Regular Council

Minutes

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Council Chambers, City Hall, second floor
Members Present:
  • Mayor Marianne Meed Ward
  • Councillor Kelvin Galbraith
  • Councillor Lisa Kearns
  • Councillor Rory Nisan
  • Councillor Shawna Stolte
  • Councillor Paul Sharman
  • Councillor Angelo Bentivegna
Staff Present:
  • Curt Benson, Chief Administrative Officer
  • Blake Hurley, Commissioner, Legal and Legislative Services/City Solicitor
  • Jacqueline Johnson, Commissioner, Community Services
  • Scott Hamilton, Commissioner Public Works
  • Chad MacDonald, Chief Information Officer
  • Craig Millar, Chief Financial Officer
  • Stephen Robichaud, Commissioner, Development and Growth Management
  • Sue Evfremidis, Chief Human Resources Officer
  • Roxanne Gosse, Committee Assistant
  • Mike de Rond, City Clerk/Director, Legislative Services

Councillor Kearns withdrew their amendment made at the March 3 Committee of the Whole meeting to report PWS-05-26. The effect of withdrawing this amendment also removed the amendment made by Councillor Nisan.

  • Moved by:Councillor Kearns
    Seconded by:Councillor Galbraith

    Approve the regular Council agenda for Tuesday, March 10, 2026.

    IN FAVOUR: (7)Councillor Sharman, Mayor Meed Ward, Councillor Galbraith, Councillor Kearns, Councillor Nisan, Councillor Stolte, and Councillor Bentivegna
    CARRIED (7 to 0)

Councillor Galbraith - Item 15.1 City land for affordable housing (DGM-11-26) and Item 15.2 Real Estate Matter declaring intent to lease Waterdown Road properties (LLS-16-26).

Councillor Galbraith owns property in close proximity of the development discussed in the March 10, 2026 council agenda. 

  • Moved by:Councillor Nisan
    Seconded by:Councillor Stolte

    Confirm the minutes of the following meetings of Council:

     

    CARRIED

None

Items a, b, c, d, e, f, h, j and k were grouped together for one consent vote.

  • IN FAVOUR: (7)Councillor Galbraith, Councillor Nisan, Councillor Stolte, Councillor Sharman, Councillor Bentivegna, Councillor Kearns, and Mayor Meed Ward
    CARRIED (7 to 0)
  • Approve the revised Corporate Community Investment Policy, as outlined in Appendix A of community services report CSS-04-26, and formally repeal the previous version.

    CARRIED
  • Approve the 2026 proposed budget for the Burlington Downtown Business Improvement Area (BIA) as presented in Appendix A of finance department report FIN-12-26 incorporating a Burlington Downtown BIA members’ levy of $1,097,062; and

    Authorize the Chief Financial Officer to incorporate the resulting Burlington Downtown BIA tax rates into the 2026 Tax Levy By-Law.

    CARRIED
  • Approve the proposed 2026 budget for the Aldershot Village Business Improvement Area (ABIA) as presented in Appendix A of finance department report FIN-13-26 incorporating an Aldershot Village BIA members’ levy of $295,420; and

    Authorize the Chief Financial Officer to incorporate the resulting Aldershot Village BIA tax rates into the 2026 Tax Levy By-Law.

    CARRIED
  • Receive for information transformation report TRN-02-26 regarding Burlington Economic Development & Tourism - Destination Stewardship Plan.

    CARRIED
  • Direct the Commissioner, Legal and Legislative Services/City Solicitor to prepare, for the approval of Council, the necessary by-law to appoint Municipal Livestock Valuers and Municipal Weed Inspectors and repeal the current appointment By-law 31-2022 as outlined in development and growth management report DGM-20-26.

    CARRIED
  • Approve public works report PWS-11-26 regarding the assumption of municipal parking operations at 390 Brant Street – SIMS Square – Lot 17; and

    Repeal and replace Schedule 1 of the Parking and Idling By-law 39-2016 with the revised schedule attached in Appendix B.

