Council Info September 23, 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.

Council approves extension of Face Covering By-law

Regional Council approved extending the Face Covering By-law and Code of Use By-law until May 31st, 2021, unless repealed before or extended by Council.  Council also approved amending the Face Covering By-law to require a face covering in taxis and ride shares, as well as common areas of apartments and condominiums. The extension was approved as COVID-19 cases rise, and it enables residents of Waterloo Region to continue protecting each other while keeping the community running.

Region raises emergency response time targets for sudden cardiac arrest

The Region of Waterloo’s emergency response time for sudden cardiac arrest calls improved significantly in 2019, which is why Paramedic Services will raise the target for 2021. Calls for sudden cardiac arrest, which now include Cambridge, Waterloo and Kitchener Fire Services data, show a response rate of six minutes or less nearly 75 percent of the time, significantly higher than the existing target of six minutes or less 50 percent of the time. The new target for sudden cardiac arrest will be six minutes or less 70 percent of the time. The Region’s 2021 Response Time Performance Plan will reflect this change.

Regional Council Approves multi-use trails and reconstruction of Ottawa Street Project

Regional Council approved reconstruction of Ottawa Street from Fischer-Hallman Road to International Place with multi-use trails on both sides. Detailed design is currently underway and construction will begin in 2021.

Road Maintenance agreements with cities extended to 2021

The three local cities provide road maintenance services on Regional roads in the cities.  Current road maintenance agreements expire on December 31, 2020. Negotiations to develop a five-year agreement were interrupted by COVID-19. Regional Council has approved the extension of the existing road maintenance agreements with the cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo to December 31, 2021. This will provide time for Regional and City staff to meet in late 2020 to complete negotiations in 2021 for a new five-year agreement to commence in January of 2022.

Council approves funding for energy retrofit loan study

Regional Council approved $6,100 from the 2020 Community Environmental Fund be allocated to match partner funding of the residential energy retrofit loan program design study. This came after Council endorsed the local collaborative application to FCM’s (Federation of Canadian Municipalities) Community Efficiency Financing Program. The study will help design a residential energy retrofit loan program for Waterloo Region.

Pilot Water Efficient Build Standard Approved

Regional Council has approved a Pilot Water Efficient Build Standard in the East Side Lands (ESL) development area. This pilot will define the standards and identify ways to conserve water and to minimize future wastewater flows from the ESL development area. This could defer the need for a future sanitary pipeline to the Kitchener Wastewater Treatment Plant. Water Services staff will explore the best practices of other jurisdictions, move forward with stakeholder meetings this fall and develop a guide for best practices and demonstration partnerships.

Level 2 Pedestrian Crossovers Coming to Ottawa St. and Westmount Rd.

Regional Council approved the installation of Level 2 pedestrian crossovers at the proposed roundabout at Ottawa St. and Westmount Road. The Region installs Level 2 Pedestrian Crossovers on all entries and exits at every roundabout in the Region. This type of crosswalk provides pedestrians with convenient crossing opportunities by requiring motorist to yield to pedestrians within the crosswalk.

Tenders/Contracts:   

The following tenders/contracts were approved by Council:

  • $9,134,928 to Graham Bros. Construction for the Schneider Creek Bridge extension at Manitou Drive and Wilson Avenue, Kitchener.
  • $5,981,875 to H.I.R.A. Limited for Cambridge Zone 1 west booster pumping and chloramination station.
  • $3,199,100 to BGL Contractors for water system upgrades Phase1.
  • $2,098,000 to Grande West Transportation Inc. for four Heavy Duty Mid-Sized Transit buses.
  • $1,390,000 to Steed & Evans Ltd. for winter maintenance of certain Regional roads as an extension to their existing contract.
  • $1,145,900 to Gedco Excavating Ltd. for infrastructure improvements to Airport Road and P3 parking lot at Waterloo Regional Airport, Breslau.
  • $369,600 to Copperhill Group Ltd. for snow clearing through the Region of Waterloo Sustainable Winter Management Pilot program for three years.


Next Council Meeting
October 14, 2020 at 7 p.m.


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