City of Welland seeks community input on City Council composition

The City of Welland is inviting community feedback on the future composition of City Council.

On September 3, a report was presented to Council outlining options to reduce the number of councillors while ensuring effective governance. Before making a decision, Council referred the matter back to staff, prioritizing community engagement to gather input from residents.

This report follows a Notice of Motion passed by Council in April, directing staff to explore options for reducing council composition to lower costs. Any changes approved by Council would take effect with the 2026 municipal election. Welland is currently represented by 12 councillors and one mayor, with two councillors representing each of the city’s six wards.

“Council wants to ensure that any decision made about the composition of City Council reflects the needs and opinions of the community,” said Tara Stephens, director of legislative services/city clerk. “Engaging residents will guide the future of local governance in Welland. We encourage all community members to participate in the Engage Welland survey to share their views on this important decision,” said Stephens.

The City invites residents to provide feedback on these proposed changes through the dedicated page and survey on the Engage Welland platform. Public input is essential in shaping the future of Welland’s governance.

For more information and to participate in the survey, residents are encouraged to visit www.engagewelland.ca/council-composition.

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For media inquiries, please contact:
Paul Orlando
Communications Specialist
905-735-1700 x2133
paul.orlando@welland.ca