Parry Sounds ~ Ideas and Opinions, In and Around Parry Sound

The biggest piece of news in this week’s Town of Parry Sound Council Agenda Package is the recommendation of Staff to award the Request for Proposal (RFP) to Greystone for the Salt Dock Road surplus properties (10.4.2). All-in-all the process was very quick, and in my opinion the decision is in the best interests of Parry Sound residents and businesses. I would like to compliment the Town for their relative transparency on the RFP process and the decision parameters regarding their recommendation. It was not so long ago that accessing this type of information required considerable effort on the part of the Public.

Other agenda items worth noting:

9.2.1 – Creation of Hotel Tax – Deferral. The recommendation of the committee is to delay the review process for at least a year to better understand how other, more similarly sized communities, are addressing this issue.

9.4.2 – Warrant Analysis – Downtown Parry Sound. This concerns the possibility of a pedestrian crosswalk on James Street between Mary and Seguin Streets. The Staff recommendation, to defeat the resolution, is that the Town forgo further study of the issue based on an earlier report and the expected expense of an additional study ($65,000). It’s not that far to walk up to Mary or Seguin streets if you are not comfortable crossing the street mid-block without assistance.

9.5.1 – Complimentary Parking Program. It turns out that here are some individuals who regularly abuse the downtown free parking benefit. Staff is recommending that there be directed enforcement targeting those who have been identified as chronic offenders.

10.3.3 – Solar Field Memorandum of Understanding. Town Staff is suggesting that the Town take the next step to allow Lakeland Power to better assess the potential of a solar field project. Any final agreement will be subject to further discussion and review. I’m at a bit of a loss to understand why the Town feels compelled to source their power requirements from a new capital investment. Why not just allocate electricity from the Cascade power plant to the Town’s operations? Let’s keep an eye on this, it can easily turn into a boon dongle even if all parties have the best of intents.

10.4.1 – CP Station Lease Extension – Festival of the Sound. The Town is extending the lease agreement with the Festival of the Sound for one year while it takes the necessary remediation steps to put the property on the market.

There are more notable items on the agenda listed below. As always, refer to the agenda package available at the Town’s website for a full list of the items and the supporting documents. (Good luck finding the document. It’s there, but not easy to find. I don’t know why the Town doesn’t just post a link to the agenda for the upcoming meeting of council under the News and Public Notices menu item at the bottom of the page. It’s a classic example of people designing and managing a website without ever actually using it. The industry suggestion for this type of inconsiderate design is ‘to eat your own dog food’. I think the Town can, and should, do better. The News and Public Notices section would be much more user friendly if it also had a link to the latest draft/final budget as well as the most recent council meeting minutes.)

Closed Session

1. b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees. (Appointment of Treasurer)
2. d) labour relations or employee negotiations. (Grievance)

Correspondence

4.1 – Margaret Dunnigan, Parry Sound resident. Reopening the dialogue regarding building a swimming pool for resident of Parry Sound and surrounding areas.

4.2 – Gail Burrows, President, Parry Sound Area Chamber of Commerce. Request for funding, along with McDougall, toward lettering on the North End Water Tower.

Deputations

5.1 – Roger Alexander, Parry Sound Condo Corp #2. Surplus property near Salt Dock Road proposal to purchase a portion of the land offered for sale by the town of Parry Sound based on its “utility valuation”.

5.2 – Brenda Ryan, representing the Downtown Beautification Committee, a Downtown Steering Committee Ad Hoc Committee. Downtown beautification

Resolutions and Direction to Staff

9.1.1 – Goal Plan Update – 4th Quarter. Resolution. That Council approves the December, 2017 Fourth Quarter Goal Plan update, attached as Schedule “A”.

9.2.1 – Creation of Hotel Tax – Deferral. Direction. That Council defer any review of the hotel tax until January 1, 2019 upon the recommendation of the ad-hoc committee.

9.4.1 – West Parry Sound Economic Development Collaborative. Resolution. That upon the recommendation of the Regional Economic Development Advisory Committee (REDAC), Council adopt the Terms of Reference for the West Parry Sound Economic Development Collaborative, attached as Schedule “A”; and That the Terms of Reference for the West Parry Sound Economic Development Collaborative be effective upon adoption of all the participating municipalities by no later than January 31, 2018. That Resolution No’s: 2011-137 and 2013-235 be rescinded.

9.4.2 – Warrant Analysis – Downtown Parry Sound. Direction. Resolution. That upon the recommendation of the Downtown Steering Committee, Council direct staff to proceed with the development of Terms of Reference and workplan for a Warrant Analysis to review pedestrian movement in the downtown with a goal of enhancing pedestrian and commercial zones.

9.5.1 – Complimentary Parking Program. Direction. That staff implement the following changes to the complimentary parking program;
• Re-parking enforcement be on a complaint and flagrant abuse basis
• Designated Permit Parking spaces in the Miller St. lot be moved closer to James St
• Clearer identification of Parking Permit spaces throughout downtown be implemented

By-laws

10.2.1 – 2018 Interim Tax Levy. By-law 2017 – 6787. Being a By-Law to provide for an interim tax levy, for the payment of taxes, and for penalty and interest at 1 1/4 percent per month for the 2018 taxation year.

10.3.1 – Amending Agreement for Emily St. Funding. By-law 2017 – 6788. Being a by-law to authorize the execution of an Amending Agreement between Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Corporation of the Town of Parry Sound regarding the reconstruction of Emily Street.

10.3.2 – Traffic bylaw 2013 -6205 amendment – Carol Court. By-law 2017 – 6789. Being a bylaw to amend Bylaw 2013-6205, as amended, known as the Traffic Bylaw, a bylaw to regulate and control traffic and parking in the Town of Parry Sound.

10.3.3 – Solar Field Memorandum of Understanding. By-law 2017 – 6790. Being a by-law to authorize the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding with Lakeland Holdings Ltd. and AMP Solar Group Inc. for the provision of a partnership in solar fields to offset electrical usage of Town owned facilities.

10.4.1 – CP Station Lease Extension – Festival of the Sound. By-law 2017 – 6791. Being a by-law to authorize the execution of an agreement between the Town of Parry Sound and Festival of the Sound for the rental of the CP Station.

10.4.2 – Declaration of Surplus Lands – Salt Dock Road Properties and award a Request for Proposal. By-law 2017 – 6792. Being a By-law to declare lands fronting onto Salt Dock Road surplus to the Town of Parry Sound.
Resolution. That Council award the proposal from 1793951 Ontario Inc. (Greystone) for the Request for Proposal.
Direction. That a conditional agreement of purchase and sale be prepared between the Town of Parry Sound and 1793951 Ontario Inc. (Greystone) for Council’s consideration.

See you there Tuesday night.