What is on your mind? Your top 10 list of issues?

When talking to municipal candidates, prompt them on their specific thoughts 

Compiled by Mark Schadenberg

I am penning this on August 1, so about a dozen weeks from the October 26 municipal election.
What do you believe are the Top 10 issues for the City Of Woodstock's electorate to consider? I will also factor in 3 topics from the Oxford County angle (1 of the 3 is a catch-all of county responsibilities) as I've entered the race as a candidate for the combined role of Woodstock City Council and Oxford County Council.
I've been on Woodstock City Council for 8 years.
The standings will not be presented in order as I would like to see comments from the voters assisting in determining the Big 10, but I would also like to witness a few write-in votes -- your choices beyond my 10. Perhaps -- by the end of August -- there will be a list of 15 or 20 most prominent concerns, needs and an understanding that many on the list are extremely necessary, while some ingredients may not be added to the recipe for 4 years, but should be considered for the horizon's game plan.

This is my 12 actually, and my opinions on all can be swayed, but it must be prudently and dissected properly through budgeting and 'request for proposals' and strict planning by senior staff. Council members vote on plans -- it should be added -- vetted very closely already by department heads. Always always always, keep in mind that pre-studies can lead to grants as it's not possible (for example) to have a recreation facility added to the city's roster without a published third-party needs assessment study and in the case of recreation the bible has been written already, which is integral (and linked below).

In no particular order.

Evolution and plans and renovations and county staffing at 808 Dundas Street -- Oxford Homelessness Support Centre. The former Woodstock Y building is Gantt charted to open in spring of 2028.
A 4th arena in Woodstock. New rink at Cowan Fields would be the plan after renovations to Civic Centre Arena. The Civic facility would be closed after enough funds exist to twin the Cowan rink. (Monteith-Brown report is below)
A second aquatics / swimming facility in Woodstock. Lots of permutations here such as Woodstock's size / population for a second pool and whether it should be competition length, indoor, outdoor, and timetable for its construction. Should children from outside Woodstock be permitted to participate in programming?
An improved Museum Square and City Hall. These 2 are together as the focus should include a very modest addition to City Hall as its essentially unchanged since 1968, which is a building 125 years old, plus a connected spotlight on the fountain and museum square.

Dundas Streetscape (MHBC were consultants) is most certainly a different topic than museum square as Phase 1 and 2 are complete, but there is now a 'middle' area unfinished. (This beautification project should have never started).
Extremely close attention to 'asset management plan' of Woodstock as it pertains to roads and their buried infrastructure, bridges, state of current facilities, playground equipment, and even the city's fleet of vehicles.
A 3rd fire hall and its planned location. Just this past June, city council approved a new aerial fire suppression truck at $2.6 million. What is the cost for construction, fire fighters, and equipment?
An expanded police station as it's already out-growing its 2017 addition after opening at its current location in 1980.

A boundary adjustment and where? Watson & Associates report to the county projects an ever-growing population count. Woodstock is at about 52,000 currently, so where will (should) growth happen for residential and retail needs? Could the province (Queen's Park) re-draw the lines? (Scroll down for a list of approved projects in an earlier blog)
Should the county's human services department focus on building more residential spaces for the county to own instead of assisting developers in subsidizing rents? The county's owned residential spaces require massive upgrades also ranging from 40-year-old semis to apartment buildings (Asset management).

Should the city versus county structure be re-organized? It could be like Brantford and Brant County with its 2 single tiers, or pondered to be like Chatham-Kent with everyone under same single-tier umbrella? Or rep by pop where Woodstock has more representation from its current 3 out of 10, but I'm sure (??) the province wouldn't approve expansion from the number 10. Lots of questions or status quo?
How difficult is it for Oxford admin to manage a long list of commitments as it re-writes the Official Plan --- water and wastewater, landfill site, zero poverty / zero unhoused, long-term care facilities, subsidized daycare and dental (A county responsibility and NOT city), small village libraries, the tourism department, renewable energy action plan, climate plan, natural heritage systems, and the list continues . . .  

Make sure ALL candidates you talk to about the Oct. 26 plebiscite have their own inventory of priorities. If their summary is less than 10 ask yourself if they're qualified for the role.
Yes, my list is 12, but I truly want to discover your additions.

Plans
Watson and Associates:
https://cdn.umb-sites.dev/county/media/psacwals/county-of-oxford-growth-analysis-and-land-needs-review-study-final-report-3326.pdf

https://www.cityofwoodstock.ca/media/0izid1ou/strategic-asset-management-policy-engineering-feb-5-2026.pdf

https://www.cityofwoodstock.ca/media/5i3cpptr/2025-asset-management-plan-city-of-woodstock-engineering-2025.pdf

https://www.cityofwoodstock.ca/media/zmidt0qf/woodstock-recreation-facility-needs-study-rec-2021.pdf

https://www.cityofwoodstock.ca/business-development/city-projects/north-woodstock-recreation-facility/

https://www.cityofwoodstock.ca/media/y5yntytj/streetscape-master-plan-report-engineering-2022.pdf

https://www.cityofwoodstock.ca/media/rnpe2zdk/transportation-master-plan-report-engineering-2025.pdf

These reports scratch the surface of reading material for a prospective City Council member.

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