Notes on the Council Meeting held March 10th, 2026
Questions from the public (for issues not on the agenda)
Henri Ornawka What is the town’s deficit and is the town in deficit? Mayor Ektvedt informed him that the town is not allowed to have a deficit budget but has a balanced budget. The town like all or most municipalities has borrowing bylaws (which are public and approved by council) for major long-term infrastructure projects that benefit all citizens and that are paid back over a certain number of years example 25+ years (like residents have mortgages). Otherwise, the town actually has a surplus. Henri Ornawka: what are our outstanding loans and are interest payments in the budget? Mayor Ektvedt: loans were for major infrastructure projects such as the Surrey drainage and pumping station, Lakeview and Surrey infrastructure, Lakeshore Road etc. and interest payments are in the Operating budget.
Henri Ornawka what are the plans for the pickleball courts? Mayor Ektvedt: pickleball courts were in the PTI based on large group of citizens who requested it. It will be done in phases and no plan has yet been developed; many options are being evaluated.
SPVM Report Commandant Gosselin: on the topic of break-in and entry, 3 individuals have been arrested and since an hour, another 2 were arrested of the same group. They are all part of the same cell operating in the West Island (WI) and beyond. 13 security operations were held (speeding and other areas). Community presentations were done in AVH, Maxwell Residence and Café D’Urfé. In mid-May of this year (date to be announced), the SPVM will organize a “Coffee with the Cops” in Baie-D’Urfé. SPVM is prepared for an eventual ice-storm.
Councillor Chartrand asked how many members this criminal cell had. Answer: we don’t know exactly as this is an international network. They will come back. SPVM areas (PDQ 1, 3 and 4) are working together for investigations and arrests. There are more than just one cell in criminal activity.
Councillors’ Reports
Cllr Caron attended 2 interesting conferences; Quebec Vert on greening municipalities on many topics including expanding tree canopy, biodiversity corridors, climate resilience and storm management. The second conference was on West Island food security network as representing Fritz Garden. One in 2 families in the WI suffer from food insecurity and 85% of the WI are food deserts. Isolation, transportation, mental health was covered.
Cllr Lowensteyn reported that our junior citizens had performed really well in the Curling Club tournament: Eddie Pichovich and Tian Campos won gold in the boy’s division representing the region of Montreal. Zachary Schumacher won silver in the boy’s division representing the region of Laurentides. Rachel Rubin and Charlotte Olynyk won gold in the girl’s division representing the region of Lac-St-Louis.
Cllr Brown Baie d’Urfé Rescue Squad: total of 438 hours and 1st aid 102 volunteer hours, including Alan’s Hill, St-Anne skating event, Baie-D’Urfé and St-Anne Winterfest and a search and rescue effort in Ile-Bizard with the Kubota for 2 missing persons that were found.
VCOPs: 84.5 total volunteer hours, 262 year-to-date. Increased surveillance in the Gay Cedars area due to an attempted break-in.
Mayor’s Report
Mayor Ektvedt; The citizens association organized a successful Winterfest and Junior Council participated by organizing games and mini-bob-sledding. The work of Junior Council gives us hope.
On the 26 February, the town held a “new residents” event with attendance from a mixed demographic and ages. In March, a successful International Women’s Day event was held with the topic of AI: 2 guest speakers were invited.
A meeting with the enterprises of the Industrial Park was held (minimum annually) and Councillor Pagé was present, Councillor Lowensteyn presented the new pesticide bylaws, the STM presented the new routes and Mr Larue (Urban Planning) presented changes in the bylaws. Vincent Carrière presented the investments in the local infrastructure. AVH has an exchange band from Köln Germany, if you wish to participate you can register (free), or with a Sugar Shack experience ($30); Maple Treats and Jazz Beats.
Correspondence
Four letters were received plus one just added, mostly on the topic of Traffic (and safety). A particularly useful letter was from Mr Winn who highlighted the issues that a certain part of the population face (aging people with walkers, or mothers with strollers). It was a detailed letter with specific issues and suggestions. It recommended a safety audit for seniors, student and other parking suggestions, speed signs, extend the pathway.
Mr Green highlighted the speeding problems on Magnolia and suggested speedbumps.
Mr Erickson highlighted the safety issues on the intersection of Morgan and the autoroute 20 crossing and entry/exit to the train station (blind spot) and offered to present his findings to the Traffic Committee. The three letters will be submitted to the Traffic Committee.
Mr & Mrs Belcher requested putting back the bus shelters around Case, Gay Cedars, Oxford on the east and west sides of Lakeshore.
