Council Info - June 24, 2020

August 01, 2025

Council Info is a summary of discussion and the major items presented at Council meetings. It is circulated immediately following each meeting. You are encouraged to quote from and copy this information. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.

Regional staff to prepare mask by-law options

Council directed staff to draft options for regulatory by-laws that would require mask-wearing on transit and in indoor settings. Staff will prepare options for Council to consider at a special meeting on July 6 or 7.

Temporary bike lanes approved

Regional Council approved the rapid implementation of temporary active-transportation infrastructure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. After an overwhelming response to public consultation on the Region’s Engage platform, curb lanes on the following Regional roads will be temporarily closed until October 31, 2020 and turned into dedicated bike lanes:

  • King Street/Coronation Boulevard/Dundas Street from Bishop Street to Beverly Street, Cambridge;
  • Westmount Road from Block Line Road to University Avenue, Kitchener and Waterloo;
  • Frederick Street from Weber Street to Lancaster Street, Kitchener;
  • Erb Street from Westmount Road to Caroline Street, Waterloo;
  • Erb Street from Peppler Street to Margaret Avenue (one lane only), Waterloo; and
  • Bridgeport Road, King Street to Margaret Avenue (one lane only), Waterloo.

These road-space re-allocations will create 30 kilometres of new temporary bike lanes on Regional roads. Regional staff will coordinate this initiative with staff from the three cities to help ensure good collaboration and to take advantage of possible connections with facilities on city roads.

First stage of Farmer’s Market Trail approved

Regional Council approved the first stage of the Farmer’s Market Trail. This shared-use asphalt trail will provide a direct active transportation link between ION light rail and the market area in St. Jacobs. Stage One of the trail is within the Region-owned railway corridor between Farmers Market Road and Northfield Drive, connecting directly to Northfield ION Station at the existing signalized crossing. Working in collaboration with the City of Waterloo and the Township of Woolwich, the Region extensively consulted with citizens, business owners and other local stakeholders. In response to considerable public feedback and requests, the trail will be illuminated and maintained year-round. Construction of Stage One was approved for funding through the Government of Canada’s Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan and is anticipated to begin in 2021. 

The City of Waterloo is planning to construct a shared use path along Parkside Drive in 2021-2022 to extend the Market Trail from Northfield Drive to Research and Technology ION Station and the existing Laurel Trail. Once complete, Stages One and Two of the Market Trail will serve as the realigned Trans-Canada (“Great Trail”) route to better connect transit and key destinations within our rural and urban communities.

Council composition to be reviewed

Council requested Regional staff to do public consultation on four options for Regional Council composition. This will be part of a Council Composition Review to be completed by the end of 2020. The four options for how Regional Council should be structured include:

  • status quo (16 Member Council);
  • an allocation of one Regional Councillor per 25,000 residents in an area municipality, based on largest Township population (24 Member Council);
  • an overall target of 30,000 residents per Regional Councillor for all of Regional Council, based on previous representation (20 Member Council); or
  • a system of combined urban and rural representatives (19 Member Council).

Tenders/Contracts:         

The following tenders/contracts were approved by Council:

  • $22,548,891.81 to Maple Reinders Constructors Ltd. for Galt Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades, Cambridge.
  • $2,571,000 to Demers Ambulance Inc. for 14 Type III Ambulance units.
  • $2,641,433 to Finnbilt General Contracting Limited for Preston Wastewater Treatment Plant Primary Clarifier Mechanism Replacements, Cambridge.
  • $2,398,771.50 to Stone Town Construction Limited for maintenance of a digested sludge storage tank and control building upgrades at Kitchener Wastewater Treatment Plant.
  • $1,876,088.61 to Regional Sewer and Watermain Ltd. for a water transmission main from Sawmill Road to Golf Course Road in Woolwich Township.
  • $253,883 to Ovivo USA, LLC for secondary clarifier equipment for the Wellesley Wastewater Treatment Plant.
  • $227,930.93 to INIT Innovations in Transportation Inc. for an Intermodal Transportation Control System upgrade.
  • $179,802.40 to GFL Environmental Inc. for transport, processing and recycling of drywall and/or pallets for a two-year term.

For your information:

Boardroom named in honour of outgoing CAO, Mike Murray

The Region will be honouring outgoing CAO Mike Murray by naming a meeting space (Boardroom 224 at Regional headquarters) in his name. A photograph and nameplate will be added to the room in his honour as a small acknowledgement of Mike’s lasting impression on the organization and significant contribution to public service. Due to COVID-19, the Region has had few opportunities to honour Mike for his years of service. This gesture reflects the tremendous respect Mike deserves for his foundational contributions to the Region over the past 28 years including introducing innovative water practices, modernizing leadership development and culture at the Region and launching ION light rail transit. 

Affordable housing and homelessness update

Council received an update on current priorities under the 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan, with a focus on the work that is being done to increase the supply of affordable housing units. The Region’s priorities include:

  • Waterloo Region Housing Master Plan
  • Affordable Housing Development
  • Supportive Housing of Waterloo Capital Grant
  • Affordable Housing Request for Proposals Pilot Project
  • Alternative Housing Pilot Project
  • Emergency Shelter Transition

Read the full report online.

Emergency shelter transition

Regional staff and community partners are undertaking a recovery plan for the emergency shelter system, taking into account current pressures and longer-term visioning. The recovery plan will change how shelter services are provided in the region, taking into consideration lessons we have learned during the pandemic response. The plan will be anchored by a focus on connecting existing supportive and affordable housing solutions that can support an end to chronic homelessness in the region.

Donation to Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum

Kelly Smith, President of Friends of the Waterloo Region Museum, presented Regional Council with a donation of $20,000. The funds will be used as follows:

  • $10,000 to support virtual programming.
  • $5,000 for costumes for staff and volunteers.
  • $5,000 towards custom millwork and the purchase of a period-appropriate bicycle for the Village.

Next Council Meeting
July 15, 2020 at 11 a.m.


For more information, contact:
Bryan Stortz, Director, Corporate Communications, 519-575-4408
Regional Clerk’s Office, 519-575-4400