REPORT ON COUNCIL
Oct. 26, 2015
Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:00 a.m. – 3:32 p.m.
Regular Meeting of Council: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
All members of Council Present: Mayor George Cornell, Deputy Mayor Steffan Walma, and Councillors Cindy Hastings, Richard Hinton and Gibb Wishart
STRATEGIC PLAN RESPONSE FROM WYMBOLWOOD BEACH ASSOCIATION.
Presented by Brian Bradstreet, this challenging presentation focused on process, township strengths, principles governing the strategic plan, and policies for Council’s term of office. Appropriately, this last took as its focus the value of the shore to the township and ways of preserving and enhancing that value. It tackled shoreline parking policy, water quality and water levels, control of invasive species, water craft safety and etiquette, special needs of seasonal owners, and township cooperation with shoreline owners and organizations to achieve common goals.
This useful set of reflections is available under E) Deputations to Council – Scheduled, in the Committee of the Whole Agenda for October 26th.
OPPOSITION TO THREE STREET LIGHTS PROPOSED FOR CHAMPLAIN ROAD BY MANAGER OF PUBLIC WORKS:
On behalf of the Clearwater Beach Ratepayers Association and the North Tiny Community Association, Steve Coffey, Terry Breckenridge, and Alan Fryer vigorously opposed the three additional street lights proposed in a Report by the Manager of Public Works for 900, 1773, and 1964 Champlain Road. They saw the lights as interfering with the pleasures of viewing the night sky. (The Manager of Public Works felt that the particular circumstances of each of these locations warranted an additional light.) The decision about the lights was referred to budget deliberations.
SUNDAY GUN HUNTING: A representative of the Ontario Anglers and Hunters argued strongly for allowing Sunday Gun Hunting during hunting seasons. Some 169 municipalities in Southern Ontario have voted in favour of permitting Sunday gun hunting. He felt that Sunday hunting helped with livestock predation, wildlife management, economic factors, and public safety related to motor vehicle collisions involving wildlife.
Council decided to arrange an extended deputation period on November 30, 2015 at 6 p.m. for the public to give input on the matter.
SIMCOE COUNTY LOOP TRAIL: Council decided to endorse the Loop Trail initiative. The proposed 160 km loop trail in North Simcoe is to use existing off-road trails. Sign prototypes have been created, as has a project budget. A map of the proposed route is available in the Committee of the Whole Agenda for October 26, 2015.
MATTERS REFERRED TO THE BUDGET PROCESS: The mobile Skate Park, which circulated to the Balm Beach, Lafontaine, Wyevale, and Perkinsfield Parks in 2014 and 2015 and was supported by Trillium funding. It can continue to be made available only if the Township includes funds in its budget for 2016. Likewise, a proposed Seniors’ Advisory Committee can be created only if funding is supplied in the township’s budget. The feasibility of re-opening and operating the Wyebridge Skating Rink is likewise still under consideration.
SECOND STRATEGIC PLAN NEWSLETTER (October 2015):
This is now available on the township website.
