Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update on City of Windsor Services
Stage 2 of Province of Ontario Reopening Plan
As of June 25, 2020, Windsor is currently at Stage 2 of the Province of Ontario's reopening plan, which recommends consideration of the following:
Opening more workplaces with significant mitigation plans
Opening more public spaces
Allowing some larger public gatherings
Continued protections for vulnerable populations
Essex County is also at Stage 2 of the province's plan, except for Kingsville and Leamington (subject to change).
Read Statement from Mayor Drew Dilkens, June 24, 2020.
Windsor Reopens
Effective July 6, 2020, the City of Windsor begins to reopen. Learn more in our news release, More City Services, Facilities, and Amenities to Re-Open.
Windsor Reopens is the City of Windsor’s plan for the reopening phases of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In our state of readiness, we will ensure that our staff and the public have confidence in our ability to provide a safe environment for them. This will be accomplished with thorough planning and preparation, and a careful, measured return to service.
Factors we will consider include provincial orders, Medical Officer of Health directives, industry-specific guidelines, Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) task force input, third-party stakeholders (e.g. courts, tenants) and the experience of other municipalities.
With provincial guidelines in mind, we aim to provide the maximum amount of service possible while keeping staff and the public safe; ensuring fiscal responsibility and responsiveness to community needs; and getting staff back to work (e.g. through their home jobs or vital redeployments) as quickly as possible.
The State of Emergency declared by Mayor Drew Dilkens on March 20, 2020 continues. See news release for complete details and benefits.
Masks/Face Coverings and Other Public Health Directives
Please note, as the lead health agency for the region, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is responsible for the majority of public health rules and regulations in the current pandemic, not the City of Windsor.
For City of Windsor services and information, residents can call 311 between 8am and 4pm, Monday through Friday, or they can download the 311 app, email 311@citywindsor.ca or use www.311online.ca to send requests 24/7 (though responses will be processed at the hours noted above).
For additional information, see also Coronavirus (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
News Releases:
City of Windsor Service Adjustments:
Building
The City of Windsor Building Division has been and will continue to accept all permit applications and has resumed all construction inspections. There will continue to be safety parameters surrounding inspections in occupied buildings and work sites, and those specific directions will be provided when inspections are requested.
Building By-Law Enforcement
By-law Enforcement
Routine enforcement has resumed as of June 1, 2020, in addition to matters covered under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, which can include social distancing in public spaces, restrictions to gatherings of five or fewer people and adherence by businesses to essential services orders.
Contracts
By-law enforcement will only occur where safety is involved. Construction will continue.
Council Services (Office of the City Clerk)
Council services will not offer:
- Election services, except for candidate inquiries via email
- Civil ceremonies
- Death registrations will be available Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 am to 9:30 am in the lobby of 400 City Hall Square East. Please use the McDougall Avenue entrance only.
- Freedom of information requests
- Records management
- Commissioning for the public
Marriage Licences: As part of the City of Windsor's COVID-19 response, we are currently issuing marriage licences by appointment only. Urgent requests will be determined on a case-by-case basis. In order to obtain a marriage licence or if you have any questions, please email clerkvitals@citywindsor.ca.
Economic Development (Office of the CAO)
All Economic Development Services are available with the exception of on-site meetings and visits. The processing times of CIP Applications and Business Incentives may be increased. Questions can be directed to Milan Vujanovic, Senior Economic Development Officer, at 519-890-0453 or mvujanovic@citywindsor.ca.
Engineering
No public facing services will be offered (e.g. street opening permits, encroachments etc.). Limited service will be provided to development applications, engineering, E.I.S. and drafting. E-services will continue to be offered. Construction will continue.
As a result of COVID19, the City of Windsor has agreed to
waive permit and annual fees for the 2020 sidewalk cafe season, in an effort to support local restaurants and small businesses. In order to operate a sidewalk café, one must obtain an annual permit.
See Sidewalk CAfe FAQ for further details.
Finance (Office of the City Treasurer)
The following services will be maintained:
- Payroll services
- Accounts payable services
- Property tax payments and customer service requests (see FAQ for updated info on property taxes)
- Property tax account administration
- I.T. Help Desk
- I.T. network security
- Enterprise support services
Fire and Rescue
Emergency services continue. Legislated inspections only. All public education cancelled.
