Regular Council

THAT the agenda be adopted as printed and circulated

THAT the minutes from the December 3, 2025 Council meeting be adopted as printed and circulated.

THAT the Council meeting be adjourned at 6:03 p.m. for the purpose of holding a Public Meeting pursuant to Subsection 7(6) of the Building Code Act, R.S.O 1992, as amended.

THAT pursuant to the Building Code Act, the public meeting be adjourned at 6:04 p.m. and the regular meeting of Council be called back to order.

THAT Council approve the building permit changes to the Building By-law and approve By-law 61-25, the recommended changes being effective January 1, 2026.

THAT the Council meeting be adjourned at 6:07 p.m. for the purposes of holding a public meeting pursuant to the provisions of the Planning Act.

THAT pursuant to the Planning Act, the public meeting be adjourned at 6:14 p.m. and the regular meeting of Council be called back to order.

THAT the Council of the Township of Zorra approve-in-principle the proposed Zoning By-Law amendment (File No. ZN 5-25-11) to introduce amendments to Township Zoning By-Law No. 35-99; AND THAT the By-law be brought back to a subsequent Council meeting for adoption.

THAT the Township of Zorra Council approve a grant of $1,000 from the Lakeside Triathlon Fund to the Christ Church Lakeside Community Area group, to be used for ground maintenance and preparation for future expansion of a space for public use.

THAT Report 2025-123 be received for information purposes; AND THAT staff be directed to continue implementing the actions and best management practices outlined in the Salt Management Plan; AND THAT the updated Salt Management Plan, attached as Appendix A, be endorsed by Council.

THAT Report 2025-135 from the Manager of Financial Services be received and filed for information purposes only.

THAT Council endorse the amendments to the Reserve and Reserve Fund Policy as indicated in Report 2025-142.

THAT Council endorse and adopt Investment Policy 500-13, as attached to Report 2025-141.

THAT the Township of Zorra supports the submission of a proposal for a Long-Term Capacity Project under the IESO’s LT2 procurement process for the Bolton Power Plant Project as proposed by Bolton Manor Resilient Generation 2.0 Inc. (the applicant), and as described in the proposal overview attached to Township of Zorra Report 2025-126; AND THAT, this resolution's sole purpose is to satisfy the mandatory requirements of Section 4.2(c)(iii) of the LT2(c-1) RFP and may not be used for the purpose of any other form of approval in relation to the Proposal or Long-Term Capacity Project or for any other purpose; AND THAT the Proponent has, no later than sixty (60) days prior to the Proposal Submission Deadline of December 18, 2025, delivered a Pre-Engagement Confirmation Notice to the Clerk/CAO in respect of the Township of Zorra; AND THAT the Proponent has undertaken community engagement activities in respect of the Long-Term Capacity Project to the satisfaction of Council; AND THAT, Council is satisfied with the engagement activities undertaken for the project and as discussed in Report No. 2025-126; AND THAT, the subject lands include lands designated as “Agriculture Reserve” which represents the Prime Agricultural Area in the County of Oxford Official Plan as of the date of this resolution; AND THAT as such the Township of Zorra confirms that: 1. The subject lands are not designated as a Specialty Crop Area, 2. The project is not a Non- Rooftop Solar project (e.g. ground mounted

THAT Report 2025-138 be received and filed for Council's information; AND THAT By-law No. 60-25, to approve a Service Agreement between the Town of Ingersoll and the Township of Zorra, for the Operation of the Ingersoll Rural Cemetery, be approved. AND FURTHER THAT the Chief Administrative Officer and Clerk be authorized and directed to execute the Service Agreement and any related documents and to undertake all actions necessary to implement Council's decision. AN FURTHER THAT the Ingersoll Rural Cemetery Board be hereby discontinued, effective December 31, 2025. AND THAT Reserve and Reserve Fund Policy 500-07 be updated to include an Ingersoll Cemetery Reserve.

THAT Council adopt the Terms of Reference for the Embro Dog Park Committee; AND THAT Council endorse By-law 56-25 to appoint the members of the Embro Dog Park Committee; AND THAT Council approve the Embro Dog Park Committee to establish a Facebook page, deviating from Policy 200-22 Social Media.

WHEREAS the Conservation Authorities Act (1946) enables municipalities to establish local conservation authorities, and when municipalities choose to form such authorities, they assume responsibility for governance and funding through the appointment of a Board of Directors and the provision of an annual levy to cover expenses; AND WHEREAS the Township of Zorra established the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (initially formed in 1947); AND WHEREAS local municipalities currently provide approximately 35% of total conservation authority funding, while the Province of Ontario provides approximately 2% (2026 budget); AND WHEREAS municipalities have governed their respective conservation authorities for decades, tailoring programs and services to local watershed needs, maintaining accountable service standards, and ensuring fair and predictable costs for ratepayers; AND WHEREAS conservation authorities collectively own and manage thousands of acres of land. Many of these properties were entrusted to the UTRCA for long-term protection, stewardship, and the public good, with the expectation that such lands would be cared for by locally governed conservation authorities; AND WHEREAS Bill 68 (Schedule 3) proposes the creation of the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency, a Crown corporation that would assume governance responsibilities and consolidate Ontario's 36 conservation authorities into seven regional authorities, with municipal cost apportionment yet to be defined;

THAT items 11(a) and (b) be received and filed for information purposes only.

THAT items 12(a) - (c) be received and filed for information purposes only.

THAT the Council of the Township of Zorra approve the zone change application submitted by 409315 Ontario Ltd., whereby the lands described as Lot 25, Concession 1 (West Zorra), Township of Zorra to amend the existing ‘REC-7’ zone to include an accessory storage building (277 m² in size) and with a maximum height of 5 m (16.4 ft), as a permitted use on the subject property.

THAT by-laws 56-25, 57-25, 58-25, 59-25, 60-25, 61-25, 62-25, 63-25, and 64-25 be taken as read a first, second and third time and finally passed; AND FURTHER THAT the Mayor and Clerk are hereby authorized to sign the same and affix the corporate seal thereto.

THAT Council move into closed meeting session at 7:26 p.m. pursuant to Section 239.2 (b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.

THAT Zorra formally appoint Adam J. Steward to the Rural Oxford Economic Development (ROEDC) Board effective immediately; AND THAT Council direct Staff to send a thank-you to Rob Parkhill for all his service on the ROEDC Board.

THAT By-law 65-25, being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of Council held December 17, 2025, be read a first, second and third time this December 17, 2025; AND FURTHER THAT the Mayor and Clerk are hereby authorized to sign the same and affix the corporate seal thereto.

THAT this session of Council be now adjourned and herewith closed at 7:40 p.m. and the next meeting of Council be called for the January 22, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers at the Zorra Municipal Centre.