    CARRIED
  • Endorse the Horizon 2050 Strategic Plan as a replacement to Vision 2040 attached as Appendix A to transformation office report TRN-02-26; and

    Instruct staff to consider Horizon 2050 in future land planning policy, service delivery, advocacy and budget planning; and

    Instruct staff to share the Horizon 2050 strategic plan and supportive research with community partners for consideration in their future service planning.

    CARRIED
  • Approve the Downtown Parking Plan as attached as Appendix A to public works report PWS-05-26; and

    Endorse a phased implementation approach, prioritizing short-term, staff-led policy and program initiatives; and

    Endorse the advancement of targeted medium-term investments in parking technology and system improvements, subject to future budget approval; and

    Direct the Commissioner of Public Works to continue planning and monitoring conditions for longer-term, capital-intensive parking initiatives, including potential parking expansion, in a manner that ensures responsible stewardship of the Downtown Parking Reserve and supports the needs of existing businesses, customers, residents, and visitors.

    CARRIED
  • Adopt Amendment No. 8 to the Burlington Official Plan, 2020 (“OPA 8”), as provided in Appendix A of legislative services report LLS-13-26, to add policies to enable certain technical changes without a Plan amendment and to add policies to assist in the interpretation of the City’s Official Plans; and

    Adopt Amendment No. 2 to the Burlington Regional Official Plan, 1995 (“BROPA 2”), as provided in Appendix B of legislative services report LLS-13-26, to add policies to enable certain technical changes without a Plan amendment; and

    Deem that OPA 8 and BROPA 2 are in compliance with The Planning Act; and

    Instruct the City Clerk to prepare the necessary by-laws adopting OPA 8 and BROPA 2, substantially in the form attached as Appendix A and Appendix B of legislative services report LLS-13-26, respectively; and

    Approve the withdrawal of Subsection 12.2.2 m), in its entirety, from the BOP, 2020; and

    Instruct the City Clerk to prepare the necessary by-law to amend By-law No. 24-2018, being the adopting by-law for the BOP, 2020, to delete Subsection 12.2.2 m) in its entirety; and

    Authorize the Commissioner, Legal & Legislative Services/City Solicitor, or his designate, to advise the Ontario Land Tribunal of the withdrawal of Subsection 12.2.2 m) of the BOP, 2020; and

    Approve the proposed new delegations of authority provided in legislative services report LLS-13-26; and

    Enact the amending by-law substantially in the form attached as Appendix C to legislative services report LLS-13-26, to amend By-law 71-2023, being a by-law to delegate authorities to staff; and

    Direct the City Clerk to bring forward a further amending by-law to By-law 71-2023 to delegate the additional authorities introduced through OPA 8 and BROPA No. 2 once the amendments are in full force and effect.

    CARRIED
  • Approve the updated Use of Corporate Resources During an Election Policy, substantially in the form attached as Appendix A to legislative services report LLS-12-26.

    IN FAVOUR: (7)Councillor Sharman, Mayor Meed Ward, Councillor Galbraith, Councillor Kearns, Councillor Nisan, Councillor Stolte, and Councillor Bentivegna
    CARRIED (7 to 0)
  • Receive for information finance department report FIN-03-26 regarding remuneration and expense paid to Council and appointees for 2025; and

    Direct the Chief Financial Officer to provide a supplemental memo containing a revised appendix to finance report FIN-03-26 to add the following sources of income and deductions to arrive at grand total gross and net compensation for salary, benefits, OMERS (voluntarily provided by councillors), and deductions, for the March 10, 2026 Council meeting.

    IN FAVOUR: (7)Councillor Sharman, Mayor Meed Ward, Councillor Galbraith, Councillor Kearns, Councillor Nisan, Councillor Stolte, and Councillor Bentivegna
    CARRIED (7 to 0)

Items a, b, c, d, e and f were grouped together for one consent vote.

  • CARRIED
  • Receive for information office of the city auditor report AUD-01-26 regarding status of Management Action Plans for Q1 2026.

    CARRIED
  • Receive for information office of the city auditor report AUD-02-26 regarding quarterly dashboard for the office of the city auditor as of Q1 2026.

