Council Brief August 2, 2022

Council Brief 

At the Town of South Bruce Peninsula Council meeting held on August 2, 2022 Council acted on the following items:

Public Notice 

Presentation of Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Award to Joanne Lancaster.  MP Alex Ruff made the presentation to Joanne for her dedication to the community. Joanne has done many great things for our community including organizing youth programs and events, the Family Day dinner at the Propeller Club and she spearheaded the fundraising for the Wiarton Skateboard Park, which is named after her. Joanne operates the Propeller Club as a volunteer where she spends countless hours every week.  Joanne Lancaster is the perfect recipient of this award. 

Delegations 

Paul Sutter, Ross Davidson, Diane Chaverie, Bruce Peninsula Association for Community Living, affordable Housing CMHC application help.  President Paul Sutter presented to Council their two existing housing units and the proposal for studio apartments on William Street.  The new building would have offices and community rooms on the lower level and 8 housing units on the second story. Mr. Sutter explained the need for support from Council by way of waiving fees, a letter of support for financing and in-kind donations.  

Elizabeth and Lindy Pilgrim addressed Council regarding a fence on Municipal Road Access (delegation was heard in closed). 

New Business 

• Council received for information Report AD32-2022 regarding a Memorandum of Understanding with Gateway Haven for use of Town facilities in the event of an emergency whereas Gateway Haven is required to evacuate their facility.  The Memorandum of Understanding will be on an upcoming agenda.
• Council received report AD33-2022 regarding a tender for Pumper Tanker. The Manager of Emergency Services is authorized to tender for a single axle pumper tanker in lieu of a mini-pumper.
• Council received AD34-2022 regarding a bandshell in Bluewater Park. Council approved the construction of a pre-engineered design for a bandshell in Bluewater Park in the Festival Square location that was identified in the Wiarton 1990 Waterfront Study.  The Town received grant funding for this project but requires the entire project to be completed by December 31, 2022.
• Council received and approved the recommendation in report AD35-2022 regarding a Sauble Beach Visit Responsibly Video.  The video will help educate visitors before coming to the area and provide key messaging such as Plan Ahead, Don’t Litter, Paid Parking, Recreational Fires, Water Safety, Be Respectful and by-laws such as no alcohol on the beach, no dogs on the beach, and fireworks. Footage will be shot in August and September while the beach is busy and a video campaign launch will take place in advance of the 2023 tourism season.
• Council received report AD36-2022 regarding security camera installation in Sauble Beach.  With the recent incidents of vandalism Council has approved staff to proceed with the security camera installation at the Sauble Beach Town Square and at the 6^th Street Washrooms.
• Council received report AD37-2022 regarding Grey Sauble Conservation Authority – Program Rates and Fee Review. The review is currently in its consultation phase and has proposed fee increases as high as 1224%.  To prevent significant financial impacts to development, the Town does not support the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority Rates and Fees Review and will ask Bruce County to undertake a review of its current agreement with Grey Sauble Conservation Authority.
• Council received report FS19-2022 regarding the Delegation of Authority to Enter into Extension Agreements for properties registered for tax sale.  Once a property is registered for tax sale, payments can only be made in full and must be received within one year of the date of registration.  By delegating authority to the Treasurer to enter into an extension agreement, staff will be able to work with property owners and expedite payment on tax arrears with the goal of stopping the tax sale process.  It allows property owners some privacy as current extension agreements are required to be approved by Council.  The by-law will be on an upcoming agenda.
• Council received for information report FS20-2022 regarding OMERS eligibility for non full-time employees. In 2020, OMERS passed a plan change to remove the current eligibility requirement for non-full-time (NFT) employees to join the Plan effective January 1, 2023. This will allow NFT employees who work for an OMERS employer, who are currently not OMERS members, to join the Plan at any time on or after January 1, 2023.
• Council received report LS51-2022 regarding Lame Duck Delegation of Authority. Lame Duck is the period between Nomination Day (August 19, 2022) and Voting Day (October 24, 2022). If ¾ of the current Council are not running for re-election, in their current positions, and will not potentially be on the new Council, Council enters what is referred to as "Lame Duck". Additionally, between Voting Day and the day the new Council takes office if ¾ of the Council elect were not on the previous Council, Council would be in “Lame Duck”. During a “Lame Duck” period action of Council is restricted. The delegation of authority would be delegated jointly for the Chief Administrative Officer and the Director of Financial Services/Treasurer.  The delegation of authority would allow staff to:

-Make settlements as they relate to litigation, claims or actions including current and potential.

-Make choices and decisions regarding defense as it relates to litigation, claims or actions including current and potential.

-Make decisions regarding satisfying a court ruling or award, judicial or quasi judicial ruling or award, or any order as it relates to any litigation, claims or actions including current and potential.

-Make decisions regarding the purchase, sale or conveyance of any real property or asset.

-Make decisions regarding construction and alterations in and on any Town property in any manner whatsoever, where time is of the essence to start or complete same.

