REPORT ON COUNCIL:
March 10, 2014
Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:00 am –10:09 am
Confidential Closed Session: na
Regular Meeting: 10:20 am-10:45 am
Councilors Warren, Wishart, Claire (absent: Mayor Millar & Deputy Mayor Lawrence)
Ms. Holly Bryce, C.A.O., Town of Penetanguishene, Mayor Scott Warnock, Township of Tay/Huronia Area Tourism Action Plan
On behalf of the Huronia Area Tourism Strategy Steering Committee (HATS),
Holly Bryce and Scott Warnock presented the Huronia Area Action Plan.
Tourism has been identified as one of the four pillars by the Huronia Economic Alliance. The Huronia Area Tourism Strategy Steering Committee is looking at developing more efficient and effective model for destination planning and management ; developing a tourism strategy that is industry driven and supported; identifying opportunities for better co-ordination between local and regional partners; and identifying opportunities to refresh/enhance or create new experiences and form partnerships with operators and government.
In September 2013, four municipalities received funding from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport through the Tourism Development Fund to develop a Huronia Area Tourism Action Plan. Now the four municipal councils must accept the report and authorize the Steering Committee to implement the Action Plan. Then the Steering Committee will recruit representatives from the area tourism industry and other stakeholders.
From June to September the Steering Committee will develop a Business plan to implement the Action Plan, research funding sources for the plan, consider how to provide the human resources to implement the plan and then provide a report to the four municipalities.
Staff was instructed to bring forward a draft resolution at the Regular Meeting of Council to receive the presentation as information.
Huronia Area Tourism Action Plan
The Committee considered Planning & Development Report PD-015-14 from Shawn Persaud, Manager of Planning & Development, regarding the Huronia Area Tourism Action Plan.
Staff brought forward a draft resolution at the Regular Meeting providing its support in principle for the Huronia Area Tourism Action Plan; that the Huronia Area Tourism Steering Committee be delegated the responsibility to implement the Action Plan until the Huronia Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) is established to undertake the tourism portfolio; and that the Huronia Area Tourism Steering Committee be required to provide update reports to the Huronia Economic Alliance until the HEDC is established on the process of the Tourism Action Plan.
County of Simcoe/Notice of Study Commencement, New Road Maintenance Facility, Moonstone/Perkinsfield Class E.A.
Council moved that the correspondence received February 3, 2014 from the County of Simcoe regarding a Notice of Study Commencement, New Road Maintenance Facility Moonstone/Perkinsfield, Class Environmental Assessment, be received; and that Council is concerned that the Level of Service for County Roads in the Township of Tiny may be affected; and that Council directs staff to respond to the Notice of Study Commencement noting Council’s concern and requesting participation in the Class EA process and to be fully informed and address concerns as they arise.
Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiatives: Call for Resolutions for Presentation at the 2014 Annual GLSLCI Meeting
Council moved that the correspondence dated March 3, 2014, from Mr. Simon Belisle, Program Assistant, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSLCI), regarding a call for resolutions for the 2014 Annual GLSLCI meeting, be received And that the Township of Tiny supports the full closure of the Chicago Canals to stop any possible entry of the Asian Carp through that access to the Great Lakes; And that the Township of Tiny supports the placing of removable sills in the St. Clair River bed to mitigate the water levels in the middle Great Lakes (Michigan and Huron).