    CARRIED
  • Receive for information office of the city auditor report CA-06-26 regarding resourcing for office of the city auditor.

    CARRIED
  • Approve the Performance Management process and goals for the City Auditor identified in office of the city auditor report AUD-04-26.

    CARRIED
  • Receive for information transformation office report TRN-01-26 regarding risk to our objectives – the corporate compass.

    CARRIED
  • Approve the 2026 annual audit plan for the office of the city auditor attached in Appendix-A of office of the city auditor report AUD-03-26.

    CARRIED
  • Moved by:Councillor Kearns
    Seconded by:Councillor Sharman

    Receive for information office of the city auditor report AUD-05-26 regarding aquatics space allocation audit.

    That Council recognize that the audit committee concluded that the Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club (GHAC) was the awarded vendor for the delivery of youth aquatic programs, to support the continued delivery of youth aquatic programming.

    IN FAVOUR: (5)Councillor Kearns, Councillor Sharman, Councillor Stolte, Councillor Galbraith, and Mayor Meed Ward
    OPPOSED: (2)Councillor Nisan, and Councillor Bentivegna
    CARRIED (5 to 2)
  • Moved by:Councillor Kearns
    Seconded by:Councillor Sharman

    That Council recognize that the audit committee concluded that the Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club (GHAC) was the awarded vendor for the delivery of youth aquatic programs, to support the continued delivery of youth aquatic programming.

    IN FAVOUR: (5)Councillor Sharman, Mayor Meed Ward, Councillor Galbraith, Councillor Kearns, and Councillor Stolte
    OPPOSED: (2)Councillor Nisan, and Councillor Bentivegna
    CARRIED (5 to 2)

All items were grouped together for one consent vote.

  • IN FAVOUR: (7)Councillor Sharman, Mayor Meed Ward, Councillor Galbraith, Councillor Kearns, Councillor Nisan, Councillor Stolte, and Councillor Bentivegna
    CARRIED (7 to 0)
  • Receive for information staff presentation regarding Faster, Smarter, Simpler: Transforming the Site Plan Process (PP-04-26)

    CARRIED
  • Receive for information staff presentation regarding Burlington's New Residential Zoning By-law (PP-06-26)

    CARRIED
  • Receive for information development and growth management report DGM-14-26 regarding high-impact Concierge Service 2025 operational updates.

    CARRIED
  • Moved by:Councillor Sharman
    Seconded by:Councillor Nisan

    Endorse the Indwell project concept for 1022, 1028 and 1030 Waterdown Road, as outlined in development and growth management report DGM-11-26 Appendix A, subject to final design, applicable planning approvals, securing required funding and financing, and Council approval of the disposition of City lands by way of a long-term land lease in accordance with legal services report LLS-16-26; and

    Direct the Commissioner of Development, Growth and Management to initiate a city-led site-specific zoning by-law amendment for 1022, 1028 and 1030 Waterdown Road to permit the approved Indwell project concept, as outlined in development and growth management report DGM-11-26 Appendix A, subject to final design; and

    Delegate authority to the Commissioner of Development, Growth and Management, in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), to reallocate the HAF budget, as may be required during 2026, to ensure the City meets its Housing Accelerator Fund housing targets by December 31, 2026, including capital funding, incentives, land acquisitions, or other opportunities that may arise; and

    Authorize the Director of Community Planning, in consultation with the City Solicitor, to approve, execute, and administer, on behalf of The Corporation of the City of Burlington, all agreements and documentation necessary to implement the recommendations of this report or throughout the year 2026; and

    Direct the Director of Community Planning to engage with Halton Region to explore opportunities to prioritize Burlington residents, where feasible and consistent with Regional policies, within the applicant selection process for the Indwell / Waterdown project.