The By-law will be on an upcoming agenda.  Should Council not enter “Lame Duck” the by-law becomes null and void.

• Council received report LS52-2022 regarding an update to the sign by-law and update to the fee by-law accordingly.  The update is intended to make the by-law less complicated and to make it clear when the by-law applies and when it does not.  Proposed provisions include the ability that the Town can remove any offending signs without the requirement to first contact the sign owner. The Town may if deemed appropriate, attempt to contact the sign owner to retrieve the signs from the Town. The proposal also incorporates the Town's ability to collect a fee as has been included in the Town Fee By-Law for the removal of a sign by the Town. A fee has been added to the proposed Fee By-Law which would include the additional charge of the tipping fee if the signs are disposed of at the landfill site. It also incorporates the Election Sign Policy into the sign by-law. The by-law will be on an upcoming agenda.
• Council received report LS53-2022 regarding a change to the August 16^th, 2022 Council meeting.  The regularly scheduled meeting for August 16^th will be held on August 18^th, 2022.
• Council received report PW24-2022 regarding a special events application for Jim Ohlman of Sauble Beach Sunset Cruisers Go ‘n’ Show.  The weekly event will take place on Tuesdays from August 2^nd through September 13, 2022.  The event will start with a car parade heading west on Main Street and turning north on Lakeshore Boulevard where the vehicles will angle park along the concrete barricade wall. The static car show will be on Lakeshore Boulevard North between Main Street and Paisley Lane from 6.00 pm - 9.00 pm.
• Council received report PW30-2022 to rename the southern 65 metres of Eldridge Avenue in Sauble Beach as Pearl Lane. The by-law will be on an upcoming agenda.
• Council received report PW31-2022 regarding the ICIP Green Stream Grant Agreement for Gould Street and Pengally Avenue Water. The grant represents a provincial contribution of $883,703.29 and a federal contribution of $1,060,550.00 to complete an infrastructure renewal project similar to the current Mary Street project that has been on the Town’s capital forecast for a number of years.  The grant will represent 73.3% of the cost and the Town’s portion will be 26.7% of the total cost (approximately $707,121.71).
• Council received report PW32-2022 regarding the renewal contract for OCWA.  The renewal agreement for Ontario Clean Water Agency for 2023 is $890,329 with CPI adjustments annually thereafter until February 28, 2028. OCWA provides services to operate the Town’s water systems.
• Council received report PW33-2022 regarding the Water and Sewer Rate Study Update.  The adopted 2022 Water and Wastewater Rate Study will use a blended rate structure for water rates.  At the end of a multi- year transition period all users on water systems within the Town of South Bruce Peninsula will be charged the same rates. The study has been underway since 2020.  The by-law will be on an upcoming agenda.
• Council received report PW34-2022 regarding winter decorative lights for downtown Wiarton. Council awarded quotation 22-12 for decorative street lights was awarded to Blanchere Illumination Canada Inc in the amount of $21,120.00 excluding HST. 

By-Laws 

Council approved the following by-laws: 

By-Law 55-2022 to Amend By-Law Number 122-2009, as Amended, Being the Comprehensive Zoning By-Law for the Town of South Bruce Peninsula for Con C Part Lot 5 RP 3R5552 Part 2 (10 Lilac Lane) to add site specific provisions to the existing Resort Residential R2 zone to permit up to five (5) hens. 

By-Law 56-2022 to Amend By-Law Number 122-2009, as Amended, Being the Comprehensive Zoning By-Law for the Town of South Bruce Peninsula for Lots 18 and 19, Plan 421, (Albemarle Township) to add site specific provisions to facilitate the construction of a garage and to recognize an existing Bunkie. 

By-Law 57-2022 to Establish the Rules and Regulations of Edgehill Cemetery in Colpoy’s Bay, Red Bay Cemetery, and Bayview Cemetery in Wiarton relating to the columbarium. 

By-Law 58-2022 to Set Fees for the Services Performed by the Corporation of the Town of South Bruce Peninsula to include the rates of niche sales and interment costs for the recently installed columbarium. 

Matters of Urgency 

None 

Notice of Motion 

Council supported the notice of motion put forward by Mayor Jackson regarding the mandatory firefighter certification and the introduction of new Provincial Policies and programs that will create additional training and cost pressures. 

Council supported the notice of motion put forward by Mayor Jackson regarding safety concerns at the Bluewater Park Ball Diamond as the current fencing is insufficient to prevent foul balls from entering private properties adjacent to the ball diamond.   With Council’s direction staff will immediately proceed with the installation of additional fencing or screening to diminish the frequency of foul balls entering private property adjacent to the Bluewater Park Ball Diamond. 

Closed Session 

Council received a Delegation from Elizabeth and Lindy Pilgrim regarding a fence on Municipal Road Access. 

Council received for information report FS18-2022 regarding Purchasing Activity Review. 

Council received and discussed report AD38-2022 regarding Staffing. 

For further information on any of the above items or other items on the agenda, please refer to the meeting agenda package to read the full reports.