REPORT ON COUNCIL
Feb. 29, 2016
Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:00 a.m. – 3:38 p.m.
Regular Meeting of Council: 6:05 p.m. – 6:37 p.m.
All Members of Council Present: Mayor George Cornell, Deputy Mayor Steffen Walma, and Councillors Cindy Hastings, Richard Hinton and Gibb Wishart. Deputy Mayor Steffen Walma absent in the evening.
SEPTAGE MANAGEMENT UPDATE:
A Report from R.J. Burnside & Associates made it clear that of the Towns of Midland, Penetanguishene and Wasaga Beach, Penetanguishene is the best prospect for partnership management of Tiny Township’s septage. However, the County of Simcoe is studying whether it should play a role in septage disposal on a regional basis. This may slow Tiny’s decision. A new piece of information is that once the Ministry of the Environment prohibits the spreading of untreated septage, municipalities would have five years to eliminate the practice.
PARKING STRATEGY:
Councillor Hinton recommended that permit replace open parking on Concessions 4, 9, 11, and 13. Staff is to prepare a report on the implications of this move (signage, potential change in flow, options for paid parking at major beach parks, priority parking for businesses, and enforcement).
INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT:
The possibility of watershed-wide management of invasive species is under consideration.
TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITY POLICY:
Following a presentation by Rogers Communications regarding a new telecommunications tower and a deputation by Barbara Reidl on behalf of the Thunder Beach Association, Shawn Persaud (Planning & Development) drafted a Telecommunication Facility Policy. The draft was posted on the township’s website for 60 days, and was then modified in the light of the three comments that were received.
The resultant Policy is now available on the township’s website. We note that it includes “the use of design features, colour and landscaping…to screen telecommunication towers from view…whenever possible.” It prefers towers to be dark, but “Where Transport Canada requires a telecommunication facility to be lit or where lighting is required for security purposes, the lighting should be to the minimum number of lights and the lowest illumination allowable. All outdoor illumination should be dark-sky friendly (i.e. full cut-off lighting; no up-lighting, or have reflectors installed to direct the light downward).”
PUBLIC MEETING RE TEMPORARY USE BY-LAW FOR THE PROPOSED AGRICULTURAL EXPO, AUGUST 17-20, 2017:
In January Paul Maurice and Phil DeBruyne applied for a Temporary Use By-law on behalf of Donald Stubbs, owner of the North Part of Lot 24, Concession 2, to allow the three cleared fields to be used for an Agricultural Expo on August 17, 18, 19, and 20.
The application described the proposed event as follows: “The event is to showcase agriculture and to give consumers a better appreciation of what farmers do and why they do them. It will be a great opportunity for consumers and farmers to see and experience the tools and techniques of modern agriculture.”
The public meeting is to take place at 6 p.m. during the March 30 meeting of Council.
STORM WATER DRAINAGE INVESTIGATION (DEANLEA/BLUEWATER BEACH):
The Deanlea Beach Association asked that the storm water drainage watershed in its area be investigated for possible causes of previous high E. coli counts. Although the 2015 budget set aside $6,000 for this investigation, it was not done and the funds were not carried forward to 2016. Council authorized $6,000 for the project, and specified that the money should be taken from the Capital Reserve.
LE VILLAGEOIS UPDATE:
We recall from an earlier meeting that Le Villageois had not paid its taxes for some time.
One of the items dealt with in the Confidential/Closed Session was “Litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality/Le Villageois Update.” Among other resources, Council had before it the Confidential Treasury Report TR-011-16 and a Confidential Report from the County of Simcoe Human Services – Social Housing regarding Le Villageois. The reports remain confidential. Staff is to “proceed as directed by Council.”
