Council this Week: Highlights from the February 14 County Council agenda - 20240214

Oxford Stewardship Award, Community Safety Zones, Tourism Oxford annual review and more

County Council meetings are broadcast live at www.oxfordcounty.ca/livestream. To download the full agenda or view past recordings of council meetings, visit www.oxfordcounty.ca/council.

2023 Oxford Stewardship Award

Warden Marcus Ryan will present a local landowner with the 14th annual Oxford Stewardship Award at the February 14 meeting of County Council. The award recognizes County landowners who have made exemplary contributions to preserve and enhance the natural features and areas on their properties, such as woodlands, wetlands, streams and meadows.

In 2023, there were 28 different environmental stewardship projects undertaken in Oxford County with funding through the County’s Clean Water Program. These projects represented over $306,000 in total project value, with a County commitment of $70,000.

The Oxford Stewardship Award recipient is chosen annually by Stewardship Oxford and the Oxford Soil & Crop Improvement Association. In keeping with the theme of celebrating and supporting local achievement, award recipients receive a $500 gift certificate towards the commission of original art by an Oxford County artist of their choice.

See profiles of this year’s award nominees

New proposed Community Safety Zones

County Council is being asked to approve an additional nine Community Safety Zones in 2024, for a total of 29 designated areas in Oxford County communities and segments of the County’s road network. The new proposed zones, which were decided through the County’s eligibility criteria and warrant process, are located in:

Ingersoll: Oxford Road 10 (Ingersoll Street North) from Bell Street to Victoria Street, and Oxford Road 119 (Bell Street) from Ingersoll Street North to Cashel Street
Woodstock: Oxford Road 15 (Parkinson Road) from Mill Street to Norwich Avenue, and Oxford Road 35 (Devonshire Avenue) from Vansittart Avenue to Huron Street
Tavistock: Oxford Road 24 (Hope Street West) from Woodstock Street to the 50 km/h limit West, and Hope Street East from Woodstock Street to the 50 km/h limit East
Norwich: Oxford Road 18 (Main Street West) from Florence Street to Stover Street
Tillsonburg: Oxford Road 20 (North Street East) from Broadway to Tillson Avenue
Embro: Oxford Road 6 (Huron Street) from John Street to Halladay Street

Community Safety Zones are designated areas where safety is of a greater concern, for instance, near schools, community centres, recreation areas, playgrounds, hospitals, or seniors’ centres and residences. Marked by road signage, Community Safety Zones allow for increased fines for speeding and are also eligible for the potential future application of automated speed enforcement (photo radar).

PW 2024-04: 2024 Community Safety Zone Implementation

Annual tourism review

County Council receives the Tourism Oxford 2023 Annual Review next Council meeting, a yearly report highlighting tourism management, product development, marketing activities, and tourism business achievements. In 2023, $39,000 in contributions were matched with $61,000 in funds and grants for a total of $100,000 invested in local tourism initiatives; 230 local businesses and attractions registered for training and collaboration sessions; and 10 local attractions received tourism awards.

CAO 2024-03: Tourism Oxford 2023 Annual Review

Questions or comments?

Council this Week previews the Oxford County Council meeting agenda for residents, community partners and employees. Please send your questions and comments to communications@oxfordcounty.ca

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