Back to Search
Burlington, Ont. – April 22, 2026 – The City of Burlington held its regularly scheduled City Council meeting yesterday, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, covering motions, by-laws and various items of City business.
Below is an overview of key agenda items and Council decisions.
St. Luke’s Window to the Lake (report CSS-06-26)
The Parish Church of St. Luke has a publicly accessible pedestrian pathway across its land that, with a formal agreement in place with the City, could help support a more walkable downtown and enhance pedestrian connections between Apeldoorn and Spencer Smith parks. Council approved City staff to work with the church to complete the agreements needed for the project. The agreements would be in place for up to 20 years and would cover access to the land, shared maintenance responsibilities and construction details. Council also directed staff to include ongoing maintenance and other costs in the City’s next multi-year budget, up to a maximum of $30,000.
2026 Tax Levy Bylaw (report FIN-01-26)
Council approved the City’s 2026 Tax Levy Bylaw, which allows the City to bill 2026 property taxes and set payment due dates for final tax bills for the year. Final tax bills will be mailed out to property owners in May for the 2026 billing cycle, and property tax payments are due on June 23 and Sept. 23, 2026. Council approval of the bylaw is an annual requirement to officially set tax rates for the year.
Financial status report as of December 31, 2025 (report FIN-04-26)
Council received a financial status report from staff on the City’s finances as of Dec. 31, 2025. The report highlighted the City’s last quarter of 2025 specifically with respect to investments and cash flow, property tax collection, debt and financial obligations, reserves and reserve funds, budget monitoring and financial position.
Tender Award – ES-26-05 – Spruce Avenue Area Renewal (report PWS-14-26)
Council approved the awarding of a contract for $12.189 million to King Paving & Construction Ltd. for the Spruce Avenue Area Renewal project, a joint project with Halton Region that includes roadway renewal and replacement of the watermain along Spruce Ave. between Walkers Line and Goodram Dr. Council also authorized the closure of Spruce Avenue at the Shoreacres Creek Culvert for 10 weeks, from the end of June to early September 2026, subject to the approved construction schedule. The asphalt on Spruce and Goodram is at the end of its useful life cycle and requires full replacement. The top layer of asphalt on Mackay Court and Shoreacres Place is also at the end of its useful lifecycle and will be milled and resurfaced.
Significant Tree Maintenance Rebate Program (report PWS-11-26)
Council approved the expansion and permanent adoption of the City’s Significant Tree Maintenance Rebate Program to better support residents in caring for established trees on their property. “Significant trees” are defined by the City's private tree by-law as trees that are equal to or larger than 75 centimetres in diameter. The program is designed to encourage proactive maintenance, reduce removals of significant trees and support canopy retention. The City has also doubled the annual funding for the program, increasing it from $25,000 to $50,000, which means more residents can receive support.
Operating budget performance report as of December 31, 2025 and summary of year-end financial position (report FIN-09-26)
Council received a report from City finance staff (FIN-09-26) that shared the City’s 2025 year-end financial position.
Government Relations annual report & funding updates (report CAF-03-26)
Council was provided an update on the funding, intergovernmental advocacy, monitoring, and reporting work of Government Relations staff. Highlights of the report include mention of the submission of over a dozen grant funding applications and the receipt of $16,332,823 in funds from senior levels of government in 2025, and confirmation that the City is already seeing results in 2026 with various funding applications, with over $3.2M already secured.
Advisory Committee 2025 annual reports and 2026 workplans and budgets (report LLS-09-26)
Council received its Advisory Committees’ 2025 annual reports and approved the committees’ 2026 workplans and budget requests. For more information, see Appendix A and Appendix B of Legislative Services’ report LLS-09-26.
Community Engagement Charter - relaunch (report CAF-01-26)
City Council approved the City’s updated Community Engagement Charter and Framework. Originally introduced in 2013, the Community Engagement Charter sets out how residents, City staff and members of Council work together to shape decisions about the City. The updated Charter reflects the evolving needs of our growing and changing community, strengthening how the City listens, communicates and engages with residents. For more information, visit www.GetInvolvedBurlington.ca/engagementcharter.
Real estate matter Waterdown Road properties leased to Indwell (report LLS-17-26)
Council approved staff to proceed with a long-term land lease for an affordable housing project at 1022-1030 Waterdown Road, with Indwell Community Homes, at nominal value and in keeping with proposed terms to be negotiated as set out in an appendix to a confidential Council report. In March, Council approved Indwell’s concept for the project, subject to final design, required planning approvals, securing funding and financing, and a long-term lease of City-owned land.
