REPORT ON COUNCIL:
November 13, 2013
Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:00 am –12:05 pm; 12:37 pm-1:54 pm
Regular Meeting: 2:16 pm-2:40 pm
Mayor Millar, Deputy Mayor Lawrence, Councilors Warren, Wishart, Claire
Simcoe County Council approved Budget
Simcoe County is in a budget surplus and is wondering if they should cover their municipality’s cost of conservation. Tiny’s conservation authority is carried out by Severn Sound Environment Association at a cost significantly lower than the Conservation Authority would cost. Tiny has a significant deficit with county roads, bridges and social housing. Mayor Millar has suggested that it would be a good idea to apply the surplus to the aging infrastructure.
Darren Vella, Innovative Planning Solutions
In response to Mr. Vella’s Zoning By-law Amendment Application for 40 Ord Lane Mr. Blom indicated that the applicant would be required to dedicate lands to the municipality for road widening and drainage easements down to Georgian Bay, and be financially responsible for all works and construction to the satisfaction of the Township. Mr. Vella and his clients have taken the position that if the road had been constructed in the centre of the road allowance there would not be a problem but Tiny Beaches Road is constructed on the west side of the road allowance. No ditch can be dug on the west side of the road because there is no space. The Township wants 6 meters to construct a ditch to remove storm water because the ditch on the east side does not drain the storm water and the water spills over onto Mr. Vella’s client’s property. Because the property is on the shore very little of the client’s water is flowing into the ditch. In a lot grading plan the water would be diverted to the drainage outlet but the municipality has not provided one. The developer could argue that the municipality is causing flooding because no drainage outlet has been provided. Mr. Vella is suggesting a cost sharing agreement where the Township and applicant would work cooperatively to cost share the construction of drainage works along Tiny Beaches Rd. prior to any development taking place on the lands. In the long run the ten lots that the developer is creating will contribute to the tax base and more than cover this expense.
OPP proposed billing model
Costs for police coverage range from $8-$2,200 per household across the province. Seventy three percent of the costs are fixed and 27% are variable based on call volume. The new billing model would make costs consistent for all municipalities across Ontario. The question remains: If municipalities create scenarios that cause call volume to go up should they not take on more of the costs. If municipalities for example, encourage the construction of bars and hotels they will have a higher volume. Could the province create a fund to help municipalities with significant cost increases? The AMO is lobbying the province for special funding.
Severn Sound Environmental Association Annual Report 2013 and Requests 2014
The Severn Sound Environmental Association is a joint municipal service board under the Municipal Act and has carried out projects in the following areas in 2013: 7 Healthy Streams Projects; Distribution of 1,670 trees and shrubs; Tributary monitoring of the Wye, Lafontaine, Copeland Rivers; 18 monitoring projects for stream temperature and benthos of the Wye, Lafontaine and Copeland Rivers; Source Water Protection (SWP Region, Risk Assessment, WHPAs, workshops for SPP); Risk Management Services ;Natural Heritage Evaluation ; Woodland Beach Stream Investigation; Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network.
Its requests for 2014 are: SSEA Operation $77,218 of $504,409; RMO Services share for the Township $42,500; Natural Heritage Evaluation $25,000; possible work with Farlain L Association; participation in the Severn Sound tree distribution program (funding support from Stewardship Council and self-funded).
John Raynor Archaeological Management Plan
John Raynor presented a proposal regarding an Archaeological Management Plan for the Township.
The Ontario Heritage Act authorizes the establishment of policies, priorities and programs for the conservation, protection and preservation of the heritage of Ontario. The Ministry of Tourism and Culture has the mandate to determine policies and programs related to conserving, protecting and promoting Ontario’s heritage. An Archaeological Management Plan (AMP) supports the implementation of municipal policies and procedures for identifying and conserving archaeological resources and the intent of the Provincial Policy Statement, 2005.
