Council Reports: September 12, 2005

REPORT ON COUNCIL
September 12, 2005
Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:02 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Regular Evening Meeting: 7:00 p.m. – 7:37 p.m.
Mayor Robert Klug, Deputy Mayor Pierre Paul Maurice, Councillors Breckenridge and Panasiuk present. Councillor Ray Millar absent during Committee of the Whole, but present for the Evening Meeting.

CONFIDENTIAL / CLOSED SESSION: 12:36 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

RESPONSE TO SAVE THE BEACHES INC.’S ORAL PRESENTATION: After some discussion, Council suggested that copies of Council’s Strategic Planning Goals and Objectives and of the Boundaries Act be forwarded to the group and that they be asked for specific recommendations about parking. In addition, information about Applications under the Boundaries Act has been posted on the Township website – tiny.ca – Government; The Boundaries Act.

REVIEW OF DYNAMIC BEACH SHORELINES IN TINY TOWNSHIP: Ministry of Natural Resources maps show 98% of Tiny’s shoreline as dynamic (one of the three natural hazards that affect setbacks, the other two being flood and erosion). Provincial legislation requires the setback for dwellings on dynamic beaches to be 45 m inland from the 178 m flood hazard level. This required setback could be a major constraint for building in Tiny, and possibly an unnecessary one, especially along the Township’s north and northeast shores. In the hope of getting some relief for owners of parts of Tiny’s shoreline, Council hired W. F. Baird & Associates Coastal Engineers to consider how much of Tiny’s shore is dynamic, how much may be, and how much is definitely not dynamic.

According to Baird’s report, dynamic beaches are ones that undergo continuous or dynamic change due to natural erosion and accretion. To be dynamic, a beach must satisfy 3 criteria –
Beach or dune deposits exist landward of the water; AND
Beach or dune deposits are equal to or greater than 0.3 m thick, 10 m wide and 100 m in length; AND
The minimum fetch measured over an arc extending 60 degrees either side of shore perpendicular is greater than 5 km.

Baird visited 51 sites along Tiny’s 72 km shoreline, and concluded that 45% of our shoreline is dynamic beach, 45% is possibly dynamic, 10% non-dynamic. The study provides certainty for 100 m in either direction from the 51 points.

Dynamic beaches include the western shore from Woodland Beach to Gidley Point (just south of Concession Road 18 West) and the centre of Thunder Bay Beach. The setback for these is 45 m, and while site-specific studies could be undertaken (especially for properties protected by a point or a hook of land), significant reduction in setback is not anticipated.

Possible dynamic beaches include most of the shoreline from Gidley Point to east of Sawlog Point. These meet some of the criteria for a dynamic beach, but there is some level of uncertainly about others. Site-specific studies might show that they were not dynamic, and thus needed a lesser setback, and if they showed they were dynamic, the full setback of 45 m would not be required.

Non-dynamic Beaches include protected areas (such as those in the lee of Beausoleil Island). Site-specific studies would be required to define the boundaries of non-dynamic beach shorelines, but the dynamic beach hazard setback does not apply.

Note: Provincial policy establishes setbacks for three sorts of shore hazards. In Tiny, the flood hazard applies all along the shore. It has two components: the 178 m level is the 100-year flood level. The setback from that is a basic 15 m back to provide safety from a storm surge or wave uprush. The dynamic beach hazard setback is an additional 30 m. The erosion hazard setback, in the opinion of Baird, does not apply.

Wording is to be added to the new Zoning By-law to give residents and the Committee of Adjustment guidance about reductions in the 45 m setback.

For the full report, go to the Township’s website – tiny.ca – Community Information; Public Notices; W.F. Baird Report – Review of Dynamic Beach Shorelines in Tiny Township.

SPECIAL OCCASION PARKING: Shawn Crawford, Chief Municipal Law Enforcement Officer, presented a report about Special Occasion Parking, which had been requested by Council as a result of a complaint. The policy is that “the Chief Municipal Law Enforcement Officer or designate would check for alternate parking first and that if no other parking was available and it was considered safe to park in ‘No Parking’ areas, a temporary parking pass would be issued for the date(s) of the event only.”
On average, about 25 requests come in each year, and during the last few years, there has been only one complaint. Council decided to make no change to the Township’s Special Occasion Parking policy.

RENOUF WATER SYSTEM UPDATE: At the end of October this year, the Renouf Water System in Balm Beach will be turned off. Roughly half of the 110 properties served by the system have not installed wells and will be without water on November 1, even though they have been aware that of this deadline for several years. Of these, 7 are permanent, year-round dwellings.

Concerned, Council had asked that the Public Works Department meet with representatives of the Ministry of the Environment to make sure that the Ministry concurred that the water system be turned off on schedule. There was agreement. The water service is to be shut off at each property line as of October 31 and the system is to be returned to the Renoufs for decommissioning.

Final reminder letters were sent to affected households in July. Councillor Breckenridge asked that the 7 year-round residents be telephoned or visited to ensure that they are thoroughly aware of the situation.

TINY TRAIL BRIDGES AGAIN: According to the Manager of Public Works, Henk Blom, work is to begin on the bridges by October 13, 2005. He asked that the year-end deadline be extended to allow for contingencies. Council authorized an extension to the end of February 2006.