REPORT ON COUNCIL
September 11 and 25, 2017
Committee of the Whole Meetings: September 11, 2017: 9:00 a.m. – 2:06 p.m.; and September 25, 2017: 9:02 a.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Regular Meetings of Council: September 11, 2017: 2:25 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.; and September 25, 2017: 6:08 p.m. – 7:18 p.m.
Mayor George Cornell and Councillors Cindy Hastings, Richard Hinton and Gibb Wishart all present on September 11 and 25. Deputy Mayor Steffen Walma absent September 11, present September 25.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
November 14, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Recreation Master Plan Open House, Council Chambers
November 20, 9 a.m., 2018 Budget meeting, Council Chambers
November 25, 6-7 p.m., Tree Lighting Celebration, Municipal Office
December 11, 9 a.m., 2018 Budget meeting, Council Chambers
February 5, 2018, 9 a.m., 2018 Budget meeting, Council Chambers (This replaces the previously announced January 22, 2018 Budget meeting)
STAFF: Laura Russell, Sr. Administrative Coordinator and Sue Walton, Director of Legislative Services/Clerk both completed the Diploma in Municipal Administration. Deputy Mayor Walma completed the Masters Certificate in Municipal Leadership.
KITCHING LANE:
In response to a series of deputations regarding Kitching Lane, Council decided not to provide a garbage can there; they learned that the words “private property” had been added to the township-owned delineation signs at three other access points along the shore. Their discussion about the private property stickers at Kitching lane was thorough and thoughtful. In the end, Mayor Cornell and Councillors Hinton and Wishart felt that Public Works had the authority to emphasize the limits of township ownership by means of private property stickers, that the stickers should remain and that people who disputed private property rights should make their case in court, or check the facts at the Registry Office in Barrie, or seek legal advice. Councillor Hastings was in favour of removing the stickers on the ground that Council is responsible only for township property. Deputy Mayor Walma was absent.
STRATEGIC PLAN SCORECARD ACCEPTED:
Though somewhat inflated by repetition, the Scorecard gives a good sense of the range of projects that Council and staff have undertaken since 2015. Of particular note is the grant money that staff has managed to attract and the major planning studies undertaken. The entire “Scorecard” is available in the Agenda for the Committee of the Whole, September 11, under Staff Reports / Administration and Finance.
BALM BEACH PARK TO EXPAND:
On the 11th, Council revealed that it had decided to purchase the Surf Restaurant in Balm Beach for $1,050,000 with the intention of severing the beach from the building and adding it to the township park. Council is exploring options for the restaurant building. Expanding the heavily used park was a major factor in this move: acquisition of property for township shore parks is an objective in Council’s Strategic Plan. “Council was also concerned that the property might fall into the wrong hands.” The deal closes on December 6.
CONCESSION 9 WEST AND TINY BEACHES ROAD CROSSWALK:
After hearing a deputation during Committee of the Whole on September 25 from Chris Tulley (president of the Carusoe Bay Association), which questioned the need for a crosswalk at this location, Council recommended that the recently installed crosswalk be removed. During the Regular Meeting that evening, Council decided not to remove the crosswalk and to discuss the matter further at the Committee of the Whole Meeting on October 11 and in the interim to have appropriate signs installed.
SUPPORT REQUESTED FOR RESEARCH INTO GREAT LAKES WATER LEVELS:
Mary Muter and Paul Cowley of the Georgian Bay Great Lakes Foundation asked Council to support Great Lakes water levels research. The research in question is called Baird Report II and was done by W.F. Baird and Association, an internationally respected coastal consulting engineering firm. The Baird Report II looks at levels for Lakes Michigan-Huron and Erie up to 2050, and argues that the probability of low water is 85% and of high water is only 5%. This request is to be discussed during the Committee of the Whole on October 11.
ADDITION TO MUNICIPAL HERITAGE REGISTER:
On September 25, Council recommended that 400 Marshall Road be added to the Municipal Heritage Register. Four more properties are under consideration by the Heritage Advisory Committee.
