Shelley Bradaric
  1. That the Mayor's Youth Advisory Committee Minutes dated March 4, 2026, be received.

10.3

Age Friendly Advisory Committee

Re: Minutes - March 6, 2026

• Moved By Councillor Greg Maychak
  1. That the West Lincoln Age Friendly Advisory Committee Minutes dated March 6, 2026, be received.

10.4

Niagara Regional Transit

Re: Request for Inclusion in Niagara Regional Transit intra-municipal Service for West Lincoln

• Moved By Councillor William Reilly

  WHEREAS West Lincoln did not opt in to local intramunicipal transit service through the amalgamation process; and
  WHEREAS there is a growing demand from West Lincoln residents for local transit services; and
  WHEREAS many of the residents who are moving to West Lincoln are accustomed to utilizing local transit; and
  WHEREAS The Town of West Lincoln is expecting unprecedented growth; and
  WHEREAS the population of The Town of West Lincoln is approximately 16,500, and is expected to grow to over 39,000 by 2051; and
  WHEREAS the largest portion of that growth will be in the urban centre of Smithville; and
  WHEREAS The Town of West Lincoln is the largest municipality by geographic area in the Niagara Region; and
  WHEREAS it was agreed upon by local area municipalities and the Regional Municipality of Niagara, through the Triple Majority process in the establishment of the Niagara Transit Commission and in the adoption of the Niagara Service Standards Strategy, that Niagara Transit would plan for and work towards all local municipalities receiving transit services fairly and equitably; 
  
  THEREFORE the Mayor and Council of West Lincoln request that Niagara Transit present options for the introduction of intramunicipal transit service in West Lincoln; and
  THEREFORE Mayor and Council direct the Clerk to send this request as official correspondence to the Niagara Transit Commission 

11.

MAYOR’S REMARKS

12.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE

12.1

Growth and Sustainability Committee

Re:  Minutes - April 13, 2026

• Moved By Councillor Joann Chechalk
  1. That the minutes relating to the April 13, 2026, Growth and Sustainability Committee Meeting, be accepted.

12.2

Infrastructure Committee

Re:  Minutes - April 13, 2026

• Moved By Councillor William Reilly
  1. That the minutes relating to the April 13, 2026, Infrastructure Committee Meeting, be accepted.

13.

STAFF REPORTS

13.1

Manager of Finance/Deputy Treasurer (Steve Emslie) and Property Tax and Payroll Coordinator (Sarah Petrina)

Re:  Recommendation Report T-07-2026 - 2026 Tax Rate By-Law

• Moved By Councillor Shelley Bradaric
  1. That, Recommendation Report T-07-2026, titled “2026 Tax Rate By-Law”, dated April 27, 2026, be received; and,
  2. That, the 2026 tax rates, attached as Schedule A to this report, be approved; and,
  3. That, By-Law 2026-17, to set the rates of taxation for the year 2026, be approved.

      

13.2

Fire Chief (Tim Hofsink)

Re: Information Report WLFD-05-2026 - Monthly Update – March 2026

• Moved By Councillor Jason Trombetta
  1. That, Information Report WLFD-05-2026 titled "Monthly Update - March 2026”, dated April 27, 2026, be received.

13.3

Director, Legal and Legislative Services (Jessica Dyson) and CAO (Truper McBride) 

Re:  Recommendation Report LLS-04-202 - Regional Governance Review – Bill 100 (Better Regional Governance Act, 2026)

• Moved By Councillor Shelley Bradaric
  1. That, Recommendation Report LLS-04-2026 titled “Regional Governance Review – Bill 100 (Better Regional Governance Act, 2026)” dated April 27^th, 2026 be received; and,
  2. That, Council provide direction to administration on the municipality’s position regarding Bill 100 to inform a submission to the Province.

14.

RECONSIDERATION

(“Definition”) This section is for a Member of Council to introduce a motion to reconsider action taken at this Council Meeting or the previous regular Council meeting. A motion to reconsider must be made by a Council Member who voted in the majority on the matter to be reconsidered. The Chair may rule that a motion to reconsider will be dealt with at the next following Council Meeting if for some reason it cannot be dealt with at this meeting.

15.

NOTICE OF MOTION TO RESCIND

(“Definition”) This section is for Council Members to serve notice of intent to introduce a motion to rescind action taken previously by Council. Notice served at this meeting will be for a motion to rescind at the next regular meeting.

16.

OTHER BUSINESS

16.1

Members of Council

Re: Council Remarks

17.

NEW ITEMS OF BUSINESS

NOTE: Only for items that require immediate attention/direction from Council and must first approve a motion to introduce a new item of business.

18.

CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS

There are no confidential matters

19.

DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS

20.

BY-LAWS

• Moved By Councillor Jason Trombetta
  1. That leave be granted to introduce By-Laws 2026-17, 2026-18, 2026-19, 2026-20, 2026-21, and 2026-22,  and that the same shall be considered to have been read a first, second, and third time with one reading, and are hereby adopted; and,
  2. That the Mayor and Clerk be and are hereby authorized to sign and affix the Corporate Seal thereto, any rule of this Council to the contrary notwithstanding.

20.1

BY-LAW 2026-17

Being a By-law to adopt the estimates for the Year 2026 and to set the Rates of Taxation for the Year 2026

20.2

BY-LAW 2026-18

Being a By-law to adopt the Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan, as a Policy Document, for the Community Improvement Project area within the Township of West Lincoln, pursuant to the boundaries of the community of Smithville Urban Are Boundaries.

20.3

BY-LAW 2026-19

Being a By-law to designate the Affordable Housing Community Improvement Project are to the community of Smithville Urban Area Boundaries. 

20.4

BY-LAW 2026-20

A By-law to amend Zoning By-law No. 2017-70, as amended, of the Township of West Lincoln.
Housekeeping Amendment

20.5

BY-LAW 2026-21

A By-law to authorize an agreement between the Corporation of the Township of West Lincoln and Walker Construction Limited for the 2026 Road Rehabilitation Work Project 

20.6

BY-LAW 2026-22

A By-law to adopt, confirm and ratify matters dealt with by Council Resolution

21.

ADJOURNMENT

The Mayor to declare this meeting adjourned at the hour of __________.