Committee of the Whole - May 8, 2023

Please note that all Committee of the Whole decisions are subject to Council approval. The next Council meeting is scheduled for May 29, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. If you have any questions regarding agenda items or decisions made at Committee or Council meetings, please email jgalvao@ramara.ca.

Farewell to Gordon Lightfoot 

Gordon Lightfoot, a folk musician born in Orillia, passed away on Monday, May 1, 2023, at 84. The Mayor acknowledged the local hero's outstanding international success in putting stories to music and being a great storyteller of his generation. However, despite his success, he always remembered his local roots and often came home to perform at the Orillia Opera House, Casino Rama and the Mariposa Folk Festival. On behalf of the members of the Council, sincere condolences go out to his family, band members and friends. 

Welcome Summer Bylaw Students

This summer we welcome four new Bylaw Enforcement students: Taya Schipprack, Megan Sobey, Julia Levy and Joey Healy.

Essential Soil Solutions (NRK)

Sherri Elliot, Environmental Lawyer with NRK, provided a presentation regarding the NRK Remediation Facility located at 7406 Concession Road B-C. This site safely treats contaminated soils to be reused to divert waste from landfills and illegal dumping sites. The presentation provided an overview of the company, regulatory governing agencies and documents, positive economic benefits and their soil acceptance procedure.

View Presentation

Bylaw Enforcement Quarterly Report

The Manager of Community Standards and Recreation and the Senior Bylaw Officer provided a quarterly report on Bylaw Enforcement activities between January 1 to March 31, 2023. These top five activities included Short-Term Rental Accommodations, Animal Control, Parking, Zoning and Property Standards. With the top four activities, the Bylaw Enforcement Department has proactively responded to complaints and situations rather than waiting to be notified.

Since 2020, the Township of Ramara has utilized its Report a Concern form to track and respond to issues occurring within the Township of Ramara and related to Township areas of responsibility. The Township is dedicated to following its Customer Service Strategy and ensuring that all concerns or inquiries are followed up within two business days unless otherwise advised.

Have a concern, report it today!    

Fireworks Bylaw Update 

In 2021, the Township of Ramara implemented a Fireworks Bylaw to reduce the risks of using consumer fireworks in residential areas. Residents who live in Bayshore Village, Lagoon City, and all properties within the Township of Ramara zoned Shoreline Residential (SR), Village Residential (VR) and Hamlet (H), as defined in the Township of Ramara Zoning Bylaw 2005.85, must obtain a Fireworks Permit unless it's during a specific holiday as outlined by the Bylaw. Councillor Bell requested to change the bylaw to include that fireworks would not be permitted within Lagoon City. The committee approved amending Bylaw 2021.60 that fireworks would not be permitted within Lagoon City. The Bylaw will be on the May 29, 2023, Council meeting to be adopted.

Learn more about setting off Fireworks in Ramara

Bluebird Park and Lagoon City Beach and Park Tender Results

The Township of Ramara received quotations for the supply and installation of playground equipment for Bluebird and Lagoon City Beach and Park. The tenders were then publicized on the Township's Have Your Say,' website from April 11 to April 30 for the public to vote for their favourite playground design. The public voted 48% in favour of Design #1, 7% in favour of Design #2, 3% in favour of Design #3 and 42% in favour of Design #4. The Committee approved to contract with New World Park Solutions Inc. for the supply and installation of Playground Equipment for the quoted price of $193, 682.00, plus taxes. The Township of Ramara received a $150,000 grant to cover most of the expenses.

Share the Road signs - Simcoe Road

With increased pedestrian traffic on Simcoe Road and recent complaints of speeding, Committee approved to install 'share the road' signage on Simcoe Road west of Laguna Parkway and east of Lakeshore Drive.

A reminder to residents, the OPP Report a Crime form provides a simple and efficient means of reporting minor incidents and crimes such as lost property, stolen license plates, theft from vehicles, and other occurrences in the area policed by OPP. This tool also promotes neighbourhood safety by allowing for driving complaints to be reported. The OPP then uses the data to strategically place officers in areas with increased incidents. 

Funding to the Joyland Beach Association 

The Committee approved to provide $5,000 to the Joyland Beach Association, the equivalent to what was provided to the Ramona Hall, to provide financial relief caused by the pandemic.  

