Part 2: MAT Freeze, Trail Review, Parking Changes, and Rural Road Funding — 04/11/2023

This section focuses on how decisions were actually made during the April 11 Council meeting; who spoke, where councillors stood, and how votes shaped the final outcomes. With Mayor Steve Ferguson chairing, the discussion moved through key issues like tourism policy, trail use, infrastructure funding, parking, and rural safety.

More than just the results, this part highlights the split decisions, unanimous agreements, and the reasoning behind them, showing how Council balanced different priorities across the County while responding to both public input and long term planning considerations.

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View the entire PEC Council Meeting; or view our recap.

MAT and where councillors landed

The most clearly divided vote of the night came during discussion of the Municipal Accommodation Tax. After hearing extensive public input earlier in the evening, Phil Prinzen introduced a motion to freeze the MAT at four percent for the remainder of the 2022 to 2026 council term.

David Harrison, Sam Grosso, Sam Branderhorst, Corey Engelsdorfer, John Hirsch, Chris Braney, Brad Nieman, Roy Pennell, and Steve Ferguson all voted in favour. Prinzen also voted in favour of his own motion.

Opposition came from Bill Roberts, Phil St-Jean, Kate MacNaughton, and Janice Maynard, who expressed concern about locking in a decision before more post pandemic data was collected.

The motion carried ten to four, confirming that the MAT will not increase during this council term.

Millennium Trail debate and shared caution

Discussion on the Millennium Trail showed less division in voting, but clear differences in emphasis. Brad Nieman brought forward the motion asking staff to report back on possible amendments to the trail use by law. Phil St Jean seconded the motion and spoke about how trail uses have changed since the by law was written in 2001.

Roy Pennell and Chris Braney raised concerns about commercializing the trail and the long term impact on recreation and youth access. Janice Maynard and John Hirsch cautioned against rushing to restrict uses without a full understanding of existing commercial activity already happening on the trail.

Staff clarified that the current by law does not prohibit commercial use and that any restrictions would require amendment. With that context, Council voted unanimously to request a staff report rather than make immediate changes.

White Pines settlement and rural road priorities

When Council turned to the White Pines Wind Energy Project decommissioning settlement, John Hirsch led the discussion and highlighted which roads were eligible for repair funding under the agreement. Sam Branderhorst seconded the motion.

Questions from Janice Maynard focused on whether damaged roads not listed in the settlement could be addressed. Staff confirmed that the funds were restricted to specific haul routes. Council voted unanimously to approve the allocation, closing out the White Pines file.

Parking changes shaped by local input

Parking by law changes sparked detailed debate tied closely to neighbourhood impacts. Phil St Jean successfully amended the Picton Farmers Market parking layout to correct assumptions about land ownership and slope. In Wellington, Brad Nieman brought forward an amendment to limit no parking on Oak Street to one side only, responding to concerns from residents and school traffic patterns. Phil Prinzen questioned how residents would be notified before enforcement began.

Council supported both amendments and then passed the full parking update package as amended.

Livestock control and emergency response

The livestock running at large by law prompted debate about response time and public safety. Roy Pennell argued that requiring a council motion to activate a pound keeper could delay action during emergencies. Bill Roberts pointed to staff options already outlined in the report.

Council amended the by law to allow staff to request a pound keeper directly when needed. The amended by law then passed unanimously.

What this means locally

For tourism operators and visitors county wide, the MAT decision provides cost certainty through 2026.

For trail users, the Millennium Trail remains unchanged for now, but a detailed review is coming.

Rural residents near key haul routes will see repairs tied directly to the White Pines settlement.

Wellington families and school communities will experience more targeted parking restrictions rather than blanket bans.

Farmers and rural property owners now have clearer rules and faster response options when livestock escapes, reducing safety risks on local roads.

The votes and discussions reflected a Council focused on balancing economic recovery, environmental protection, neighbourhood safety, and practical enforcement across the County.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 3:41:12. Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.