Councillor Thompson responded that there were never bus shelters in those spots and that it is the STM that determines (based on volume criteria) if they put bus shelters based on a town request. The town will not be making such a request.
Mr Buckley (Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, PRAC member) asked what the plans are for those who still sit on the PRAC. Councillor Brown indicated that when a political mandate ends, the PRAC mandate ends. They are working on new mandates over the next months.
Administration two notices of motion were deposited (draft bylaw code of ethics and contract management).
Finance
The list of expenses for the month of February 2026 totalled $12,659,643.25. $11.7M of this is the first installment for Montreal. The 2026 tariffs bylaw was submitted.
Parks, Recreation and Environment
Approval professional services for the Urban Forestry contract (Trame Verte $11,037 and Ensemble on Verdit (GRAME & Baie-D’Urfé agreement) tree donation program for 3 years (reference PTI, $75K).
Public Security and Traffic
Authorization to sign an emergency measures memorandum with Alexander von Humboldt school approved. Mandate to Traffic and road safety advisory committee to examine the issues raised by citizens (see correspondence); analyse the situation, assess the feasibility and risks, make appropriate recommendations. Safety audit to be done in the Maxwell residence area.
Emergency Measures Committee replace Ms. Bissada by Councillor Pagé.
Public Works and Town Infrastructures
A future installation for a dedicated pickleball court and beach volleyball court, needs to be done in steps which includes obtaining grants to help fund this project. In order to do this, letters of application must be sent to the Ministry of Education requesting such grant including certain guarantees and funding by the town (operational costs, over runs, maintenance). Council approved submitting the requests as well as the professional services required to develop the plans for the requests ($15,579).
Professional services for preparing the tender for Morgan Street resurfacing was approved ($64,799).
The contract with Kubota to acquire new equipment (tractor mower) was approved ($96,947) and Kubota will buy back the old no-longer compatible accessories for $14,946.
Town Planning
The TPAC meeting minutes 20 February were tabled. The SPAIP applications for 43 Watterson and 20666 Lakeshore were approved by council based on the conditions stated at council. The first is for a major renovation and the second is for the construction of a single-family home of “neo-colonial” style.
Citizen Services and Community Affairs
The subsidy for this summer to pay for participation in the St-Anne summer day camp (22 June to 14 August) was approved ($73/week/child). This will be done as a reimbursement with proof of payment.
Question Period (for items on the agenda)
Farzad Shodjai commented that the Surrey Morgan intersections were problematic because they did not line up. He suggested as a long-term plan in buying the house to the north which was of little value and redo the east/west Surrey intersection at Morgan. The town would have to purchase the house for such a plan.
Stefan Kurylowicz will there be membership fees like the Tennis courts for the future Pickleball courts? Mayor Ektvedt: it has not been decided yet however to date there has been no discussion to this effect (creating an association with membership fees). An option of a FOB key could be an option however nothing has been decided.
Henri Ornawka inquired about the details of the Kubota acquisition and attachments sale. Director General: we used to own our equipment with attachments (around 20 years old) and this will be replaced by a new Kubota (as approved in PTI). The old attachments can no longer be used (old) and Kubota offered to buy them back thus reducing the net costs. The new equipment can now also be used both in summer and in winter. Henri Ornawka asked again about the pickleball location. Mayor Ektvedt reiterated that this was a multi-step process where, based on approved PTI budget, an estimate is done and included in the letter to the Ministry of Education for a grant and based on a possible grant, a plan is then established during which process a location is then selected. Henri Ornawka asked if a refrigerated ice-rink was considered. Mayor Ektvedt responded that no it was not in the PTI. Such projects start with a budget process and an inclusion in the PTI. There is no item of this nature in our PTI.
Henri Ornawka asked what plans public works had for the ice-storm for citizens who want to shop for groceries etc. Mayor Ektvedt responded that given the serious forecast and risks involved in going out, citizens should remain at home. Schools were closed. DG added that Public Works were ready and will be salting the roads with priority of the main arteries, trucks would work 24/7 as needed, the Rescue Squad is prepared, in case of power outages, the Red Barn will be a shelter, have food etc. Henri Ornawka asked what will happen with the Grey House? Mayor Ektvedt: there are no plans for now, the house is in very poor condition and it would take a lot of funding to fix it.
The mayor thanked Public Works, the blue-collar teams and supervisor, DG and other employees for their dedication during such emergency situations where some even sleep in the public works building in order to be available and keep our roads safe.
The meeting was adjourned.