    IN FAVOUR: (6)Councillor Sharman, Mayor Meed Ward, Councillor Kearns, Councillor Nisan, Councillor Stolte, and Councillor Bentivegna
    Conflict (1)Councillor Galbraith
    CARRIED (6 to 0)
  • Moved by:Councillor Bentivegna
    Seconded by:Councillor Nisan

    Declare intent to enter into a long-term land lease on 1022-1030 Waterdown Road, a rectangular-shaped parcel of land having an approximate land area of 2,670 square metres, to Indwell as per development and growth management report DGM-11-26 to develop an affordable housing project; and

    Consider the long-term land lease of these lands at the Committee of the Whole meeting of April 13, 2026, and the Council meeting of April 21, 2026; and

    Provide notice by regular mail to all properties within 120 metres of the subject lands and publicize the resolution in the Council minutes on the City’s website.

    IN FAVOUR: (6)Councillor Sharman, Mayor Meed Ward, Councillor Kearns, Councillor Nisan, Councillor Stolte, and Councillor Bentivegna
    Conflict (1)Councillor Galbraith
    CARRIED (6 to 0)
  • Moved by:Councillor Kearns
    Seconded by:Councillor Galbraith

    Approve the Electric Vehicle Charging Stations on City Property Corporate Policy attached as Appendix A to public works report PWS-06-26; and

    Approve option 4 of the pricing strategy as outlined in public works report PWS-06-26; and

    Report back with the necessary amendments to the Rates and Fees By-law as well as the Parking and Idling By-law for approval by City Council to implement the fees in Q2 2026.

    IN FAVOUR: (7)Councillor Sharman, Mayor Meed Ward, Councillor Galbraith, Councillor Kearns, Councillor Nisan, Councillor Stolte, and Councillor Bentivegna
    CARRIED (7 to 0)
  • Moved by:Councillor Stolte
    Seconded by:Councillor Kearns

    Repeal By-law 35-2017, being a by-law to establish site plan control and designate all lands in the City of Burlington as a site plan control area; and

    Enact the new Site Plan Control By-law, substantially in the form attached as Appendix A to development and growth management report DGM-12-26.

    IN FAVOUR: (7)Councillor Sharman, Mayor Meed Ward, Councillor Galbraith, Councillor Kearns, Councillor Nisan, Councillor Stolte, and Councillor Bentivegna
    CARRIED (7 to 0)
  • Moved by:Councillor Nisan
    Seconded by:Councillor Sharman

    Approve the application submitted by Walkers Green Residences Ltd. to draft approve a vacant land condominium plan consisting of three (3) vacant land units at 4030 and 4050 Upper Middle Road, as shown in Appendix A of report DGM-13-26, subject to the conditions contained in Appendix B of the report.

    IN FAVOUR: (7)Councillor Sharman, Mayor Meed Ward, Councillor Galbraith, Councillor Kearns, Councillor Nisan, Councillor Stolte, and Councillor Bentivegna
    CARRIED (7 to 0)
  • Moved by:Councillor Nisan
    Seconded by:Councillor Kearns

    Council moved into closed session regarding items 16.1 Confidential legal advice regarding a breach of solicitor-client privileged information - Millcroft Golf Course (LLS-20-26) and 16.2 (a) Confidential supplemental memo regarding Confidential legal advice regarding a breach of solicitor-client privileged information - Millcroft Golf Course (LLS-20-26) in accordance with the following provision under the Municipal Act:

    Pursuant to Section 239(2)(f) advice that is subject to solicitor – client privilege including communications necessary for that purpose regarding Items 16.2 and 16.2 (a).

    IN FAVOUR: (7)Councillor Sharman, Mayor Meed Ward, Councillor Galbraith, Councillor Kearns, Councillor Nisan, Councillor Stolte, and Councillor Bentivegna
    CARRIED (7 to 0)

16.1
Motion to Confirm Confidential minutes

 
  • Confirm the confidential minutes of the following closed meetings:

a.
Confidential closed Council meeting minutes of February 17, 2026

 
  • Moved by:Councillor Sharman
    Seconded by:Councillor Stolte
    CARRIED

b.
Confidential closed Committee of the Whole meeting minutes of March 3 and 5, 2026

 

Councillor Galbraith declared a pecuniary interest on item 8.3 Real estate matter declaring intent to lease Waterdown Road properties (LLS-16-26) and Item 12.2 City land for affordable housing (DGM-11-26) of the closed Committee of the Whole meeting minutes for March 3 and 5, 2026.

