Council Brief December 1, 2020

At the Town of South Bruce Peninsula Council meeting held on December 1, 2020 Council acted on the following items:

Delegations 

• Council received a delegation from Sarah Cowley and Christine MacDonald regarding the Community Safety and Well-Being Planning for the Municipalities of Grey and Bruce.

• Council received a delegation from John Bujold regarding the draft Consolidated Financial Statement December 31, 2019 

New Business
 

• • Council directed that the by-law to permit the Mayor and Clerk to enter into a lease agreement with Seahawk Water Sports for the space in the former Fish Cleaning Building in Bluewater Park from May 1^st 2021 to October 31, 2021 for a rental rate of $300 per month inclusive of tax and utilities be placed on an upcoming Council meeting for consideration

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  • Council rescinded resolution R-182-2019 and reassigned funding for the purchase of a Pickup truck with appropriate outfitting equipment ($40,000) and the purchase of a mini-pumper ($460,000). Council authorized the Treasurer and the Fire Chief to entertain a joint purchase arrangement with the Municipality of French River, if the outcome will be in the Town’s best interest.  Council permitted Tanker 34 and Pumper 43 as surplus to Town needs.

  • Council directed that the necessary by-law to amend the Tangible Capital Assets (TCA) Policy TR.17.2 be placed on an upcoming Council agenda for consideration.

  • Council directed staff to continue to move forward with the implementation of a Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) which will be applicable to, transient campers, hotels, motels, boarding, lodging or rooming houses, campgrounds (non-seasonal), bed & breakfasts or other establishments providing lodging.  The draft by-law will return to Council for consideration along with an amendment to the Town’s Comprehensive Zoning By-Law to permit a Short-Term Accommodation use and a by-law to license and regulate short term rental accommodations. The MAT is to be 4% with the Director of Financial Services to be responsible for the general administration.  Staff have been directed to investigate the option for a third party such as the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association to collect the tax on the municipality’s behalf and to investigate setting up a non-share capital corporation who will receive the non-municipal portion of the funds. Those funds will be directed towards promotion and development with a focus to attract more visitors to South Bruce Peninsula during the shoulder seasons.  The revenues collected from the Municipal Accommodation Tax will be held in reserve until their use is determined and included in subsequent budgets.

  • Council directed that the by-law to permit temporary borrowing in 2021 be placed on an upcoming agenda for consideration.

  • Council directed that the by-law to provide for an interim tax levy and to provide for the payment of taxes and to provide for penalty and interest of 15 percent be placed on an upcoming agenda for consideration.

  • Council directed that the report of Director of Financial Services dated 23^rd November 2020 regarding the Capital Status Update as at 31^st October 2020, be received for information and that the 2019 expenditure in the amount of $33,473.09 be granted pre-budget approval towards capital project 2021-38 Mary Street (Claude to Cordingley).  Council also approved the list of active 2020 capital projects with funding sources attached in the amount of $17,941,488 for audit purposes and provided authority for the Treasurer to use reserves and reserve funds to pay for approved capital expenditures.  Council approved the list of 34 capital projects to be carried forward into 2021.

  • Council received the 2019 Draft Consolidated Financial Statements and Independent Auditor’s Report as prepared by Baker Tilly SGB LLP, and approved the documents as final. 

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  • Council declined a request to waive penalty and interest charged on the past due tax balances by the owner of the property registered for tax sale under File Number BCSB 20-06.

  • Council delegated authority to the Director of Financial Services (or designate) to waive late payment penalty and interest for accounts receivable and collections, up to a $500 limit and directed that the necessary by-law to amend the Accounts Receivable Collection Policy be placed on an upcoming agenda for consideration.

  • Council directed that the by-law to adopt the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan for the County of Bruce, County of Grey and participating lower tier municipalities, including the Town of South Bruce Peninsula be placed on an upcoming Council agenda for consideration.

  • Council received report LS40-2020 COVID Discussion, dated December 1, 2020 for information.

  • Council agreed to permit Ciaran Brennan to participate in the Grey Bruce Youth Engagement Group and directed that the by-law to make appointments to committees, boards and other be placed on the agenda of an upcoming Council meeting for consideration.

  • Council directed that the by-law to deem Lot 12 and Lot 13 Plan 3M126 not to be lots in a plan of subdivision be placed on an upcoming Council agenda for consideration.

  • Council direct that the by-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to enter into an agreement with Grey Sauble Conservation Authority for the provision of Source Water Protection Services be placed on the agenda of an upcoming Council meeting for consideration.

  • Council authorized staff to place the lease for the concession booth at the Wiarton and District Community Centre and Arena on hold for the 2020-2021 ice season or until the pandemic protocols are relaxed so that the lobby opens to traffic. 

  • Council chose to appoint all applicants  to the Parks, Recreation and Culture Advisory Committee, increase the number of voting members on the Committee to eleven members (includes 2 members of Council) and directed staff to place the by-law to appoint the applicants and members of Council to the Committee be placed on the agenda of an upcoming Council meeting for consideration.

  • Council adopted a reduced weight restriction for Walker’s Bridge of 5 tonnes, and

    received for information the Draft Walker’s Bridge Structural Evaluation and Feasibility Assessment and the Draft 2020 Municipal Bridge and Structural Culvert Inspection Report.  Council accepted in principle Staff’s revised Bridge Rehabilitation Capital Forecast, pending future budget approvals. 

  • Council directed that the by-law to change the fees in 2020 to add a holiday ice hours rate is placed on the agenda of an upcoming Council meeting and that the same rates be added to the 2021 Fee By-Law being considered for readings at the current meeting. 

By-laws 

• Approved By-Law 127-2020 Being a By-Law to Assume Pcl Reserves-1 Sec 3M148; Blk 29 Pl 3M148; Pcl Streets-1 Sec 3M148; Aiken Acres N Pl 3M148; South Bruce Peninsula PIN 33161-0103 (LT) and Pcl Reserves-1 Sec 3M148; Blk 30 Pl 3M148; Pcl Streets-1 Sec 3M148; Aiken Acres S Pl 3M148; South Bruce Peninsula PIN 33161-0112 (LT) into the Municipal Road System

• Approved By-Law 128-2020 Being a By-Law to Rescind By-Law 71-2019 Being a By-Law to Delegate Authority for the Approval of New Special Events in the Town of South Bruce Peninsula Approved By-Law 120-2020 to Constitute and Appoint a Committee of Adjustment for the Corporation of the Town of South Bruce Peninsula

• Approved By-Law 129-2020 Being a By-Law to Adopt Amendment No. L-2020-013 to the Town of South Bruce Peninsula Official Plan for Lands described as Concession D Part Lot 4 (Amabel)

• Approved By-Law 130-2020 Being a By-Law to Amend By-Law Number 122-2009, as Amended, Being the Comprehensive Zoning By-Law for the Town of South Bruce Peninsula for Concession D Part Lot 4 (Amabel)

• Approved By-Law 31-2020 Being a By-Law to Set Fees for the Services Performed by the Corporation of the Town of South Bruce Peninsula 

Closed Session

• Direction was given to staff in closed session 

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.