Council Highlights - July 13, 2026

Announcements

Mayor Clarke:

• Mayor Clarke encouraged residents to complete the County of Simcoe's Organics Survey to provide feedback and help improve the County's Green Cart program. The survey is available online at simcoe.ca/OrganicsSurvey and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.
• Mayor Clarke announced that registration is now open for the Township's Youth Flag Football program for ages 8 to 17. The program returns this fall following a successful spring season in partnership with SportsKlub. Residents can register at ramara.ca/recreation.
• Mayor Clarke reminded residents about the upcoming Zoning By-law Update Open House on July 22, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Township Administration Building. Residents are also encouraged to complete the online survey and interactive mapping tool by August 5, 2026, at ramara.ca/ZoningUpdate. He encouraged residents to review the proposed zoning for their properties and surrounding areas and share their feedback.
• Mayor Clarke provided an update on the Township's summer road maintenance program, noting that Township crews and contractors will be completing roadside mowing, gravel road improvements, dust control and line painting throughout the summer. Residents are reminded to use caution and slow down when travelling through active work areas.
• Mayor Clarke encouraged residents interested in running in the 2026 Municipal Election to attend the free Candidate Information Session on July 15, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Rotary Place in Orillia hosted in partnership with neighbouring municipalities and with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. For more information regarding the 2026 Municipal Election visit ramara.ca/election.
• Mayor Clarke attended the Lake St. John Cottagers' Association Annual General Meeting, where he met with residents to discuss local concerns, including flooding. He advised that staff will be reviewing the issues raised and providing follow-up where appropriate.

Deputy Mayor Bell:

• Deputy Mayor Bell participated in several Canada Day celebrations throughout the Township, including the Bayshore Village Parade, Washago Canada Day Parade and visiting residents in Lagoon City.
• Deputy Mayor Bell attended the Grand Harbour Marina in Lagoon City for the Chamber of Commerce’s Classic Car Show and congratulated the organizers on another successful community event.

Councillor Tuju:

• Councillor Tuju participated in the Washago Canada Day Parade alongside members of Severn Council and joined the community in celebrating Canada Day.
• Councillor Tuju attended the Township’s Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at the Brechin-Mara Legion and recognized the Township's dedicated volunteers. She also congratulated Les Davy on being recognized for 50 years of volunteer service and thanked Sam Martino for providing a tour of the newly renovated, accessible lower level of the Legion.

Councillor Bell:

• Councillor Bell attended the Township’s Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at the Brechin-Mara Legion and recognized the many volunteers who contribute to Township boards, committees and community organizations, including the Ramara Township Public Library Board, Lagoon City Parks and Waterways Commission, Rooted in Ramara, Ramara Historical Society and the Brechin Lions Club.
• Councillor Bell participated in the Lagoon City Canada Day Boat Parade and thanked residents for coming together to support one another following the storm that moved through the community on July 1, 2026.
• Councillor Bell congratulated Casino Rama Resort on celebrating 30 years of operation and recognized its continued contributions to local employment, tourism and community partnerships.
• Councillor Bell spoke to the success of the Ramara Chamber of Commerce Classic Car Show and congratulated everyone involved including volunteers and the Brechin Legion on another successful event. She also thanked the Couchiching Ontario Health Team for providing on-site Health Care Connect registration and reminded residents without a family physician that they can register by calling 811.

Councillor Gough:

• Councillor Gough attended the Brechin-Mara Legion for the Township’s Volunteer Appreciation Dinner and thanked the Township's volunteers and committee members for their ongoing dedication to the community.
• Councillor Gough participated in the Bayshore Village and Washago Canada Day parades alongside his grandchildren and enjoyed celebrating Canada Day with residents and visitors throughout the community.

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Committee of the Whole

Presentations:

Years of Service Recognition - Bill Kahler, Emergency Management Program Committee 

• Mayor Clarke presented a Years of Service certificate to Bill Kahler and thanked him, on behalf of Council, for his tenure on the Emergency Management Program Committee.

Deputations:

Jen Dundas of Camp Couchiching regarding Support Consideration for a Safety Review of CLA2 

• Jen Dundas of Camp Couchiching gave a deputation regarding Support Consideration for a Safety Review of CLA2. The deputation was given in connection to Item 16.5.1. Council Motion from Councillor Snutch regarding a request for a review of operational safety for the Lake Country Airways water aerodrome location on Rama Road.

