REPORT ON COUNCIL
Dec. 14, 2015
Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:00 a.m. – 3:39 p.m.
Regular Meeting of Council: 4:46 p.m. – 5:33 p.m.
All members of Council Present: Mayor George Cornell, Deputy Mayor Steffan Walma, and Councillors Cindy Hastings, Richard Hinton and Gibb Wishart
SEPTAGE MANAGEMENT, LITTLE PROGRESS:
Matters are progressing very slowly. Springwater, Tay, and probably the County of Simcoe have been eliminated from the list of potential partners. In September, Penetang staff revealed that pre-treatment would be required to accommodate Tiny’s septage. There will be further discussion with Midland and Wasaga Beach in January, and both will probably have preliminary requirements. Council asked that a letter be sent to the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change regarding the spreading of septage.
SUNDAY GUN HUNTING:
Council decided to support Sunday gun hunting (Walma, Hastings, and Wishart in support, Cornell and Hinton against). What is to happen with regard to Tiny Marsh and County Forests in Tiny appears to be still at issue.
STRATEGIC PLAN APPROVED:
Mayor Cornell emphasized that this is a living document that may be updated and changed, and that will be reviewed annually. The words regarding respect for shoreline private property and owners in the Strategic Plan instituted several terms ago were not re-instated.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING/PARKING STRATEGY:
Council decided that the Special Committee Meeting at 9 a.m. in the Council Chambers on January 13, 2016 should include discussion of parking permits, no standing zones, emergency access update, major beach parks and parking strategy with respect to these, parking on Concessions and how to manage.
RECREATION REPORT:
Recreation opportunities provided by staff throughout the year include outdoor ice rinks, golf clinic, March Break camp, soccer, summer day camps, Counselor training, youth initiatives, mobile skate park, tennis lessons, and winter/spring/fall exercise classes.
FUTURE TOWN HALL MEETINGS:
After discussing the three Town Hall Meetings in 2015, Council decided to schedule two further meetings in 2016 on Saturdays between 9:00 a.m. and 12 noon.
STREET LIGHTS ON CHAMPLAIN ROAD:
After consideration of principles raised in a presentation by Terry Breckenridge on behalf of the Clearwater Beach Ratepayers and Sawlog Bay Associations, Council directed staff to develop a policy regarding street lighting, including best practices and information on the dark sky initiative.
Many shore residents will welcome this initiative. See “Starry Nights: How Long Will the Skies of Cottage Country Stay Dark,” Tiny Cottager (Fall 2005), available in Issue Archives on the Federation’s website, tinycottager.org.
