REPORT ON COUNCIL October 29, 2007 Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:03 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Regular Evening Meeting: 7:04 p.m. – 7:28 p.m. All Members of Council present.
CONFIDENTIAL / CLOSED SESSION: 2:30 p.m. – ??? and 4:19 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Jim McIntosh of the legal firm of Burgar Rowe Professional Corporation was present.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO NOISE BY-LAW IN FAVOUR OF OUTDOOR PATIOS REJECTED: In response to complaints about music emanating from the patios of two businesses in Balm Beach, Shawn Crawford, Chief Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer, presented a report. It recommended that noise from outdoor patios be exempted from the Township’s Noise By-law between noon and 8:00 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and from noon to 11:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Councillor Nigel Warren enquired why not leave the By-law as it stands. Why offer a permit to make noise?
Council opposed the proposed amendment. There will continue to be a 24-hour-a-day prohibition of noise from commercial outdoor patios if it disturbs someone’s peace. Tiny’s rules regarding such noise are similar to those in neighbouring municipalities.
SOUTHERN GEORGIAN BAY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Council decided to ask the Chamber to place more emphasis on membership services, to require municipalities to fund less of the budget and members more, to not hire an Economic Development Officer and to review the tourism component of its activities. Council also decided to discuss the funding of the Chamber (Tiny’s share of the Chamber’s $378,142 budget is $19,740) during budget deliberations.
REPORT RE 2007 SUMMER RECREATION PROGRAMS: Bonita Desroches, Community Recreation Co-ordinator, presented a report about last summer’s camp and soccer programs. We note that 69% of camper spaces were taken up by township residents (57% full time and 12% seasonal) while surrounding townships absorbed the balance (including 13.25% participation by residents of Midland). The pattern for soccer was similar, with 72.58% of spaces occupied by township residents (53.23% full time, 19.35% seasonal), and the remaining spots occupied by residents of Penetang and Midland. The total cost to Tiny of summer camps and soccer was $23,497.67.
Neighbouring municipalities might be reminded of this sort of service when Tiny is asked for funding for libraries and arenas.
REPORT RE RECREATION MASTER PLAN / RECOMMENDATIONS: Bonita Desroches, the Township’s Community Recreation Co-ordinator has been charged with getting the Recreation Master Plan implemented. Her report focused on how to deal with co-ordinating the scheduling and booking of municipal parks and buildings (currently handled by each of six recreation associations) and how to implement new partnership agreements between the township and the associations. The new partnership agreement should (according to the report)
– Clarify roles and responsibilities
– Protect both parties from liability
– Protect the Township’s investment in Municipal parks and buildings
– Ensure that the community’s needs are met to the greatest extent possible.
Council agreed to hear from the recreation associations at its next meeting, prior to coming to any decisions.