Under the Archeological Management Plan the Township’ s cultural heritage resources would be identified, inventoried, conserved and enhanced whenever practical, and all new development would respect the municipality’s physical heritage. The heritage resources of the Township include archaeological sites, buildings and structural remains of historical and architectural value, heritage landscapes and rural, village and urban areas of development which are of historic and scenic interest. The County of Simcoe’s Cultural Heritage Resource Conservation Guidelines, found within the County Official Plan, will be applied and implemented by the municipality.
Council requires archaeological impact assessments, survey and the preservation or rescue excavation of significant archaeological resources by archaeologists licensed under the Heritage Act in cooperation with the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation that might be affected in any future development, in cooperation with the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation.
An AMP consists of mapping and a strategy that identifies ‘archaeological sensitive areas’ (ASAs).
The purpose of an AMP is to create a geographic information system (GIS)-based, user-friendly planning tool that will enable municipal planners from public works; engineering; parks and recreation; and planning to screen development proposals and identify areas requiring a detailed archaeological assessment by a licensed archaeologist.
Conservation policies and procedures in the AMP can be integrated into the municipal official plan and other strategic documents. The AMP has helped municipalities to develop local policies, procedures and protocols for development and to identify conservation strategies early in the planning process.
Neil Roberts, Asset Management Plan
The province is committed to municipalities developing Asset Management Plans. Tiny has been granted $20,000. to develop an asset Management Plan. This plan will provide guidance for the 2014 budget. Asset Management Plans provide information on tangible assets; improve resource allocation decisions; manage and reduce risks for core assets ( roads, bridges); improve communication with rate payers, financial rating organizations and regulatory agencies; support applications for grants; leads to more effective long term planning, financial planning and data management .
All municipalities have an infrastructure deficit. The total infrastructure deficit is $400. Billion for all municipalities. Provincial and Federal governments have not provided sufficient funding; they have downloaded responsibility to the municipal government for infrastructure. Municipalities receive less than 10% of all tax revenues. In addition, the majority of sewer, water, road and bridge construction was done in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Their life cycles are now coming to an end; 28% of all assets are over 80 years old and the total replacement value is $538 billion. In 2011 the Ontario minority government cut back on infrastructure spending, reneging on an agreement in the 2010 Throne Speech. Tiny has an infrastructure deficit of approximately $1,268 / person vs. the national average of $10,000 / person.
When a comprehensive management plan is put together it causes people to collect and report on data that they would not have done. It encourages preventive maintenance. With the law of fives if you spend $1 on maintenance the replacement work will cost $5 but if you postpone maintenance the rehabilitation will cost $25. Municipalities are ignoring replacement. Many municipalities are fixated on short term asst liability instead of planning over 20 years and setting aside reserves. The public does not understand what the municipality is providing and there is a disconnect between what the public is receiving and what it is costing.
You use preventative maintenance to save money to use on rebuilding eventually. Many roads in Tiny are due to be replaced but they are in good shape because preventative maintenance has lengthened the age of the road. Our world has become more litigious and municipalities have to protect themselves from lawsuits by providing safe roads.
A detailed analysis of a computer generated asset plan will ensure priorities in the allocation of resources are the best. The plan gives a methodology for setting priorities. Allocating resources is an ongoing requirement. It takes a champion to change ways of thinking and doing things.
Staff brought forward a draft resolution at the Regular to receive the report as information.
Delineation of Township-owned Property/Concession 5W
Councilor Claire inquired as to the process for delineating Township-owned property along the shoreline and whether or not the affected property owners are notified in advance of the work being done. Henk Blom advised that the Public Works Department is proceeding as instructed by the previous and the present Councils. He noted that in the case of the Concession 5W delineation works, the notification to the residents was delayed. He also pointed out that the configuration of the Concession 5W Road Allowance, Jones Road and with the added challenge of the road allowance being used as a driveway makes it problematic in delineating the public property/beach access in this area.
Staff brought forward a draft resolution at the Regular to direct staff to meet with the affected residents to resolve the matter.