The approval of the minutes was taken in two separate votes.

  • Moved by:Councillor Sharman
    Seconded by:Councillor Stolte

    Confidential closed Committee of the Whole meeting minutes of March 3 and March 5, 2026 excluding items 8.3 and 12.2.

    CARRIED
  • Moved by:Councillor Sharman
    Seconded by:Councillor Stolte

    Confidential closed Committee of the Whole meeting minutes of March 3 and March 5, 2026.

    Note: Councillor Galbraith was not included in this vote.

    CARRIED

16.2
Confidential legal advice regarding a breach of solicitor-client privileged information - Millcroft Golf Course (LLS-20-26)

 

a.
Confidential supplemental memo regarding Confidential legal advice regarding a breach of solicitor-client privileged information - Millcroft Golf Course (LLS-20-26)

 

Council reconvened into open session on March 10, 2026 at 3:19 p.m.

In closed session Council discussed and provided instructions to staff for item 16.2 Confidential legal advice regarding a breach of solicitor-client privileged information - Millcroft Golf course (LLS-20-26)

  • Moved by:Councillor Sharman
    Seconded by:Councillor Bentivegna

    Confirm that Council waives solicitor-client privilege over the specific information that was made public by Councillor Bentivegna and subsequently, as part of a joint statement, by Councillor Bentivegna and Mayor Meed Ward, based on the advice received, at the time from the CAO, that it could be disclosed. Once it was determined by the Commissioner of Legal and Legislative Services that there had been a breach of solicitor-client privilege, steps were taken to remove the information from social media and the two Members of Council apologized for their inadvertent error. Council accepted that apology.

    Council’s waiver applies only to the specific information that had already been disclosed publicly, namely:

    • that Council authorized the CAO to negotiate the acquisition of the remaining Millcroft Golf Course lands and to report back to Council for further instructions should the owner be willing to sell at the offered price;
    • that the Chief Administrative Officer contacted the owner to inquire about a potential City purchase of all or part of those lands for $15 million, a sum approximately three times the amount the golf course was purchased for in 2020, prior to residential use being permitted on the lands;
    • that the owner subsequently advised the City that it was not interested in selling the remaining lands to the City at that price.

    Confirm that Council waives solicitor-client privilege only with respect to the specific information that was publicly disclosed and that all other details related to this matter remain confidential and subject to solicitor-client privilege

    IN FAVOUR: (5)Councillor Sharman, Mayor Meed Ward, Councillor Galbraith, Councillor Nisan, and Councillor Bentivegna
    OPPOSED: (2)Councillor Kearns, and Councillor Stolte
    CARRIED (5 to 2)
  • Moved by:Councillor Bentivegna
    Seconded by:Councillor Sharman
    Receive and file information items, having been considered by Council:
    CARRIED
  • Moved by:Councillor Sharman
    Seconded by:Councillor Galbraith
    IN FAVOUR: (7)Councillor Sharman, Mayor Meed Ward, Councillor Galbraith, Councillor Kearns, Councillor Nisan, Councillor Stolte, and Councillor Bentivegna
    CARRIED (7 to 0)
  • Moved by:Councillor Sharman
    Seconded by:Councillor Stolte

    Enact and pass By-law Number 22-2026 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of Council at its meeting held March 10, 2026 being read a first, second and third time.

    IN FAVOUR: (7)Councillor Sharman, Mayor Meed Ward, Councillor Galbraith, Councillor Kearns, Councillor Nisan, Councillor Stolte, and Councillor Bentivegna
    CARRIED (7 to 0)
  • Moved by:Councillor Nisan
    Seconded by:Councillor Sharman

    11:13 a.m. (recess), 11:21 a.m. (reconvene), 12:16 p.m. (recess), 1:01 p.m. (reconvene), 1:04 p.m. (closed), 3:19 p.m. (public)

    Adjourn this Council now to meet again at the call of the Mayor.
    3:36 p.m.

    CARRIED
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