Ajax Council Approves Alcohol Policy Update, Debates Financial Sustainability Strategy

Ajax council, meeting virtually, approved an updated municipal alcohol policy, reviewed long-term financial planning options tied to reserves, debt and the infrastructure levy, and debated new enforcement tools for short-term rentals.

The meeting focused on how the town should balance near-term borrowing costs against preserving reserves for future infrastructure needs. Council also discussed a complaint-driven framework for short-term rental occupancy and nuisance enforcement, and approved a revised alcohol policy that allows special occasion permits at additional municipal facilities.

Topics Discussed

MUNICIPAL ALCOHOL POLICY UPDATE

Council approved a revised municipal alcohol policy that categorizes events by risk level and updates where special occasion permits may be allowed.

Councillor Lisa Bower asked whether the change would permit alcohol service at facilities where it had not previously been allowed, noting she had recently attended events at Greenwood and Kethers Marsh where "neither one permitted alcohol to be served." She asked, "does that now permit that if these parties wanted to have alcohol those facilities would not qualify?"

Staff confirmed the update would allow permit applications at those locations, subject to the approval process.

On operating impacts, Director Vita said, "We already hold these events. We process and administer them. We support them from a facility perspective before and after they're coming as well," and added there would be "no increased operational costs directly as a result of the updates to the map today." Staff said any added insurance or satellite facility supervision costs would be borne by permit holders.

Councillor Rob Tyler-Morin also asked staff to explain "what would make an event low risk versus high risk under this new policy?"

FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY PLAN

Council reviewed an update on the Financial Sustainability Plan, including scenarios comparing reserve levels, debt use and capital spending.

Mayor Shaun Collier said he wanted to leave the town "in a state where it is secure and gives some stability going forward," adding, "that's what I believe scenario 3 does."

Staff compared the reserve outcomes under different approaches. Collier said that "by debenturing some of these projects, we do end up with $246 million in reserve compared to the 175 under scenario one," calling that "an additional $71 million in the ending balances of those reserves."

The discussion also touched on the town's spending cap and future flexibility. Collier said the 70 per cent figure "was a sort of a target," and added that a future council could change it "if they find it's not working."

RESERVES, DEBT AND CAPITAL DEFERRALS

Much of the debate centered on whether it was safer to preserve reserves and borrow for some projects, or avoid debt and rely more heavily on reserves.

Bower framed the choice this way: "what is the safer risk? the lower amount of reserves with higher investment income potential and no debt or higher reserves and investment income but higher debt."

Staff warned that delaying capital work carries its own costs. Director Metham said risks include "additional operating costs as our assets continue to age," adding that "the more you defer capital projects, the more they build up over time."

Councillor Marilyn Crawford argued the long-term upside justified the approach. "If we can make $100 million worth of difference, that's a gamble I'm willing to take," she said. Later, she said preserving reserves would "get that money working for us" instead of "chopping off massive tens of million dollar chunks that are going to make zero for us going forward."

Nancy Henry, speaking to the broader infrastructure picture, said the town now has the data to confirm what staff had long suspected: "we knew we needed to fund our asset management plan over time," and "we know that we need to grow our reserve balances and we know we need to address our asset management needs."

INFRASTRUCTURE LEVY AND TAX IMPACT

Council also discussed the infrastructure levy and how the scenarios would affect taxpayers.

Collier said he was focused on building stronger reserves over time, saying, "I'm trying to leave a much bigger pile of gold at the end than is there today." He added that he was "very very confident that any risk that there is is pretty minor and minimum."

Henry raised concern about whether residents would support that approach, saying, "I'm just not sure that's what the residents want right now and that's who I have to report to."

The discussion included references to future budget timing and the need for council direction before the next budget process.

SHORT-TERM RENTAL OCCUPANCY RULES

Council discussed bylaw changes aimed at nuisance short-term rentals, including occupancy limits and stronger enforcement tools.

Sterling Lee asked whether, if the proposed bylaw changes did not achieve the intended result, council could consider "other bylaw amendments" or measures "that other municipalities are using to regulate or to soft regulate short term rentals."

The discussion referenced repeated neighbourhood disruptions from rental properties used for extended events. One speaker noted that "two of these events were 7-day events," adding, "it's not one night, it's a week that the residents have been putting up with this."

Council discussed a complaint-driven enforcement model rather than proactive inspections. The bylaw package also included amendments to the Administrative Monetary Penalty system and fees and charges to support enforcement and cost recovery.

Motions

Passed: - Municipal Alcohol Policy Update (File: PSA 2026-12)

Considered / Direction Given: - Financial Sustainability Plan Update (File: FIN 202615) - Scenario three reserve-building strategy was discussed and supported in debate - A motion to remove spending caps was also referenced in the meeting notes

Discussed: - Short-term rental maximum occupancy bylaw (Bylaw 85-2026) - Short-term rental bylaw / File No. 86-2026

Attendees

Council members identified in the meeting notes: - Mayor Shaun Collier - Councillor Lisa Bower - Councillor Marilyn Crawford - Councillor Nancy Henry - Councillor Sterling Lee - Councillor Rob Tyler-Morin

Staff identified in the meeting notes: - Director Vita - Mrs. Burma Brown - Manager Campbell