King Township Council Meeting - September 28, 2026
Monday’s Council meeting included a strong focus on public safety, transparency and long-term municipal planning. Council supported longer retention of meeting videos, called on the Province to make increased infrastructure funding permanent, and recognized Councillor Debbie Schaefer’s long service to King.
Quick Links
Mayor's Comments
Saved by the Beep on September 28th is Ontario's "Test Your Smoke Alarm Day"
Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, musicians, writers, poets and community members are invited to join King Township for the annual Truth and Reconciliation Gathering on Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 6-8pm.
October 1 is National Seniors Day and King Township is inviting residents ages 55 and older to enjoy free drop-in activities - membership is not required!
Join King Fire and Emergency Services at Nobleton Fire Station 3-8 on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10am - 2pm for a free, family-friendly open house in recognition of Fire Prevention Week.
Sidewalkable Saturday is October 3rd along Schomberg's historic Main Street. Visit from 11am - 2pm for family fun with face painting, balloon art, pumpkin decorating, games and more plus the Schomberg Lion's BBQ.
Join King Township and the King Environmental Action Team (KEAT) for the first-ever Harvest King Fall Farmers Market on Sunday, Oct. 4 from 10am - 2pm. This free community event celebrates the deep agricultural roots that continue to shape King Township today. Attendees can look forward to a lively marketplace atmosphere featuring a kid-friendly fun zone, fresh produce, local products and handmade goods.
There are lots of volunteer opportunities for students looking for community services hours. Click here to explore the options.
Saved by the Beep
King Fire and Emergency Services is encouraging residents to make sure their smoke alarms are working as part of the Saved by the Beep campaign.
King Fire Chief Allen noted that resident's of today's new homes may have less than 60 seconds to escape once a fire starts, making a functioning smoke alarm critical. Chief Allen noted that newer homes can burn more quickly because of modern building materials and contents, and emphasized that families should have an escape plan and a designated meeting place outside.
He also reminded everyone to check smoke alarms monthly, replace batteries when required and replace smoke alarms when they reach the end of their service life, generally around 10 years. King Fire can also help residents with home fire-safety inspections and escape planning. Read more here.
Extension to Draft Plan of Subdivision at 13330 Dufferin Street
Council considered a request to extend the draft approval for a proposed subdivision at 13330 Dufferin Street in King City, which includes 28 detached residential lots. The subdivision received draft approval from the Ontario Land Tribunal in November 2023.
The applicant requested and staff recommended a five-year extension extending the approval to December 31, 2030. However, the owner is not currently a participating member of the King City East landowners' group, although the conditions of approval require the owner to be in good standing with the group regarding cost sharing and development coordination.
Council decided not to grant the longer extension recommended by staff. Instead, Council approved a one-year extension into 2027. The intent was to give the owner time to begin participating with the other King City East landowners and addressing the servicing and cost-sharing obligations associated with development of the area.
2027 Council Meeting Schedule
Council approved the 2027 Schedule of Council and Public Planning Meetings. Regular Council meetings will continue to begin at 6pm, although Closed Sessions and Working Sessions may begin earlier when required. Public Planning Meetings are scheduled separately throughout the year.
Volunteer Award Nominations Will Open Longer
King is extending the nomination period for its annual Volunteer Appreciation Awards. Previously, nominations were accepted during a four-week period. Staff found that the short window made it difficult for residents and community organizations to prepare strong nominations and left limited time for staff to verify information and research nominees. Going forward, nominations will open in the fall and remain open until early February.
The awards themselves are not changing. Categories including Citizen of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Senior Citizen and Youth Awards of Merit and Special Recognition Awards will remain, as will the eligibility criteria and adjudication process.
Motion: Council Videos Will Stay Online Longer
Councillor Debbie Schaefer brought forward a motion to significantly extend how long recordings of Council meetings remain available to the public.
Currently, King retains Council meeting videos for only 14 days. Beginning with the 2026-2030 Council term, recordings will instead be retained for the full Council term plus one additional year. The change is intended to make it easier for residents to go back and hear the discussion and reasoning behind Council decisions, rather than relying solely on the formal minutes. Council supported the motion unanimously.
Before being elected, I watched Council meetings online and found it extremely valuable to hear what individual councillors, and Councillor Schaefer in particular, had to say. I was often frustrated when I missed a meeting and could no longer go back to hear the discussion.
When I first joined Council, I advocated for longer video retention, but wasn't able to get enough support. It feels especially fitting that Councillor Schaefer, who has been such an inspiration to me, was the one who ultimately brought forward the motion and secured the support needed to pass it.
Motion: King Calls for Permanent Doubling of OCIF Funding
Council supported Mayor Steve Pellegrini's motion calling on the Province to make the increased Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) funding permanent.
Ontario increased the fund from $200 million to $400 million annually for 2021-2026, but has not committed to maintaining that level beyond 2026. OCIF helps municipalities address the repair and replacement of existing infrastructure, an area that can be overshadowed by funding programs focused primarily on new growth and housing-related infrastructure.
King is supporting the Municipal Finance Officers' Association's request that the Province maintain the $400-million funding level beginning in 2027.
Motion: Recognizing Councillor Debbie Schaefer
Councillor Jordan Cescolini brought forward a motion recognizing Councillor Debbie Schaefer's 16 years of service representing Ward 5 and her extensive contributions to environmental protection, heritage, accessibility and community engagement in King.
The original motion directed staff to add "Debbie Schaefer" to King's Street Name Inventory, allowing her name to be considered for a future municipal street.
Bruce Craig had submitted a suggestion to council earlier in the day suggesting that, given Debbie's long-standing work protecting King's natural environment, it might be particularly appropriate to consider her name for a park or natural heritage feature, similar to the recognition given to Jane Underhill.
New Business
Oct. 3 - Movie Under the Stars at 6pm hosted by Schomberg Dental and Orthodontics - FREE
Oct. 9 - Signum Wireless has proposed a telecommunication facility on lands municipally known as 4795 19th Sideroad, King, Ontario. The proposed facility consists of a 70-metre self-support tower and a 225 m² fenced equipment compound.
A public information session will be held on Friday, October 9, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Pottageville Park Pavilion, 4380 18th Sideroad. More here.
Nov. 1 - Axes for Food Access email joannew@yrfn.cq or click here to register.
Comments