View the Deputation Presentation from Camp Couchiching

Open Public Forum:

• Lisa Sherin spoke to Agenda Item 16.5.1. regarding Councillor Snutch's motion requesting a review of operational safety for the Lake Country Airways water aerodrome location on Rama Road.
• Laura Clementi spoke to Agenda Item 16.5.1. regarding Councillor Snutch's motion requesting a review of operational safety for the Lake Country Airways water aerodrome location on Rama Road.
• Bob Brown spoke to Agenda Item 16.5.1. regarding Councillor Snutch's motion requesting a review of operational safety for the Lake Country Airways water aerodrome location on Rama Road.
• Bruce Jackson spoke to Agenda Item 16.5.1. regarding Councillor Snutch's motion requesting a review of operational safety for the Lake Country Airways water aerodrome location on Rama Road.
• Deborah Rosser spoke to Agenda Item 16.5.1. regarding Councillor Snutch's motion requesting a review of operational safety for the Lake Country Airways water aerodrome location on Rama Road.
• Liane Spong spoke to Agenda Item 16.5.1. regarding Councillor Snutch's motion requesting a review of operational safety for the Lake Country Airways water aerodrome location on Rama Road.
• Michael O'Brien spoke to Agenda Item 11.5.1. regarding the Water Financial Plan.
• Robert Lee spoke to Agenda Item 11.5.4. regarding the Florence Avenue Turnaround.

Below are highlights of what Committee of the Whole recommended at its meeting held on Monday, July 13, 2026. These are subject to ratification by Council at its next meeting on August 10, 2026, unless pulled for ratification on the same day.

Closed Session:

Appointment of a New Commissioner to the Lagoon City Parks and Waterways Commission

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding the appointment of a new Commissioner to the Lagoon City Parks and Waterways Commission. Committee also recommended directing staff to arrange a Special Council meeting to interview applicants for the vacancy.
• The report was referred to the July 13, 2026, Council agenda for same-day ratification.

Township of Ramara Industrial Park – Potential Purchase and Sale

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding the Township of Ramara Industrial Park and directing staff to proceed with exploratory next steps for potential buy-back options within the Industrial Park, pending Council's future consideration and approval.
• The report was referred to the July 13, 2026, Council agenda for same-day ratification.

Unopened Road Allowance – Balsam/Courtland/Patricia Drive Intersections

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding the unopened road allowance at the Balsam/Courtland/Patricia Drive intersections and adopting the confidential direction provided to staff during Closed Session.
• The report was referred to the July 13, 2026, Council agenda for same-day ratification.

Council Referral Reports:

Brechin Municipal Buildings – Demolition Costing and Request for Information Framework

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding the Brechin Municipal Buildings – Demolition Costing and Request for Information/Request for Proposal Framework and directing staff to include the demolition of the municipally owned buildings located at 2287 and 2291 Highway 12, Brechin, within the proposed 2027 Budget for Council's consideration.
• Committee of the Whole also recommended directing staff to proceed with a Request for Information process regarding future opportunities for the municipally owned properties located at 2287 and 2291 Highway 12, Brechin and authorizing Colliers Project Leaders to develop and administer the Request for Information process.
• Committee of the Whole also recommended authorizing up to $19,000 plus HST for consulting services related to the Request for Information process, to be funded from the Capital Buildings project and directing staff to report back to Council with the results of the Request for Information process.

Feasibility of Garbage Collection Services Tax Rebate

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding the Feasibility of Garbage Collection Services Tax Rebate as information.

Departmental Reports:

Water Financial Plan

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding the Water Financial Plan and approving the Township of Ramara Water Financial Plan dated July 8, 2026, for the period of 2026 to 2036.
• Committee of the Whole also recommended directing staff to submit the Water Financial Plan to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks as part of the Township's Municipal Drinking Water Licence renewal application.
• The report was referred to the July 13, 2026, Council agenda for same-day ratification.

Florence Avenue Turnaround

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding the Florence Avenue Turnaround and directing staff to construct an interim hammerhead turnaround within the existing Township road allowance near the end of Florence Avenue, funded from the previously approved Roads Capital Project.
• Committee of the Whole also recommended directing staff to report back on the preferred long-term turnaround solution and associated budget requirements following completion of the Environmental Assessment process.
• The report was referred to the July 13, 2026, Council agenda for same-day ratification.

Stop and Yield Bylaw Update

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding the Stop and Yield Bylaw Update and supporting the following traffic control changes:
  • Addition of a stop sign at the intersection of Mara/Eldon Boundary Road and Canal Road.
  • Conversion of the yield sign on Winchester Road to a stop sign.
  • Addition of a yield sign on Tivnon Lane.
  • Addition of a stop sign on Queen Street at Ogden Street.
• Committee of the Whole also recommended directing staff to bring forward a bylaw to amend Bylaw 2005.86 to implement the proposed changes.