Garbage, Recycling and Yard Waste
While garbage and recycling collection are continuing as normal, we would ask that residents keep 6 feet (2 metres) away from collectors. Also, all garbage related by-laws still apply, i.e. must be in acceptable containers, can not be overflowing, must be under 44 pounds, etc. Yard waste collection is continuing on its regular schedule, though we are expecting large volumes and may experience some delays.
Please also note updated guidelines on the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority's Safe Waste Management/COVID-19 page to help keep our workers protected while they perform this valuable service. General info can be found on our Waste and Recycling page.
Public Drop-Off Depot will re-open to the public on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. The rodent program will continue; street sweeping program and litter bin collections are operating on a reduced service level; and special event services will not be offered.
Huron Lodge Long Term Care Home
Human Resources
Recruitment will cease, except in emergency situations, and all corporate training will cease.
Legal
Service response time may be reduced, but essential legal work will be completed.
Licensing
All municipal business, lottery, gaming and animal licence processing will commence (excluding bingo) by appointment only. Email
licences@citywindsor.ca Maintenance
Pothole patching continues, but other routine road and sewer maintenance will not be offered. Eeling program will continue.
Parking
Parking ticket payment by e-payment only; no in person payment, reviews or disputes will be offered. Parking permits and passes, garage maintenance (other than critical), crossing guard, parking meter maintenance, routine sign maintenance will not be offered.
In an effort to help small businesses, parking enforcement has been relaxed at on-street parking meters, which means meter fees are not required, but time limits and special designations (e.g. accessible permit parking) remain in effect and will be enforced. Enforcement continues in parking lots, and emergency access must always be maintained. Complaints and abuse of time at meters will continue to be investigated and enforced. This means that you can not exceed the meter's maximum and park all day. Your vehicle will be marked and ticketed if found to be abusing the time frames. Plazas that remain open will be heavily enforced to keep accessible spots and emergency routes clear for those who need them. All other residential parking restrictions will still be enforced at this time for safety and operational reasons. Follow the street signage in your area.
Charging of late fees is suspended until further notice.
Parks
- Splashpads: 7 of 9 splash pads in the City of Windsor will be re-opened on July 13, 2020. To adhere to new public health recommendations, splash pad areas will be enclosed using temporary fencing and staff will be stationed on site to limit the number of individuals in the pad as well as to periodically sanitize the features. Two splash pads will remain closed: Remington Booster Park, as it is located inside the fenced outdoor pool area, and the small splash pad at Kimmy Lucier (Mic Mac Park), as the area is too small to allow for appropriate social distancing and another larger splash pad is located nearby.
- City Pools: Due to operational challenges associated with enforcing social distancing within City of Windsor pools, both indoor and outdoor swimming facilities will remain closed. This decision will be re-evaluated after the Government of Ontario has permitted the City of Windsor to enter Stage 3 of the Provincial Re-opening framework.
- Sandpoint Beach: The Windsor Essex County Health Unit has announced that they lack the capacity to undertake water-quality testing this summer due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Windsor City Council has approved additional resources to hire a private contractor to undertake this activity in order to ensure public safety and enable the re-opening of Windsor’s Sandpoint beach on or before August 4, 2020. The period leading up to this reopening is necessary to recall and train staff on new public health protocols, as well as to allow for the installation of lifeguard chairs and swimming area lines.
- Park and Sports Field Permits: Provincial regulations limit the types of facilities that are permitted to re-open during each stage of the re-opening plan. In Stage 2, playgrounds, play structures, and outdoor fitness equipment must remain closed. Outdoor team sports may resume, but only for training purposes, as scrimmages and games are not permitted. The City of Windsor is in the process of surveying local sports organizations on their current plans for the 2020 season. Should there be demand for outdoor sports field usage in 2020, the allocations may be consolidated and a limited number of fields may be made available. Park permits will also be available for small gatherings such as weddings, picnics, etc. following provincial guidelines.
- Trails and green spaces remain open for walk-through purposes, but please observe social distancing. Effective June 12, 2020 the limit on social gatherings of small groups increases from 5 to 10 or less.
- Effective May 20, 2020, the City of Windsor opened dog parks, some outdoor sports amenities, picnic sites, benches and shelters in parks and recreational areas.
