REPORT ON COUNCILJune 27, 2005Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:00 a.m. –5:40 p.m.Regular Evening Meeting: 7:00 p.m. – 7:50 p.m.All Members of Council present for most of the day. Councillor Ray Millar arrived at 9:20 a.m.
CONFIDENTIAL / CLOSED SESSION: 5:30 p.m. – 5:40 p.m.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES ASK FOR MORE MONEY: Tiny Township has been paying the Midland, Penetanguishene and Springwater libraries according to the number of households that use each one. Midland charges $80 per user household, Springwater $60, and Penetanguishene $75. Each residence in Tiny may use one, and only one, of the libraries. The library boards would like Tiny Township to pay a fee for every household, whether that household uses a library or not. In return, they would then try to attract more households to use the libraries and they would make all three libraries available to all Tiny residents. Their presentation ignored seasonal and proximity issues. They had no statistics concerning Tiny’s use of the libraries as compared to that of the host municipalities, and no hard facts about use by seasonal residents. Council asked for more statistics.
INVESTIGATION INTO SOURCES OF SWIMMING WATER POLLUTION: Keith Sherman of the Severn Sound Environmental Association presented his plans for his continuing investigation into the factors affecting beach water quality at Balm Beach, Jackson Park and Woodland Beach. An added focus of investigation this year will be sediment analysis and transport of sediment. Tasks for this summer include – 1. Monitoring of rain events2. Analysis of the factors related to beach sample days exceeding an E. coli geomean of 100 orgs/100ml3. Sampling of sediments in beach areas for E. coli. 4. Sampling of E. coli in relation to depth in beach areas5. Interpretation of air photos of the area for transport mechanisms6. Microscope examination of sediment accumulated on beaches and comparison with sediments at the mouth of tributary streams and rivers.7. Liaising with other organizations including MOE, Environment Canada, and Consultants conducting modeling of Nottawasaga BayThe cost is expected to be $22,666.
SHORELINE PARKING MANAGEMENT STUDIES: Many of the parking studies conducted since 1999 were provided to Council, as background for a future discussion about parking.
ENFORCEMENT OF SIMCOE COUNTY’S WASTE MANAGEMENT BY-LAW: The County of Simcoe had presented each of its 16 member municipalities with three options – 1) that responsibility for enforcement be split between each municipality and Simcoe; 2) that enforcement be done by each municipality using officers appointed by the County; 3) that the County (with only one by-law officer) enforce its by-law. Councillors Breckenridge, Millar and Panasiuk all spoke about different aspects of County inefficiency and the need to have the Township exercise control over littering and the like within Tiny’s borders. Council selected option 2, and directed staff to tell the County that “it is most effective to have the local municipality enforce by-laws which regulate waste management in our municipality through our Clean Yards and Littering by-laws, and that any cost incurred for this enforcement be reimbursed by the County of Simcoe.”
COUNCIL CHAMBER MICROPHONES: Now that extra microphones have been installed, it is easier for those who attend Committee of the Whole to hear what is being said. A cordless microphone is to be purchased for the use of members of the audience who cannot get to the podium where there is a microphone.
UPDATE FOR WATER SYSTEM USERS: A staff report revealed a number of interesting facts:- that the capital investment still to be made to bring Tiny’s water systems up to the new standards was estimated at roughly a million and a half, plus a substantial financing charge for the deficit incurred in 2004- that some contracts have come in under budget for a saving of $200,000- that additional OSTAR funding may save water users as much as $450,000- that most upgrades will be completed by the end of the year- that the deficit in the capital water account at the end of the year will be approximately $250,000- that in coming years the Township should build the water reserve to about $2 million, the amount needed to replace one failed system- that the water capital fee should be kept at the current level until the water reserve fund has a balance of $2 million.
SEPTIC RE-INSPECTION PROGRAM 2005: The fee for a septic re-inspection is now $71.95. The focus of this year’s shore area re-inspection program is from Concession Roads 11 to 14. In addition, rural areas, including Wyevale, are being done from the Township line north to Concession Road 6.
MERIDIAN PLANNING CONSULTANTS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT STUBBS TRAILER PARK PROPOSAL: In presenting Meridian Planning Consultants’ Report (which supports the proposed trailer park in Concession 2), Wesley Crown emphasized that the development had to be viewed in the context of policies laid out in the Official Plan. He emphasized the Plan’s objectives with regard to economic development, even though it is clear that the trailer park will benefit the Township very little economically, and he downplayed the Plan’s “Environment First” philosophy. Councillor Breckenridge asked why the development was viewed as recreational when the recreation, apart from paint ball, was not for residents of Tiny but for residents of the trailer park. Councillor Panasiuk asked a number of questions about management of sewage and water, and learned that responsibility for these rests, in the long term, with the Township, and that a responsibility agreement was not required because of the seasonal nature of the development. Apparently a responsibility agreement is required only if there are 6 or more year-round units. The point of this line of questioning is that in a responsibility agreement financial safeguards can be required of the developer to cover future problems with water supply and sewage management. Councillor Panasiuk also pointed out that neighbours are concerned about the potential negative impact of this development on property values. Mr. Crown had no satisfactory answers for this concern.
GEORGIAN SANDS PUMPHOUSE NO. 1: Residents in Georgian Sands had expressed concern about a redesigned pump house that intrudes into their view. In response, Council decided that the entranceway should be lowered.
SITE 41: TINY BLOCKED AT COUNTY: Mayor Klug’s attempt at the Corporate Services Committee to get a “recorded” vote on the matter of Site 41 was blocked. He was told that there is no recorded vote at committees (though the County’s Procedural By-law says that there is). The vote went against the Interim By-law, 5-3. There was much confusion. 9 people were present, but only 8 voted, and at least one person who voted was not on the committee. Councillor Ray Millar noted that the County is not returning his phone calls, and that he has contacted the Ombudsman.