City Council Meeting Summary

Council approved Zoning Bylaw Amendment 2026-50 for 4386 Rideau Valley Drive, allowing a residential subdivision with related parks and open-space areas. It also approved a motion from Councillor Isabelle Skalski directing staff to prepare an annual rural maintenance plan and report back each year on whether maintenance standards were met. Staff were also asked to respond at a future meeting to questions about rural ditch maintenance, including forestry support and tree removal in ditches.

Topics Discussed

ZONING AMENDMENT — 4386 RIDEAU VALLEY DRIVE

Council approved amendments to the zoning bylaw for 4386 Rideau Valley Drive to permit a residential subdivision and associated parks and open-space areas. The report recommendations carried.

The amendment also clarifies how Section 110 provisions apply where zoning rules overlap in Hub Zones 2 and 3, Main Street Zones 1 and 2, and Minor Corridor Zones 1 and 2. A map error in the original document, Map 1D, was identified and will be replaced.

Before the item was considered, David Brown gave the statutory notice for the public meeting: "This is a public meeting to consider the proposed comprehensive official plan and or zoning bylaw amendments listed as items 4.1 and 4.2 on today's agenda. For the items just mentioned, only those specifically identified in the Planning Act who make oral submissions today or written submissions before the amendments are adopted may appeal the matter to the Ontario Land Tribunal."

RURAL MAINTENANCE PLAN

Council approved Skalski's motion directing staff to provide members of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee with a rural maintenance plan by April 1 each year for the upcoming spring, summer and fall seasons.

As set out in the motion, the plan is to include each stream of maintenance work: line painting, roadside grass cutting, ditching, gravel road grading and shoulder maintenance. It must also include "a summary of the MQS, when the work is planned to begin and end, the specialized equipment needed to support the operation and the status of its availability."

The motion also calls for public updates during the maintenance season and for staff to meet with the committee by Dec. 1 each year to report on whether Municipal Quality Standards were met and what improvements are needed for the following year.

EQUIPMENT COORDINATION

The maintenance-plan motion focused in part on equipment readiness and coordination across departments. In introducing it, Skalski said: "The city has made significant investments to address the maintenance backlog in the rural ditch network."

Her related questions asked staff to explain "how is the forestry team preparing to support the increased demand for rural ditch maintenance, including the removal of full-size trees that have grown in the ditches?" The motion and follow-up questions also pointed to the need for coordination among fleet services, forestry, roads and other departments to support seasonal maintenance work.

RURAL DITCH MAINTENANCE

Council referred questions to staff for a future response on rural ditch maintenance, including forestry capacity, removal of trees and brush in ditches, and what policies, permits or approvals may be required.

Skalski's written questions asked staff to address the operational side of the work as ditch maintenance expands, particularly where full-size trees have grown in drainage areas. Staff are expected to report back at a future meeting.

Motions

• Zoning Bylaw Amendment 2026-50 — 4386 Rideau Valley Drive: Passed. Council approved the amendment permitting a residential subdivision and associated parks and open-space areas.
• Rural Maintenance Plan: Passed. Staff were directed to provide an annual plan by April 1 covering maintenance streams, Municipal Quality Standards, timing, equipment needs and equipment availability, and to report back by Dec. 1 each year.
• Rural Ditch Maintenance Inquiry: Referred for staff response at a future meeting.

Attendees

• Councillor Stéphanie Plante
• Councillor Allan Hubley
• Councillor Riley Brockington
• Councillor Clarke Kelly
• Councillor Theresa Kavanagh
• Councillor Sean Devine
• Councillor Isabelle Skalski
• Councillor Glen Gower
• Councillor Catherine Kitts
• Mayor Mark Sutcliffe
• Councillor Marty Carr
• Councillor Steve Desroches
• Councillor David Hill
• Councillor David Brown
• Councillor Laura Dudas
• Councillor Rawlson King
• Councillor Wilson Lo
• Councillor Jeff Leiper
• Councillor Matthew Luloff
• Councillor Cathy Curry
• Councillor Jessica Bradley
• Councillor Shawn Menard
• Councillor Tim Tierney
• Councillor Laine Johnson
• Councillor Ariel Troster