- Effective May 19, 2020, tennis and sports courts re-opened, and informal use of open green space is allowed for individual exercise or training, or for small groups of 5 or less. This increased to small groups of 10 or less as of June 12, 2020.
- Grass cutting including weed whipping is returning to near normal year levels. The non-residential Right of Ways (ROW’s) and the EC Row Expressway will be maintained although the frequency will be reduced.
- Planting of summer flowers in parks is taking place and hanging baskets are being installed in BIA’s and parks, and there will be no planters placed in BIA’s, ROW’s and around facilities.
- Some park washrooms will be open and maintained at an enhanced level of cleaning.
Planning
The Planning Division has been and will continue to accept all Planning Act and other development-related applications.
Mandatory pre-consultations on development applications will be available via electronic participation or by appointment. You can also schedule an appointment to submit an application or make an in-person payment. Please call 519-255-6543 to schedule an appointment.
Public meetings for Planning Act applications will follow the schedule established for the Development and Heritage Standing Committee. You can find the current agenda here.
Committee of Adjustment
Committee of Adjustment hearings have been and will continue to occur on a modified schedule and are being conducted via electronic participation. The most current agenda and details about joining the meeting are available here.
You can also continue to contact us by email at jwatson@citywindsor.ca, phone (519) 255-6543, or send regular mail to:
Planning Division
2nd Floor, 350 City Hall Square West,
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
N9A 6S1
You may also submit a Committee of Adjustment application or appeal electronically or in person by appointment. Please jwatson@citywindsor.ca or (519) 255-6543 to arrange to submit your application electronically.
Policy and Gaming
Pollution Control
By-law enforcement, Environmental Master Plan (and associated works), and some engineering functions will not be offered or will be re-assigned. All other staff to provide essential service.
Public access to the septic unloading station for R.V. and travel trailers has been suspended at the Lou Romano Water Reclamation Plant.
Provincial Offences (POA)
The POA courts are currently closed. In-person POA court services are not available, including payments, meetings, resolutions or in-office matters. For urgent requests, please email poa.tickets@citywindsor.ca.
See our Provincial Offences home page and the Ontario Court of Justice page for further information and updates.
Purchasing
Essential supplies and purchases will continue to be made. Existing procurements will be completed, and a reduced number of non-critical procurements will be issued if required.
Recreation and Culture
Inquiries regarding booking and programs that were scheduled and have been cancelled can be directed to 311. Inquiries about future bookings and programs can be directed by email to parkrec@citywindsor.ca.
The following services will not be maintained:
- Access to indoor recreation and culture facilities and rentals and/or programming including all community centres, pools, arenas and museum
- Special events, sports activity, group gatherings in parks or recreation centres
- Regular parks maintenance and forestry maintenance work
- Public access to Parks/Recreation administration office
- Non-essential repairs and maintenance
Social Services (Office of the Commissioner of Community Development and Health):
Housing & Homelessness Services:
The City of Windsor continues to offer programs and services for individuals and families in Windsor and Essex County who require assistance obtaining and retaining affordable housing. This includes help paying rent and utilities. If in-person services are not offered, virtual options are available. Visit the Housing and Homelessness page on the City’s website for more information.
Services that will be closed to the public:
- City operated EarlyON Centres
- Employment & Training Services Centre, Suite 101
- Community Development & Health Services (CDHS) Office, Suite 301
- Ontario Works - Windsor Office
- Ontario Works - Leamington Office
Services open at a reduced rate:
Children’s Services Administrative Supports
Housing Administrative Supports
Employment and Training Services administrative support
Transit
Pursuant to authority granted under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens has ordered Transit Windsor to resume city service seven days a week on an enhanced "Sunday" schedule only, effective until at least July 26, 2020. Transit will be employing enhanced safety measures at this time. See Transit Windsor COVID-19 Service Update. Transportation Planning
Project management and response to resident service requests will continue. Public meetings will be delayed or provided by alternate means (e.g. online). Reviews that need traffic data collection will be delayed.
Status of Municipal Buildings
350 City Hall Square West, 1266 McDougall, and 2450 McDougall will be closed to the public.
400 City Hall Square East will remain open to the public due to the presence of federal and provincial offices in the building, as will any other building with self contained leased space to non-City tenants (Mackenzie Hall and Gino and Liz Marcus Community Complex). This is subject to change.