REPORT ON COUNCIL
July 27, 2009
Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:00 a.m. – 12:40 p.m. and 1:14 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.>
Regular Evening Meeting: 7:00 p.m. – 7:19 p.m.>
All Members of Council present
CONFIDENTIAL / CLOSED SESSION: 3:38 p.m. – 3:42 p.m.
ORAL PRESENTATIONS – Metis Rendezvous Planning Committee Asks for Support – Members of the Métis Planning Committee attended to ask for support for their 5th Annual Rendezvous to be held September 19th. With approximately 600 attendees, this is the largest one in Canada. Council advised the committee to present a budget and request for support in the format that has become standard for events.
STAFF REPORTS
Jackson Park Safety – At the previous meeting, citizens stated their concerns about the safety of swimmers around the boat ramp. Prior to 2007 buoys were used to keep boats and personal watercraft away from swimmers but this practice was discontinued on the advice of the Township’s insurer. Staff was directed to revisit this decision with the insurer and relevant authorities due to the concerns about public safety.
Flooded Land at the 6th Concession – At the previous meeting concerns about flooding at the closed end of the 6th concession were presented. The cause of the flooding appears to be a beaver dam on private land. Council is sympathetic but does not have the power to act. They directed staff to provide front desk personnel with a list of ministries and other authorities to contact. (There was a complaint that staff had not been responsive.)
Lafontaine Waterfront Park Master Plan to be Prepared – Council directed staff to prepare a Request for Proposal for a Master Plan to improve the waterfront park. (In a letter dated July 2, 2009, the Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans has approved, in principle, the ideas received from Council.)
Phragmites Control Update – The Township received a letter from the Ministry of Natural Resources outlining how to apply for permission to spray Phragmites. [The letter is available on www.tinycottager.org. See the Phragmites Control notice.] A separate application must be made for each address that the Township [or private land owner] wishes to treat. One application is to be filed as a test this week. As soon as it is approved, more applications will be sent. The locations will be chosen from the Study that the Severn Sound Environmental Association prepared last year.
Note: The Township’s Minutes for the July 27th Committee of the Whole Meeting still include incorrect information regarding the procedure to be followed by private landowners wanting permission to control Phragmites, even though staff was advised of the correct process (which had been verified with the Ministry) on July 29 and was reminded of the information on August 10.
Dogs on Woodland Beach – A letter was received from a resident of Woodland Beach requesting that the current by-law be amended to forbid dogs on the Woodland municipal beach. Council asked the By-law Officer to comment on this request and, in the interim, to increase the visibility of officers on that beach.
Concession 8 Road Allowance Drainage – After a lengthy discussion staff was directed to prepare a report about rerouting the drainage to the south side of the Township road allowance at the beach. Some Councillors believe that that would be beneficial.
High Speed Internet Availability – The County of Simcoe Broadband Service project is behind schedule. Concerned about the areas of the Township that this project will not cover, Councillor Cornell wants the Township to seek a “Tiny solution” with Bell Aliant for those areas. Doug Taylor, the township representative for this project, suggests that this issue be addressed with Bell at the public outreach sessions. The Mayor said she would raise these concerns at the County of Simcoe Performance Management meeting.
