Council Meeting

Council move into a Closed Session at 6:42 pm to discuss a matter under the Municipal Act, Section 239(2)(b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees and Section 239(2) (e) litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board.

DJ Pugh be appointed to the Board of Directors of Discover Lambton Shores Corp. as the Forest BIA representative.

the July 14, 2026 Council Meeting Agenda be approved as presented.

the minutes of the June 16, 2026 Council Meeting be adopted as presented.

Council move into Public Meeting at 7:07 pm pursuant to the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, as amended, to consider the applications listed on the July 14, 2026 agenda.

the public meeting adjourn and Regular Council resume at 7:10 pm.

staff prepare a report and prepare a draft by-law for Fire Marque services.

Report TR 23-2026 regarding the 2025 Audited Financial Statements be received; and THAT the 2025 Audited Financial Statements as presented by MNP LLP be approved.

Report PL 04-2026, relating to a Zoning By-Law Amendment Application, submitted by Tyler Nutt be received; THAT Zoning By-Law Amendment Application ZO-01/2026 submitted by Tyler Nutt requesting an amendment to Zoning By-Law 1 of 2003 for a site-specific rezoning to allow residential use and to permit a reduced front yard setback of 2.0 m be approved ; and THAT By-Law 43 of 2026 to implement the zoning by-law amendment be approved.

Report DCS 23-2026 regarding the “Kiwanis Club of Forest Sign Request” be received; and THAT the Kiwanis Club of Forest be authorized to install an entry sign at the Whyte Park in Forest, pending receipt of the required permits and approvals; and THAT the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to sign the associated maintenance agreement.

Report DCS 24-2026 regarding the “West Coast Lions Fee Waiver Request” be received; and THAT the fee waiver request for the West Coast Lions Familiar Favourites concert series in the amount of $685.05 be approved.

the Report regarding Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund funding beyond 2026 be received; THAT the resolution supporting MFOA's letter to the Ministry of Infrastructure and requesting that the Province maintain the current enhanced OCIF funding level beyond the 2026 allocation year be endorsed; and THAT staff be directed to forward the endorsed resolution to the Minister of Infrastructure, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Minister of Finance, the Municipal Finance Officers' Association of Ontario, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the local Member of Provincial Parliament and any other parties deemed appropriate.

recent municipal infrastructure funding programs by the Government of Canada and Province of Ontario have tended to prioritize growth-related or housing-enabling infrastructure projects over infrastructure renewal needs; AND WHEREAS the Government of Ontario has regulated municipal infrastructure asset management through O. Reg 588/17 (Asset Management Planning for Municipal Infrastructure) under the Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act, 2015 ; AND WHEREAS municipal asset management plans and the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario have identified that municipalities have significant state-of-good-repair backlogs and renewal needs for infrastructure; AND WHEREAS the Government of Ontario doubled the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) from $200M/year to $400M/year for 2021-2026 but has not publicly committed to maintaining this level of funding beyond 2026; AND WHEREAS the OCIF has become a vital and indispensable resource for municipalities, assisting them with improving their asset management programs and meeting community-preserving infrastructure renewal needs; AND WHEREAS increased geopolitical uncertainty is threatening the economic prosperity of Canada, Ontario, and every municipality; AND WHEREAS municipal infrastructure is a key enabler and preserver of economic prosperity; AND WHEREAS the Municipal Finance Officers’ Association of Ontario (MFOA) has heard from its members and their municipalities concerns regarding the potential erosion of exis

Report TR 24-2026 regarding the 2025 Annual Investment Report be received for information.

CL Report 16-2026 regarding four requests for a noise exemption to the Lambton Shores Noise By-Law 30-2002 be received; and THAT an exemption to the Noise By-Law 30-2002 for the Western Ontario Steam Threshers be approved for August 7 and August 8, 2026 until 1:00 am; and THAT and exemption to the Noise By-Law 30-2002 for the Forest Agricultural Society be approved for September 25 and September 26, 2026 until 1:00 am; and THAT an exemption to the Noise By-Law 30-2002 for Nicole Volochkov located at 9893 Leonard Street be approved for September 12, 2026 until 11:59 pm; and THAT an exemption to the Noise By-Law 30-2002 for Benjamin Brenner located at 10227 Beach O’Pines Road for August 8, 2026 until 10:30 pm.

Report CAO 11-2026 regarding the “Grand Bend Community Centre Design Proposal” be received; and THAT the proposal submitted by Skinner Architects for the contract price of $1,046,400 plus HST be approved; and THAT staff the directed to initiate and complete the detailed design and tendering for the project at a total cost of $718,800 plus HST; and THAT the detailed design and tendering costs be funded from the Development Charges Reserve Fund as an eligible project. THAT the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to sign the associated agreement.

Report CAO 10-2026 entitled Forest Industrial Lands – Planning Application be received, and; THAT staff be directed to prepare and circulate the following planning application related to the Forest Industrial Lands located at 7914 Rawlings Road: Draft Plan of Subdivision Official Plan Amendment Zoning By-Law Amendment

By-Laws 41-2026 through 44-2026 be read a first, second and third time, passed and signed by the Mayor and Clerk.

the July 14, 2026 Council Meeting adjourn at 8:04 pm.