Provincial Financial Indicator Review for the year 2021

The Province sends municipalities their Financial Indicator Review each year based on the municipality's Financial Information Return (FIR) and compares the results to other lower-tier municipalities within the area. The review outlines that the Township of Ramara shows a low-risk level on every indicator, which has improved from years past. 

Strategic Plan - Community Consultation 

Strategic Planning is a tool organization, businesses, and municipalities use to plan the organization's future strategically. Specifically for municipalities, the Strategic Plan reflects the current and future needs of the municipality with achievable goals/initiatives. Staff propose that Ramara's Strategic Plan focus on the next four years: 2023-2026, with community consultation occurring over four weeks that incorporates both in-person by-ward brainstorming sessions as well as an online survey. The in-person brainstorming sessions by Ward will take place at a local community centre or facility. The committee passed to receive this report as information, and individual Councillors will provide survey change suggestions to staff before the May 29, 2023, Council meeting.

Annual Volunteer Dinner  

Other than an Election year, a volunteer appreciation dinner is held annually for the Township appointed Boards and Committees volunteers to recognize and celebrate their efforts. The Committee approved continuing the dinner even in Election years to ensure volunteers are acknowledged for their work and time. 

Delegation of Authority of Site Plan Agreements

The Planning Act of Ontario enables municipalities to regulate land use planning and development in their respective jurisdictions. As part of this responsibility, municipalities must review and approve site plans for proposed developments to ensure compliance with applicable zoning, official plan and development standards. Through this process, site plan agreements may be created which provide the details on how the property will be developed and maintained after construction, including all the required deposits and infrastructure improvements. Currently, site plan agreements are required to come to Council; however, staff recommend delegating authority to the CAO and Clerk to streamline processes and reduce delays. With the introduction of Bill 23 - More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022, site plan processes are time-sensitive and require staff to provide refunds when processes take longer than what is legislated. The committee approved delegating the authority to execute site plan agreements to the CAO and Clerk.

Road Name Review

As identified in the 2021 Township of Ramara Fire Master Plan, the Road Name Review identifies road names that are either duplicates or similar to other road names in the Township or with neighbouring municipalities. As redundant road names can lead to delays and dispatch inefficiencies, staff initiated the review to create efficiencies and eliminate any confusion with road names. Roads under the review were selected by staff based on certain criteria: the number of residents, permanent residents and known businesses located on each road.

Since 2021, under Council's direction, staff completed the renaming process for sections of Concession Road 10, held a Public Open House and online form to hear residents' ideas and feedback and responded to numerous inquiries and comments. Staff suggest renaming the following roads based on public consultation and research:

• Ash Drive
• Bayview Drive
• Church Road
• Concession Road 12
• Concession Road 13
• Concession Road 9
• Concession Road 8
• Concession Road 7
• Concession Road 6 (west of Mara Carden Boundary)
• Concession Road A
• Concession Road B-C
• Concession Road D-E
• Courtland Street (North leg)
• Fountain Drive (West leg)
• Furniss Cres
• Glen Ellen Drive (the section that intersects with Rama Road)
• Lake Avenue
• Maple Trail
• Mara Rama Boundary Road
• Ramara Road 47
• Sideroad 25
• Sideroad 20
• Sideroad 15
• Sideroad 5-6 and
• Sideroad 5.

Staff also suggested the following roads be improved with wayfinding signage: Beach Drive, Laidlaw Avenue, and Orkney Beach Road. The Committee approved staff suggestions with the removal of Glen Ellen Drive and implementing street changes over a three-year work plan as budgeting permits.

Upcoming Reports  

Through the Committee of the Whole meeting, members of Council requested the following reports:

1. Short-Term Rental Accommodation Bylaw update.
   • Staff to investigate how other County of Simcoe municipalities manage and enforce Short-Term Rentals in comparison to Ramara.
2. Earth Day Community Clean-up Report.
   • Staff to investigate ways this initiative can be strengthened.
3. Canada Day Drone event.
   • Staff to investigate organizing and budgeting for a Drone show event for Canada Day in 2024. 
4. Revitalizing Baseball Diamond and creating a baseball league.
   • Staff to investigate the possibility of revitalizing the baseball diamonds around Ramara and creating a baseball league. Construction and installation of a multi-sports dome. 

Reminders

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For More Information

For more details on any of these items, see the full meeting Agenda or view the meeting on the Township of Ramara's YouTube Channel.

The Meeting highlights are prepared to give residents a timely update on decisions of Council. The Council Meeting Minutes are the official record of the meeting.