REPORT ON COUNCIL
July 25, 2005
Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:00 a.m. – 5:36 p.m.
Regular Evening Meeting: 7:06 p.m. – 7:56 p.m.
All Members of Council present.
CONFIDENTIAL / CLOSED SESSION: 4:35 p.m. – 5:36 p.m.
EXOTIC ANIMAL BY-LAW: At long last, Council took the decision that the Township should have an Exotic Animal By-Law. Such a by-law will allow prosecution of those who indulge in irresponsible behaviour with regard to exotic animals. The draft by-law prepared by Shawn Crawford, Chief Municipal Law Enforcement Officer, is to be revised, and presented at a public meeting for comment. The list of Prohibited Animals is to include only animals that present safety issues. Like many of the Township’s by-laws, it will be enforced, not proactively, but on a complaint basis.
AUDITORS APPROVE TINY’S BOOKS: Kathy Black and Doug Holmes of BDO Dunwoody reported that the Township’s 2004 financial statements present the financial position of the Township fairly. They recommended, and Council welcomed the idea, that an Audit Committee be formed. It was felt that such a committee should include at least one member of the Township general public who has an appropriate background. Council appointed BDO Dunwoody as the Township’s auditors for another 5 years.
SITE 41 UPDATE: Included in the Agenda was the “Ministry of the Environment coordinated comments regarding the proposed county of Simcoe Site 41 Landfill”. The number of requirements still outstanding makes it clear that the landfill Site will not be developed this year.
PARKING ARRANGEMENTS ON PENNORTH DRIVE: To ensure that emergency vehicles can get along Pennorth Drive, open parking is to be limited to the northeast side from the end of the existing “No Parking” zone commencing at River Bend Road. No Parking signs are to be erected on the southwest side from Tiny Beaches Road North to Quesnelle Drive. These arrangements may be revised when Council considers the general issue of parking.
BEACH PARK SIGNS: Once again, Henk Blom, Manager of Public Works, has promised to put up the signs showing the extent of each shore park, promptly.
REPORT ON COUNCIL
July 26, 2005
Special Council Meeting: 9:04 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
All Members of Council present.
Earlier there was a report on Council’s two-day consideration of Strategic Priorities under the headings:1) What was achieved through the planning sessions2) Strength and Challenges noted3) Strategic Goals for Council4) Strategic Priority Areas 5) Response on Key Issues, including Clarification of Jurisdiction on Site 41, and Closure on Beach Issues6) Tools to support Council and Staff On July 26, under the guidance of Councillor Peggy Breckenridge, who has experience as a facilitator, Council established an action plan for its Strategic Priorities, namely —
Improve Communication and Opportunities for Public Engagement (CAO)– Newsletter with taxes (May 1, 2005)- Website- Press releases- Minutes of Council made readily available- Advertisements in newspapers- Communications coordinator appointed
Facilitate Community Pride and Cohesion (Council, CAO)– Develop values statement, slogan (July 1, 2006 – announce for Canada Day)- Hold contest for slogan- Develop plan for the “meeting place” (Announce at a Canada Day Event July 1, 2006)
Continue to Sustain Service Delivery (CAO and Staff)– Continue to be cost effective and efficient in achieving the goals (On-going)
Formulate Strategy for Succession Planning (CAO-Staff)– Develop a succession plan to include personnel & written policies to ensure that all knowledge processes and policies would be continued in the event of a catastrophe (December 2005)
Maintain Growth Policy (Manager of Planning & Development)– Zoning By-Law completed and passed by Council (Sept. 2005)- Retain a consultant to begin process for redoing the Official Plan- Put out the RFP (Jan. 2006)- Council is in favour of Responsibility Agreements for multi-resident living buildings- Number and locations TBT in new OP- Include some investigation into commercial development in new OP
Enhance Community Services (CAO)– CAO to present a proposal for a new Parks and Recreation structure to Council (August 29, 2005)- Suggestion is all maintenance and building to be done by administration versus volunteers
Continue Environmental Protection (variously Council, CAO, Public Works Manager, Manager of Planning & Development)– Environment first approach – addressed in OP (2006)- Monitor Nutrient Management policies and regulations (On-going)- Water quality and well protection will be part of OP and on-going protection program (On-going)- Windmill strategy and proposals will be part of the normal public process (When necessary)- Septic re-inspection program is on-going (On-going)- Assessing viability of combining water systems is on-going (On-going)
Support Community Policing (Council and Staff)– Supportive role (On-going)
RESPONSE ON KEY ISSUES
Clarification of Jurisdiction on Site 41 (Council and CAO)– Key actions have been completed (Completed)- Monitoring and updates to the public will continue (On-going)
Closure on Beach Issues (variously Manager of Public Works, CAO, Council)– Document ownership of Township is being worked on (On-going)- Encroachment by-law (Nearly complete – Aug. 2005)- Develop plan for municipally-owned beaches (On-going)- Develop communication protocol (Press releases)- Clarify public role (Press releases, resolution passed by Council, on-going)- Meeting with AG (Did not happen)- Handle all in-coming complaints (Staff is documenting all complaints – on-going)
In Addition:– Develop tracking system – completed and presented to Council once per month- Reporting to staff on Council’s strategic approach and maintaining focus on jurisdictional issues….- Improve information flow between council and staff….- Reporting process improvements….
