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 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
No in-person contact will be made. Inspections will be reduced to the minimum required to meet legislative requirements. Property standards response will only be for serious health and safety matters. Service times be reduced.
See Temporary Service Delivery Model for Permits and Inspections.
By-law Enforcement
All enforcement will cease.
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, EIS 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 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 44lbs, etc. General info can be found on our Waste and Recycling page. 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.
Public Drop-Off Depot will be closed to all customers. 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 contiues, 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 immediately, the public is advised that all recreational amenities in the City of Windsor’s parks are closed until further notice. Parks, trails and open spaces remain open and, following the best advice of public health officials, their continued use is strongly encouraged. However, amenities like play structures, swings and children’s activity sets are being closed to reduce opportunities for gatherings and close contact, thereby lowering the potential risks associated with COVID-19 within the City of Windsor. See
complete summary of what is closed and what remains open.
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 RV 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 call 519-255-6555 or email poa.tickets@citywindsor.ca.
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)
Services open at a reduced rate:
Ontario Works Windsor Office
Ontario Works Leamington Office
Children’s Services Administrative Supports
Housing Administrative Supports
Administration Supports to Emergency Shelters and Housing with Supports
Employment and Training Services administrative supportSolid Waste
Transit
Mayor Drew Dilkens has ordered the temporary suspension of Transit Windsor operations, effective Sunday, March 29, 2020. The suspension of operations will last at least until Monday, April 13, 2020. The Windsor International Transit Terminal and Central Office are closed. Transportation Planning
Project management will continue, but no other community services will be provided.
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.