Strategic Decisions of Council - May 25, 2026

Council Meeting Date: May 25, 2026

Consent Agenda Items

Toll Booth - Elora Firefighters Association
Capital Projects Status - March 31, 2026
Operating Results - March 31, 2026
Designation By-law - 6275 Wellington Road 26, West Garafraxa

Strategic Decisions from Council

Transit Feasibility Study - Final Report
The Township has completed a Transit Feasibility Study to assess whether and how a future public transit system could be introduced in Centre Wellington in a way that is practical, financially sustainable, and responsive to community needs.  The study was undertaken in recognition of continued population and employment growth, increasing travel demand within and beyond the Township, changing mobility expectations, and the role that transit can play in supporting economic development, accessibility, social inclusion, and downtown parking management.

The findings confirm that there is a growing case for transit in Centre Wellington. The Township’s compact urban form, travel patterns between Elora and Fergus, and strong community interest in improved local and regional mobility suggest that a phased transit model can be introduced over time. The study further confirms that transit should be viewed not only as a transportation service, but also as enabling infrastructure that supports access to employment, education, shopping, health care, tourism, and community participation. 

Transit Service Options
The study evaluated three primary service options for the urban area as follows:

1. Option 1 consists of a predominantly on-demand model with a fixed Elora– Fergus connection. This option would be comparatively easy to implement and requires fewer up-front investments. However, it was assessed as less effective in capturing broader ridership demand and less reliable for regular everyday trips.
2. Option 2 involves a conventional fixed-route network. This option performed well on reliability and service legibility, and it is better suited than on-demand service for regular trip-making in a compact urban area. However, it requires higher capital and operating investment from the outset.
3. Option 3 is a proposed hybrid model that combines fixed-route and on-demand services. This approach would use fixed routes where demand is strongest and most consistent, while using on-demand service to preserve coverage in lower-demand areas or during early implementation phases. The study found that this option provided the strongest balance of ridership potential, reliability, scalability, and financial practicality.

Next Steps
The Transit Feasibility Study provides Council with a strong foundation for decision-making. If Council wishes to proceed, the next steps should focus on moving from feasibility to implementation planning. Recommended next steps include:

1. Requesting Council endorsement of the recommended hybrid transit model in principle
2. Directing staff to refine phasing, service design, and implementation timing based on Council priorities and available funding
3. Initiating more detailed business planning for launch-stage service levels, operating model, and procurement requirements
4. Advancing discussions with Wellington County, Guelph, and other potential partners regarding regional coordination and cost-sharing opportunities
5. Identifying and pursuing applicable provincial and federal funding opportunities in coordination with Wellington County
6. Assessing Development Charge implications and incorporating transit capital considerations into future DC by-law amendment
7. Undertaking detailed design work for key infrastructure, including the proposed transit terminal, bus stops, and shelters; and 8. reporting back to Council with an implementation strategy, budget options, and decision points for future approval.

Township staff will return to Township Council at the June 29, 2026, meeting to seek endorsement of the Transit Feasibility Study, including the recommended hybrid transit model.

Report to Council

Use of Grounds Agreement - Kitchen In The Park Project Elora
Council authorized a Use of Grounds Agreement between Kitchen in the Park Project Elora the use of a designated area within Bissell Park. Kitchen in the Park Project Elora (KIPPelora) has requested permission to continue using a portion of Bissell Park located at 127 East Mill Street in Elora, for the ongoing operation of its existing kitchen facility and to construct an additional storage shed on the permitted lands. The previous agreement between the Township and KIPPelora was entered into on May 17, 2010, and has since expired. The agreement supports the community-led project, which aims to create an outdoor gathering and learning space centred around wood-fired ovens, cooking, and community programming. 

Report to Council

Lease Agreement - Highland Park Concession
Council approved a new lease agreement for the Highland Park (Tye Ball Diamond) concession booth in Fergus. Following a competitive proposal process, the Township selected Angela Billings, operating as Petite Manger, to run the concession for the 2026 season. The agreement begins June 1, 2026, and includes the option to renew annually through to 2030, helping ensure continued food service and amenities for park users and visitors.

Report to Council

Declaration of Surplus Property
As outlined in the 2025 Corporate Business Plan, staff have been developing a "surplus property analysis" for Council's consideration.  Council declared the various parcels of land as surplus and delegated authority to the CAO to the Chief Administrative Officer to sign Agreements of Purchase and Sale and other required documents related to land sales as outlined in the report.

In staff’s comprehensive review of surplus properties owned by the Township, each property was screened to assess its potential alignment with future land needs, guided by existing project objectives and long-range plans, including the Parks & Recreation Plan (2025), Active Transportation & Mobility Plan (2025), Water & Wastewater Servicing Master Plan (2025), Stormwater Management Master Plan (2024), and Water Supply Master Plan (2018). Through this evaluation, properties were identified as genuinely surplus, with no strategic value due to factors such as limited size, unfavourable location, incompatible zoning, restrictive adjacent land uses, and inherent constraints. 

Net proceeds (net selling costs) from property sales are recommended to fund:

1. Future Township housing initiatives, or
2. The non-growth portion of the Operations Centre construction.

The breakdown of the properties is as follows

Report to Council