Special Council
Agenda

Meeting #:

Date:

Monday, March 02, 2026

Time:

9:30 A.m. - 4:30 P.m.

Location:

Council Chambers, City Hall, second floor

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1.

Call to Order

2.

Land Acknowledgement

Burlington as we know it today is rich in history and modern traditions of many First Nations and the Métis. From the Anishinaabeg to the Haudenosaunee, and the Métis – our lands spanning from Lake Ontario to the Niagara Escarpment are steeped in Indigenous history. ​

​The territory is mutually covered by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between the Iroquois Confederacy, the Ojibway and other allied Nations to peaceably share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes.

We acknowledge that the land on which we gather is part of the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit.

3.

National Anthem

4.

Roll Call

5.

Approval of the Agenda

6.

Declarations of Interest

7.

Presentations

8.

Delegations

In order to speak at a Council meeting, Individuals must register as a delegation no later than noon the business day before the meeting. To register, complete the online application at www.burlington.ca/delegation or by submitting a written request by email to the Legislative Services at

If you do not wish to delegate, but would like to submit feedback, please email your comments to by noon the business day before the meeting. Your comments will be circulated to Council members in advance of the meeting and will be attached to the minutes, forming part of the public record.

9.

Items to be considered at the Special Meeting of Council

9.1

Committee of the Whole meeting of February 9 and 10, 2026

a.

2026 Halton Court Services business plan and budget (LLS-06-26) (CCS)

• Approve the 2026 Halton Court Services (HCS) budget attached as Appendix A to legal services report LLS-06-26.

b.

Reserve fund request to strengthen municipal resilience (PWS-02-26) (PW)

• Authorize the Chief Financial Officer to transfer $75,000 from the Tax Rate Stabilization reserve fund to strengthen municipal resilience through supporting the Emergency and Continuity Program as outlined in public works report PWS-02-26.

c.

Heritage Conservation Agreement for 461 Elizabeth Street (Knox Presbyterian Church) (DGM-09-26) (GM)

• Authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign the Heritage Conservation Agreement in connection with Heritage Grant Program application No. 501-06-7-01/25 (the “Application”) for 461 Elizabeth Street (Knox Presbyterian Church), as outlined in development and growth management report DGM-09-26.

d.

Heritage Conservation Agreement for 2411 Lakeshore Road (DGM-10-26) (GM)

• Authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign the Heritage Conservation Agreement in connection with Heritage Grant Program Application No. 501-06-7-02/25 (the “Application”) for 2411 Lakeshore Road, as outlined in development and growth management report DGM-10-26.

e.

Amendment to Procedure By-law 59-2024 to provide clarity on member speaking time and questions (LLS-07-26)

• Enact a by-law to amend Procedure By-law No. 59-2024, substantially attached as Appendix A to legislative services report LLS-07-26.

f.

Recreation Fee Assistance Program improvements 2025 (CSS-02-26)

• Receive for information community services memo CSS-02-26 regarding Recreation Fee Assistance Program improvements 2025.

g.

Motion Memorandum regarding City of Burlington leaving X social media (COW-05-26) (SD)

• Direct the Director of Corporate Communications and Engagement to report back in Q4 2026 to the Committee of the Whole on best use of social media platforms and the potential consequences and mitigation strategy of leaving the X social media platform. 

h.

Motion Memorandum regarding amendments to the Council Code of Good Governance and Council Staff Relations Policy (COW-04-26) (SD)

• Direct the City Clerk to review the Staff Council relations policy including consideration of a section  designed to guide the Mayor’s decision making when considering the use of Strong Mayor Powers., including that ”Strong Mayor Powers directions will only be delivered in writing in accordance with Ontario Regulation 530/22,” and to review the option of stipulating that staff are only to implement directions from the  mayor that are delivered in writing in accordance with Ontario Regulation 530/22; and

  Direct the City Clerk, in consultation with the Integrity Commissioner, to review Council's Code of Good Governance with a view to (a) alignment with the region's code; (b) clarity regarding the ability of member of council make directions to local boards and committees; and

  Direct the CAO to review staff policies to ensure clarity around the roles of staff with respect to local boards and committees; and

  Direct the City Clerk to report back to Committee of the Whole by May 11, 2026. 

i.

2026 Lakeshore Music & Arts Festival – event overview (CSS-01-26) (SD)

Note: item 16.1 provides supplemental information regarding this item.