Routine Disclosure Process and Prospective Policy Amendment

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding the Routine Disclosure Process and Prospective Policy Amendment and amending the Township's Routine Disclosure Policy 2024.RD as set out in Report CS-21-26 to revise the fee structure for routine disclosure requests.
• Committee of the Whole also recommended directing staff to bring forward an amendment to the Fees and Charges Bylaw to implement a $30 flat fee for routine disclosure requests.

Council

Below are highlights of what Council adopted at its meeting on Monday, July 13, 2026:

• Council received the deputation from Jen Dundas of Camp Couchiching regarding support consideration for a safety review of the Lake Country Airways water aerodrome (CLA2) as information.
• Council authorized the Mayor, on behalf of Council, to send correspondence to Transport Canada, the Minister of Transport, Simcoe North MP Adam Chambers and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada requesting a review of operational safety during the 2026 summer season for the Lake Country Airways water aerodrome location on Rama Road. The review will include the adequacy of flight paths and impacts to recreational water activities such as boating, swimming and canoeing/kayaking. Council also encouraged consultation with the local community prior to approving docking sites for water aerodrome locations and directed that the correspondence be copied to surrounding County of Simcoe municipalities, the Chippewas of Rama First Nation and NAV CANADA.
• Council received the report regarding the Traffic Calming Policy, adopted the Traffic Calming Policy effective July 15, 2026, and delegated authority to the General Manager of Development and Infrastructure to make minor housekeeping amendments to the policy as required.
• Council received the report regarding the Orkney Beach Road Speed Limit as information at this time.
• Council received the report regarding the appointment of a new Commissioner to the Lagoon City Parks and Waterways Commission and directed staff to arrange a Special Council meeting to interview applicants for the Commission vacancy.
• Council received the report regarding the Township of Ramara Industrial Park – Potential Purchase and Sale and directed staff to proceed with the exploratory next steps for buy-back options within the Township of Ramara Industrial Park, pending Council's future consideration and approval.
• Council received the report regarding the Unopened Road Allowance – Balsam/Courtland/Patricia Drive Intersections and adopted the confidential direction provided to staff.
• Council received the report regarding the Water Financial Plan, approved the Township of Ramara Water Financial Plan dated July 8, 2026, for the period of 2026 to 2036, and directed staff to submit the Water Financial Plan to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks as part of the application to renew the Township's Municipal Drinking Water Licence under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002.
• Council received the report regarding the Florence Avenue Turnaround, directed staff to construct an interim hammerhead turnaround within the existing Township road allowance near the end of Florence Avenue using previously approved Roads Capital Project funding, and directed staff to report back on the preferred long-term turnaround solution and associated budget requirements following completion of the Environmental Assessment process.
• Council received the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition correspondence regarding Protect Our Plan – From Good Goals to Practical Progress as information.
• Council received the CFUW Orillia correspondence regarding Intimate Partner Violence Deputation Follow-Up as information.
• Council received and supported correspondence from the City of Mississauga regarding a provincial review of benchmarking, funding formulas and length-of-stay standards for emergency shelters serving women and children experiencing intimate partner violence.
• Council received and supported correspondence from the Town of Caledon regarding provincial support, funding and coordinated plans to combat tick-borne diseases.
• Council received correspondence from Steve Hinton on behalf of the Atherley Community Centre Board regarding insurance assistance for the 2026 Ramara Harvest Festival and authorized up to $1,000 from the Atherley Community Centre Capital Expenditure Reserve to assist with insurance costs for the 2026 Ramara Harvest Festival.
• Council directed the Atherley Community Centre Board to include future insurance costs for events in its annual budget submissions for Council's consideration during the annual budget process.

Bills and Bylaws:

Council approved the following bylaw at the July 13, 2026, meeting:

• Bylaw 2026.37 – A bylaw to accept and assume certain lands into the Municipal Roads System, being a portion of Lakeshore Drive described by PIN 58718-0144 (LT).
• Bylaw 2026.38 – A bylaw to assume certain lands into the Municipal Roads System (Part 1 on Plan 51R-45381).
• Bylaw 2026.39 – A bylaw to amend Bylaw 2021.77 to prohibit motorized vehicles on municipal properties to include the Orkney Beach/Fountain Drive Connecting Lands (Part 2 on Plan 51R-45381).
• Bylaw 2026.56 – A bylaw to confirm the proceedings of the Council meeting held on July 13, 2026.

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For More Information

For more details on any of these items, you can read the full meeting agenda on the Township's Meeting Portal or watch 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. Once adopted, the Council meeting minutes can be found on the Township of Ramara's Meeting Portal.