REPORT ON COUNCIL
February 13 and March 2, 2017
Committee of the Whole Meeting February 13: 9 a.m. – 3:49 p.m.; March 2: 9 a.m. – 5:08 p.m.
Regular Meeting February 13: 4:33 p.m. – 4:44 p.m.; March 2: 6:55 p.m. – 7:52 p.m.
Mayor George Cornell, Deputy Mayor Steffen Walma, Councillors Cindy Hastings, Richard Hinton and Gibb Wishart all present on both days.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Township Seniors Symposium – March 24, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Tiny Township Community Centre
- 2017 Town Hall Meeting Dates – Saturday, May 27, 10 a.m. – noon, Wyebridge Community Centre and Thursday, September 14, 7-9 p.m., Tiny Township Community Centre
- The Georgian Bay General Hospital is accepting applications for its 2017-2018 Board of Directors until March 31.
ADDITIONS TO STAFF:
Mike Dubois has been appointed Deputy Chief Building Official and Mike Hehl as Building Official.
2016 BEACH MONITORING REPORT:
Steve Borgh of the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit gave Council some information about the testing of recreational water at public beaches at Woodland, Trew, Jackson, Balm, Concession 12 West, and Concession 13 West in Tiny Township. The results are available on a spreadsheet along with all other recreational water sampling results for the township under Water Reports on tinycottager.org.
GARBAGE COLLECTION ON PRIVATE ROADS:
In a letter published under Communication Received Since The Last Meeting: Section II, the County of Simcoe informed the Township about its requirements for curbside waste collection from “Residential Dwelling Units” that front on private roads, requirements that “must be met to the satisfaction of the Director of Solid Waste Management before the County will provide Waste Collection Services.” Staff has been instructed to review the policy and report back on its impacts on Tiny residents. Residents on private roads are advised to read this letter carefully.
2016 CENSUS REPORT:
This reveals that in 2016, Tiny had a population of 11,787, representing a 4.9% increase since 2011. The total number of private dwellings in the township is 9,712 of which 4,899 represent permanent dwellings.
BUDGET MATTERS:
Instead of the usual 2% annual increase, Council passed By-laws giving Staff and Council overall salary increases of 1.5%. Council is also paid fees for chairing and participating in Township committees, and is compensated for mileage for travel to conferences and workshops outside township boundaries.
CONVERSION OF OPEN TO PERMIT PARKING ALONG THE WESTERN SHORE:
Open Parking is to be converted to Permit Parking from Archer Road in the South to Concession 20 West in the north, extending inland to the Nipissing Ridge and in some situations near to County Road 6. This expansion is not to affect Perkinsfield or Wyevale. Signs (larger than the ones used in 2016) are to be posted about the change on each road used as an entry or exit point to the area. Visitors are to be limited to pay parking areas; residents (who may purchase two permits per household) may park not only in permit but also in pay parking areas. Some inconsistencies in signage will be eliminated and clarifications instituted. A letter detailing the changes is to be sent to every township property owner. In addition, the information is to be made available on the township website. As with the 2016 pilot parking program there will be a period for written comments on the 2017 parking arrangements.
CHANGES TO PARKING AT THE FIVE MAJOR BEACH PARKS:
Pay parking, already in place at Woodland, Jackson, and Balm is to be introduced at Bluewater and Lafontaine Beach Parks. At Bluewater the permit parking along Concession 5 West and Trew will be converted to pay parking, while at Lafontaine, open parking within the off-street parking lot and the permit parking along the road is to become pay parking. Permit holders can park free in pay parking areas. Current pay parking rates will be applied and enforced between 8 am and 10 pm (or possibly from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.), and will be in effect from May 15 to Sept 15.
At Woodland, permit holders will be able to park in the pay parking area as well as the off-street permit parking area.
At Balm, an additional parking machine is to be installed between Parent Road and the Beach and spaces on Parkside Drive will become pay parking.
At Jackson, there are to be no changes for 2017.
A letter detailing the changes is to be sent to every township property owner. In addition, the information is to be made available on the township website. As with the 2016 pilot parking program there will be a period for written comments on the 2017 parking arrangements.
LOCAL AGING PLAN 2017 (prepared by the Senior Advisory Committee with the help of a grant from the province):
Council decided to receive the 36 page plan and its three Appendices as a “framework for action” overseen by the Senior Advisory Committee. Challenges for seniors wanting to stay in their homes are: The lack of an identified ‘town centre’, an alternative transportation system, grocery store and local community health services. The Plan’s mission statement gives some notion of how broad its demands on the township’s pocket book might become: “The Township of Tiny will provide access to housing, transportation, healthcare, recreation and such other services that will enhance the dignity of older adults as they age.” The Plan is to be presented at the Seniors’ Symposium on March 24 (see announcement above).
