Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update on City of Windsor Services
Current Situation:
- State of Emergency: March 20, 2020, as part of the City of Windsor’s ongoing response to COVID-19, Mayor Drew Dilkens officially declared a State of Emergency. Declaring an emergency under s 4(1) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act provides Windsor with additional tools to protect the health and safety of individuals and families living in the city and will grant access to provincial funding, should it become available (see news release for complete details).
- The City of Windsor remains open for business but in a manner that will allow the public we serve and our employees to be both safe and productive (see details below).
- All emergency services, including Windsor Police Services and Windsor Fire and Rescue will be operational.
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).
What's New:
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
All
routine enforcement will cease, and
enforcement will be confined 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.
Regular by-law enforcement service resumes June 1, 2020.
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
- Marriage licence issuing
- 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
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.
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 licence processing will cease.
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
- Effective May 20, 2020, the City of Windsor will open dog parks, some outdoor sports amenities, picnic sites, benches and shelters in parks and recreational areas.
- Playgrounds, outdoor exercise equipment, outdoor pools, splash pads and some other amenities remain closed until further notice.
- Trails and green spaces remain open for walk-through purposes, but please observe social distancing.
- Effective May 19, 2020, tennis courts will re-open, and informal use of outdoor sports fields will be allowed for individual exercise or training, or for small groups of 5 or less.
- See summary of what is currently open and closed in parks and recreational areas.
Planning
Existing applications will continue to be processed. No pre-consultation or other meetings will be held. Service times may be reduced.
Policy and Gaming
Gaming, bingo and raffle licences will not be provided.
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 for more information. See also, Provincial Offences Act Courts (Notice to the public from the Ministry of the Attorney General - English)/Loi sur les infractions provinciales (Avis au public - français).
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):
Services that will be closed to the public:
- City operated EarlyON Centres
- Employment & Training Services Centre (Suite 101)
- Ontario Works - Windsor Office
- Ontario Works - Leamington Office
Services open at a reduced rate:
Children’s Services Administrative Supports
Housing Administrative Supports
Administration Supports to Emergency Shelters and Housing with 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 Monday, May 4, 2020 and lasting until at least June 21, 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.