Strategic Decisions of Council - August 24, 2026

By Kendra Martin - Aug 25, 2026

Council Updates

Consent Agenda Items

Operating Results - June 30, 2026
Capital Projects Status - June 30, 2026
2026 Quarterly Procurement Report - Q1 and Q2
Toll Booth - Belwood Lions
Land Acquisition Update: 350 St Andrew St West, Fergus

Strategic Decisions from Council

Fire Master Plan Update
The Township has completed a comprehensive Fire Master Plan (FMP) to provide strategic direction for the delivery of fire protection services over the next ten years. The FMP was developed through a detailed review of community risk, population growth projections, emergency response performance, staffing models, facilities, apparatus, fire prevention services, training programs, and organizational governance. The plan identifies continued population growth, changing community demographics, increased development, intensity, volunteer firefighter recruitment pressures, and evolving emergency response expectations as key factors influencing future service delivery.

The FMP concludes that Centre Wellington Fire Rescue (CWFR) is currently providing an effective, professional, and valued service to the community. However, strategic investments in governance, staffing, fire prevention capacity, technology, leadership development, facilities, and long-term station planning are required to ensure the department remains aligned with community needs and emerging risks.

The Draft FMP was presented to Council for information and comment. Staff will return to Council in September 2026 seeking endorsement of the FMP.

Report to Council

Restricted Acts - The 'Lame Duck' Period - Reminder and Notice of Upcoming Update
Council is now entering into a restricted acts (“lame duck”) period as the incoming Council will have fewer than three-quarters of members from the Outgoing Council. Therefore, Council is restricted from taking the following actions:

The appointment or removal from office of any Officer of the municipality
The hiring or dismissal of any employee of the municipality
The disposal of any real or personal property of the municipality which has a value exceeding $50,000 at the time of disposal
Making any expenditures or incurring any other liability which exceeds $50,000 outside of the current approved budget.

Report to Council

Process to Form Community Development Working Groups for 2027 Initiatives
Council approved a new process to establish a Community Development Working Group to help review and evaluate community-based funding and program applications for initiatives taking place in 2027.

Staff will form one Community Development Working Group comprising members of the former Healthy Communities Advisory Committee and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee who have volunteered to continue supporting this work. The Community Development Working Group will review and score submissions across all three program streams, using established evaluation criteria appropriate to each program. Using a single working group will provide consistency in the evaluation approach and allow volunteers with experience in community development funding programs to apply their knowledge across initiatives. The role of the working group will be to review submissions, apply the established evaluation criteria, provide scores and identify relevant considerations for Township staff. Staff will compile the results and input provided by the working group and prepare recommendations through the appropriate approval processes.

The working group will review submissions for three Township programs:

Community Investment Fund
Inclusive Community Program
Fergus Grand Theatre Co-Presenting Pilot Program

For applications under the Arts, Culture, Festivals and Events stream of the Community Investment Fund, Council approved inviting one non-staff, non-elected member of the Board of the Economic Development and Tourism Municipal Services Corporation to participate in the review process. This participation will be limited to this stream and will provide additional sector-specific perspective.

Funding for these programs will be considered through the 2027 Budget process, with recommendations for Community Investment Fund awards expected to return to Council in Winter 2027.

Report to Council

Community Planning Permit System (CPPS) Project – Update & Initiation
Council approved moving forward with the next phase of work to explore a Community Planning Permit System (CPPS) for Centre Wellington.

A CPPS is a land-use planning tool that can combine several development approval processes—including zoning amendments, minor variances and site plan approval—into one streamlined application and review process. This can provide greater clarity and certainty for applicants while allowing the Township to establish clear community-based planning rules and objectives up front.

Council’s approval allows the Township to proceed with the project, including engaging a qualified consultant to help develop the proposed CPPS. The process will include further planning work and opportunities for community input before a CPPS is considered for implementation.

Council endorsed Option 1 – Full CPPS Project RFP (Mandatory Council Decision Point). Under this approach, Staff will issue a single RFP for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the CPPS Project. The RFP would be structured to include a mandatory Council decision point following the completion of Phase 1. Advancement to Phase 2 would be contingent upon Council’s consideration and endorsement of the Phase 1 findings, confirmation that implementation would be advantageous to the Township, and satisfactory Consultant performance. Should Council not support proceeding beyond Phase 1, Phase 2 would be cancelled, deferred, or revised, as directed by Council.

No CPPS has been approved or implemented at this time. Any future system would need to be developed through the appropriate planning process and would come back to Council for consideration.

Report to Council

Affordable Housing Initiative: 350 St. Andrew Street West, Fergus
Council approved moving forward with the next steps to explore the development of affordable housing at 350 St. Andrew Street West in Fergus.

The Township recently acquired the property with the intention of exploring opportunities to support housing that is affordable to a range of households. The property is approximately 0.28 acres and is located in the downtown Fergus area.

As part of the approved approach, the Township will undertake further work to determine how the property could be used to support affordable housing. Council directed staff to issue a Request for Proposal for the disposition or long-term lease, development, and management of 350 St. Andrew Street West, Fergus.

This work builds on the Township’s broader efforts to increase the supply and range of housing options in Centre Wellington. No specific affordable housing development has been approved for the property at this time. Further details and recommendations will come forward to Council as the work progresses.

Report to Council

Reciprocal Use Agreement with Upper Grand District School Board
Council approved a Reciprocal Use Agreement with the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) to expand opportunities for students and residents to access recreational facilities in Centre Wellington.

The agreement allows UGDSB students to use Township recreation facilities during weekdays when those facilities are generally less busy, while the Township will be able to use select school facilities (Centre Wellington District High School, Grand River Public School, and Elora Public School), including gymnasiums, classrooms and outdoor spaces, during evenings and weekends. The arrangement will provide access to facilities at no cost in most circumstances.

The initial agreement will be in place for two years, with an option to renew annually by agreement between the Township and the School Board. Staff will begin working with the UGDSB to establish bookings and programs, with the agreement expected to take effect in September 2026.

The partnership supports the Township’s goal of improving opportunities for activity, health and wellness in the community while making better use of existing publicly funded facilities.

Report to Council

NOTICE OF MOTION:

Council approved the Notice of Motion brought forward by Councillor Bronwynne Wilton:

Given the rapid growth of AI-driven systems, cloud computing and digital infrastructure has accelerated the development of new and large-scale data centres to meet industry defined needs and the fact that the Province of Ontario has not yet established a provincial regulatory framework for AI data centre industry there is cause to exercise caution regarding the introduction of data centres within the Township of Centre Wellington.

Therefore the Council of the Township of Centre Wellington directs staff to undertake a review and study costing no more than $49,999 of the Township’s land use planning policies in relation to artificial intelligence (AI) data centres, pursuant to section 38 of the Planning Act, applicable to all zones where the use is permitted in the Township of Centre Wellington, including, but not limited to, its Official Plans and Zoning By-law, and any required changes to the Township’s land use planning policies, mapping, and regulatory framework with consideration of, but not limited to the following:

i. Existing Official Plan policies and Zoning By-law permissions and regulations;

ii. Energy use and the impacts to power grids,

iii. Water use and the impacts to long-term drinking water quality and quantity, and

iv. Noise and light pollution impacts,

That staff be directed to report back to Council on the items listed above (a) in Q3 of 2027.
That staff be directed to prepare for Council’s consideration at the Council meeting on September 28, 2026, an Interim Control By-Law under Section 38 of the Planning Act, prohibiting the use of AI data centres within the study area described in (a) above.