• Receive for information community services report CSS-01-26 regarding 2026 Lakeshore Music & Arts Festival – event overview; and 

  Direct the Director of Recreation Community and Culture to be available to support a community-driven parade at the same time as the Lakeshore Music & Arts Festival in 2026.

j.

E-Scooter Micromobility Pilot Program update (PWS-04-26)

• Receive for information public works memo PWS-04-26 regarding the E-Scooter Micromobility Pilot Program update. 

k.

Burlington Climate Plan: Taking Action to Reduce Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions (PWS-01-26) (PW)

• Approve the Burlington Climate Action Plan: Taking Action to Reduce Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions contained in Appendix A to public works report PWS-01-26.

l.

Final Burlington Avenue and Ontario Street Heritage Conservation District Plan and Guidelines (DGM-04-26)

• Approve a by-law, substantially in the form attached as Appendix D to development and growth management report DGM-04-26, to designate the Study Area as a Heritage Conservation District under section 41(1), Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act; and

  Adopt the Burlington Avenue – Ontario Street Heritage Conservation District Plan dated January 2026 under section 41 and subsection 41.1 (1), Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act.

m.

Heritage response to Bill 23 - Phase II shortlist of designation candidates (DGM-07-26)

• Direct the Director of Community Planning to retain a consultant to assess the eligibility of the following properties for potential heritage designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, consult the Heritage Burlington Advisory Committee, and report back to Council with statements explaining the cultural heritage value or interest of qualifying properties prior to January 1, 2027:

  1. 2137 Lakeshore Rd. (The Sewage Pumping Station aka 2137 Junction St.)
  2. 1419 Ontario St. (The O'Brien-Connell House)
  3. 2464 Dundas St. (St. John's Anglican Church)
  4. 1264 Lemonville Rd. (A. Lemon Family Farmhouse)
  5. 5534 Guelph Ln. (The Thomas Colling Centennial Farmhouse)
  6. 1391 Ontario St. (The New George Allen House)
  7. 1454 Birch Ave. (The Edwin Thorpe Retirement House)
  8. 566 Locust St. (The Harry Blessinger Retirement House)
  9. 2187 Lakeshore Rd. (The Dalton-Bell House)
  10. 524 Hager Ave. (The Bamford House).

n.

Options for the temporary elimination of Development Charges (DGM-03-26) (SD)

Note: Items 16.2, 16.3 and 16.4 provide supplemental information regarding this item.

• Direct the Commissioner of Development & Growth Management and Chief Financial Officer to initiate a temporary Development Charge bylaw amendment for a two-year residential Development Charges exemption on all units that pull a building permit and demonstrate active construction within the two-year period, as outlined in Option 1A in development and growth management report DGM-03-26; and

  Direct the Head of Corporate Affairs to initiate an advocacy and government relations campaign to advocate that the federal and provincial governments make good on their promise to keep municipalities whole from any DC reductions, to offset any lost DC or other revenues, and further, advocate that the MMAH provide clarity or changes to regulation related to repaying DC grants; and

  Direct the Chief Financial Officer to provide an uptake on the program as part of the quarterly financial reporting.

o.

New Residential Zoning By-law - Final (DGM-05-26)

Note: Item 16.5 provides supplemental information regarding this item.

• Approve and enact the new Burlington Residential Zoning By-laws in accordance with Appendices A and B of development and growth management report DGM-05-26; and

  Deem that the new Burlington Residential Zoning By-laws will conform to the 2020 Official Plan of the City of Burlington, the 1997 Official Plan of the City of Burlington, and the 1995 Burlington Regional Official Plan, as applicable; and

  State that in accordance with Section 34(17) of the Planning Act, City Council has determined that no further public notice is required related to the changes to the proposed Zoning By-laws.

9.2

Pipeline to Permit Committee meeting of February 12, 2026

a.

Staff presentation regarding Faster, Smarter, Simpler: Transforming the Site Plan Process (PP-04-26)

• Refer staff presentation regarding Faster, Smarter, Simpler: Transforming the Site Plan Process (PP-04-26) to the March 5, 2026 Pipeline to Permit Committee meeting.

b.

Staff presentation regarding Burlington's New Residential Zoning By-law (PP-06-26)

• Refer staff presentation regarding Burlington's New Residential Zoning By-law (PP-06-26) to the March 5, 2026 Pipeline to Permit Committee meeting.

10.

Motion to Approve Standing Committee Minutes

• Approve the following minutes:

10.1

Committee of the Whole meeting minutes of February 9 and 10, 2026

10.2

Pipeline to Permit Committee meeting minutes of February 12, 2026

11.

Urgent Business

12.