Council remuneration for 2026–2030 term (report HRS-01-26)
Council approved remuneration for the 2026-2030 Council as outlined in Appendix C of Human Resources report HRS-01-26.
Economic Development and Tourism service delivery options (report TRN-04-26)
Council directed staff to establish a service agreement with Burlington Economic Development and Tourism, plan for the development of a Community Economic Development Strategy, and put forward any budget considerations for Council deliberation during the 2027 budget process, if necessary.
Motion memorandum regarding eligibility criteria for membership on Standing Committees of Council (report COW-08-26)
Council directed the City Clerk to review eligibility criteria and restrictions for membership on Standing Committees of Council and report back with any proposed amendments by fall 2026.
Motion memorandum regarding changes to 2026 calendar of meetings (report COW-09-26)
Council directed the City Clerk to update the 2026 calendar of meetings for Council and its standing committees and add in an additional week between regular standing committee and Council meetings.
On-Demand Transit Pilot Project – Service Optimization and Community Mobility Expansion (report COW-10-26)
Council directed staff to explore how on-demand transit could work with Burlington Transit’s fixed route model to improve transit efficiency, increase service use and expand access to residents who currently do not use fixed-route transit services. Staff will develop a proposal for a two-year pilot project with a phased implementation plan for on-demand transit service within Burlington and report back to Council by the end of this year.
Motion memorandum regarding 2025 Community Survey - further discussion and presentation (report COW-11-26)
Staff were directed to bring forward the 2025 Community Survey results, including a presentation of the findings from the consultant to a Committee of the Whole meeting in Q2 2026.
Vision Zero Road Safety Action Plan (report PWS-13-26)
Council directed staff to develop a Vision Zero Road Safety Action Plan, and approved up to $300,000 from the City’s Capital Purposes Reserve Fund as an in-year budget request to retain a qualified consultant. Staff will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to support the development of the plan and then report back with the plan and implementation recommendations by the end of 2027.
Heritage response to Bill 23 - Phase II shortlist of designation candidates (report DGM-07-26)
Council directed staff to retain a consultant to assess 10 local properties for potential heritage designation under the Ontario Heritage Act, consult the Heritage Burlington Advisory Committee, and report back to Council explaining the cultural heritage value or interest of these properties, prior to January 1, 2027.
Provincial Land and Development Facilitator request for 1200 King Road (report DGM-31-26)
Council will issue a formal request to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to appoint a Provincial Land and Development Facilitator to serve as an impartial party and act as a negotiator on behalf of the province to coordinate a mutually agreeable land-use option for all stakeholders at 1200 King Road in Burlington.
Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments for 1056-1060 Brant Street (report DGM-26-26)
On the recommendation of City staff, Council decided to refuse applications for Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments to build a proposed 11-storey residential building with 93 residential units at 1056-1060 Brant St. in Burlington.
Draft Housing Community Improvement Plan Amendment (report DGM-27-26)
Staff were directed to consider feedback from Council, agencies, development partners, and the community on the City’s Draft Housing Community Improvement Plan (CIP) amendments (contained in Appendix A to Development and Growth Management report DGM-27-26), and then bring back to a future meeting a report recommending amendments to the City’s Affordable Rental Housing Community Improvement Plan (CIP) that respond to Council’s referral motion from its March 2, 2026 meeting.
Planning and building fee review update (report DGM-30-26)
Council received a planning and building fee review update of the City's development application and permit fees currently underway. The update outlines factors influencing project timelines, and confirms the scheduling of a Council workshop on this topic on May 14, 2026.
Central Park Cricket (report ADM-02-26)
Council directed staff to engage with the community and explore options to address resident concerns regarding Cricket play in the park.
For full meeting minutes, Council and Standing Committee agendas, and links to watch the meeting livestreams, visit www.burlington.ca/calendar.
Next Council Meeting
The next Council meeting is scheduled for May 19, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. Community members are invited to attend in person at Burlington City Hall or tune in via the City’s livestream.
For timely information about meetings, programs and services, visit burlington.ca and follow the City on Facebook, X, Instagram and Blue Sky.
-30-
Media Contact:
City of Burlington Corporate Communications
Subscribe