Confidential Items and Closed Meeting

12.1

Motion to approve Confidential closed meeting minutes

Distributed under separate cover.

• Approve the confidential closed meeting minutes from the Committee of the Whole for February 9 and 10, 2026

13.

Rise and Report

14.

Motions of Members

15.

Council Information Packages

15.1

Council Information Package January 30, 2026

15.2

Council Information Package February 6, 2026

15.3

Council Information Package of February 13, 2026

16.

Motion to Receive and File Information Items

• Receive and file information items, having been considered by Council:

16.1

Supplemental staff memorandum regarding 2026 Lakeshore Music & Arts Festival – event overview (CCS-01-26)

Note: This item provides supplemental information regarding item 9.1 i.

16.2

Supplemental staff memorandum regarding Options for the temporary elimination of Development Charges  (DGM-03-26)

Note: This item provides supplemental information regarding item 13.1 n. re: Financial Impact and Funding Strategy for Temporary Residential DC Exemptions.

16.3

Supplemental staff memorandum regarding Options for the temporary elimination of Development Charges (DGM-03-26)

Note: This item provides supplemental information regarding item 13.1 n. regarding Mayoral Decision 2026-03 requesting additional information regarding a temporary elimination of Development Charges.

16.4

Memorandum from Mayor Meed Ward regarding DRAFT Correspondence to Federal and Provincial Ministers – Development Charge Exemption Funding Request

This item provides supplemental information regarding item 13.1 n.

16.5

Supplemental staff memorandum regarding New Residential Zoning By-law – Final Draft – Statutory Public Meeting and Recommendation Report (DGM-05-26)

Note: This item provides supplemental information regarding item 9.1 o., 18.4 and 18.5

REVISED schedules to by-laws 09-2026 and 10-2026 are attached to items 18.4 and 18.5

16.6

Correspondence from Hallett Homes regarding Options for the temporary elimination of Development Charges (DGM-03-26)

16.7

Correspondence from The Atmospheric Fund regarding New Residential Zoning by-law (DGM-05-26)

16.8

Correspondence from Trans-Northern Pipeline regarding New Residential Zoning by-law (DGM-05-26)

16.9

Correspondence from WSP regarding New Residential Zoning by-law (DGM-05-26)

16.10

Correspondence from Halton Faith Communities regarding New Residential Zoning by-law (DGM-05-26)

16.11

Correspondence from Joe Gaetan regarding amendment to Procedure By-law 59-2024 to provide clarity on member speaking time and questions (LLS-07-26)

16.12

Correspondence from Cynthia Shanahan regarding Options for the temporary elimination of Development Charges (DGM-03-26)

16.13

Delegation material from Jim Thomson regarding Motion Memorandum regarding amendments to the Council Code of Good Governance and Council Staff Relations Policy (COW-04-26)

17.

Notice of Motion

18.

Motion to Approve By-Laws

• Enact and pass the following by-laws which are now introduced, entitled and numbered as indicated below:

18.1

06-2026: A by-law to amend By-law 86-2007, as amended, being a by-law for the regulation of traffic.

Delegated Authority

18.2

07-2026: A by-law to amend By-law 59-2024 as amended to provide for changes to speaking times in Sections 49.12 and 49.3.

Report LLS-07-26, Committee of the Whole February 9 and 10, 2026

18.3

08-2026: A by-law to designate the Burlington Avenue-Ontario Street Heritage Conservation District and adopt the Burlington-Avenue Ontario Street Heritage Conservation District Plan.

Report DGM-04-26, Committee of the Whole February 9 and 10, 2026.

18.4

09-2026: A by-law to repeal Zoning By-law 2020, as amended, and replace it with a new Residential Zoning By-law only as it applies to certain residentially zoned lands. As amended with the revised schedule.

Report DGM-05-26, Committee of the Whole February 9 and 10, 2026

Note: Item 16.5 provides information regarding the attached REVISED schedule.

18.5

10-2026: A by-law to repeal Zoning By-law 2020, as amended, and replace it with a new Residential Zoning By-law Near Rail. As amended with the revised schedules.

Report DGM-05-26, Committee of the Whole February 9 and 10, 2026

Note: Item 16.5 provides information regarding the attached REVISED schedule.

19.

Confirmatory By-Law

• Enact and pass By-law Number 12-2026 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of Council at its meeting held March 2, 2026 being read a first, second and third time.

20.

Statements of Members and Staff

21.

Motion to Adjourn

• Adjourn this Council now to meet again at the call of the Mayor.