Monthly Archives: November 2015

Correction/clarification – Council Meeting Preview 2015-12-01

29 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by in Correction/Clarification, Parry Sound, Town Council

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I need to correct statements made in yesterday’s Council Meeting Preview post based on information I received last night. The funds being taken from the Parks Reserve for Big Sound Marina, will not be at the expense of parks activities. The $140K being used, was ‘parked’ there following the 2015 budget approval and needs to be brought forward to pay for a 2016 expense related to Big Sound Marina. I apologize for the confusion, and I appreciate the ‘heads up’ I received regarding the error. I have also edited the original post.

However, it does appear that additional funds are required for the project, about $142K, that will require pre-budget approval. This is the amount that is proposed to be raised by means of a debenture. But I may not have all the information on this point.

As a side note, I was told this morning that at least one out of town marina does resent the fact that their competition for seasonal dockage, Big Sound Marina, is able to secure $400K in taxpayer assistance. I’m sure each and every marina in the area would be delighted to have governments (municipal and federal) provide them with a no-cost upgrade of this type. But that’s a separate issue that I have raised in the past and which has been largely ignored by Staff and Council.

 

Edited – Council Agenda Preview – December 1, 2015

28 Saturday Nov 2015

Posted by in Parry Sound, Town Council

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Note: this post has been edited, with strike-throughs, based on additional information received after this preview was posted. The key point is that while funds do come from the Park Reserve, they were put there as part of the 2015 Budget Big Sound Marina upgrade approval, because it was considered to be the most ‘appropriate’ reserve to ‘park’ the funds until they were needed. It does appear though that there is still an additional pre-budget approval request for about $142,000. The reason for the urgency is not only that the facility needs to be in operation for the 2016 boating season, but matching federal funds have an expiry date.

The original post, with strike-thoughs, starts here.

Once again it is a lighter agenda in terms of content. In my opinion there is only one thing that strikes me as an issue. It concerns Item 9.1.1 – “Redevelopment of Dock “B” – Big Sound Marina”. At first glance there doesn’t seem to be an issue, the dock needs upgrades to the tune of about $400,000. But digging a little deeper the concern becomes obvious. The Resolution proposes to fund a portion of the Parry Sound costs, about $140,000, from the Parks Reserve fund, prior to the 2016 budget deliberations. The balance, about $142,000 is to come from a debenture. It’s another pre-budget approval request, a very big one. But that’s not the big issue in my opinion.

My feeling is that the proposal to use the Parks Reserve to fund a major upgrade to Big Sound Marina is wrong, wrong, wrong. Since when was Big Sound Marina considered to be a park? Are there any facilities there that cater to the uses and interests of Parry Sound residents? It seems to me that Big Sound Marina is a service for touring boaters, businesses in Town who derive revenue from these boaters, and the for-profit operators of Big Sound Marina. A Parry Sound resident can’t tie their boat up at Big Sound Marina without paying a ‘parking’ fee. And most Parry Sounders don’t have a boat. So what qualifies this as a park upgrade, and why is Staff proposing to reach into the Parry Sound Parks Reserve to fund it? The Town doesn’t even own Big Sound Marina.

I will not argue with the need to make the described repairs, but I do object to the Parks Reserve funds being used to pay for it. These funds are intended to be used for upgrades and repairs to our ‘public parks’ which include Waubuno Beach, Yvonne Williams Park, Booth Street Park and the like. Much as the proposed use of the Parking Reserve to subsidize Free Parking Downtown, it’s much easier for Council to approve these expenses if they can pull them out of reserves and not face their reality as a budget item. It really isn’t appropriate to reach into a totally separate reserve fund to solve a problem. Big Sound Marina is not a park, and it certainly isn’t a Parry Sound park. It’s not quite like reaching into a reserve set aside for widows and orphans, but it seems to be a misuse of funds. I hope that Council will recognize the issue and require funding come from other sources. Let’s not drain the Parks Reserve for non-park related uses. But of course there may be a suggestion to put in a swing set and ‘create’ a new park. Let’s hope not.

Public Meeting

2.1.1 – “Council will hold a public meeting to consider a proposed Zoning By-law amendment under Section 34 of the Planning Act The purpose of the proposed Zoning By-law amendment is to amend the Highway Commercial (C3) zone to permit residential development subject to reduced site specific setbacks. The motel is proposed to be converted into 12 residential units, and a new 10-plex is proposed on John/Church Street.”

Correspondence

4.3 – James Chirico Medical Officer of Health. Re: update on the accommodation planning phase 2 – tender process for the new North Bay Parry Sound health unit, located in North Bay.

4.4 – Malcolm Fraser, Resident. Re: concerns regarding fluoridation of the town’s water.

4.5 – Joseph Maloney, Parry Sounders for progressive water management. Re: Provision of Dr. Limeback’s slide presentation as a response to Dr. Jim Chirico Medical Officer of Health presentation to Council on October 6 2015.

Deputations

5.1 – Brian Downing, President of OPSEU Paramedics, Local #342. Re: information regarding successor rights with respect to the proposed request for proposal for land ambulance services for the district of Parry Sound. I’m not sure what this concerns but there is a Land Ambulance item, 9.2.2, on the agenda that concerns budget and levy for 2016.

5.2 – Trevor Penn, Director of Finance and POA Court Services. Re: review of asset management and 20-year capital.

Consent Agenda

8.1 – Ombudsman investigation – Heads of Council Meetings. Resolution. “.… Now therefore the result that counsel for the town of Parry Sound acknowledge is receipt of the Ombudsman’s Report and will post it on the town website.” There seems to be a little bit of smoke here, but it doesn’t seem to qualify as a fire.

Resolutions and Direction to Staff

9.1.1 – Redevelopment of Dock “B” – Big Sound Marina. Resolution. “That Council excepts the tender received from Kropf Industrial Inc. in the amount of $393,323 (excluding HST), for the Big Sound Marina Redevelopment project, this being the lowest of four tenders received; and that Council grant 2016 pre-budget approval.” Let’s not start the practice of dipping into reserve funds to cover unrelated expenses. If this is a legitimate expense let’s put it into the budget and pay for it as part of the 2016 levy, or increase the size of the debenture. And what is with this pre-budget approval request for $267,000? This is an expense that should have been considered last year, and put in to the 2015 budget. I understand that the upgrades need to be made prior to the boating season, but it shouldn’t be a surprise requiring pre-budget approval. This ‘pre-budget’ approach means that the request doesn’t need to compete for funding with other priorities, a competition that may delay it for a year or two.

9.2.1 – Free Parking Downtown. Direction. “That Council direct Staff to continue the Free Parking Downtown program until June 1, 2016. A recommendation on a future parking strategy will return to Council as part of the comprehensive strategic review for the downtown.” This seems a necessary action given the decision to expand and extend the review of Free Parking Downtown.

9.2.2 – Land Ambulance 2016 Budget. Resolution. “That upon the recommendation of the EMS Advisory Committee, Council of the Town of Parry Sound approve the 2016 Land Ambulance budget with a 3% municipal levy increase in the total amount of $8,572,705.81, attached as Schedule “A”.” And it looks as though it will be a 3% increase for each of the next four years.

9.4.1 – 2015 Parry Sound Public Library Budget. Resolution. “That the Council for the Town of Parry Sound hereby approves the 2015 budget for the Parry Sound Public Library, attached Schedule “A”.”

By-laws

10.3.1 – Renewal of contract with Integrity Commissioner. “Being a By-law to appoint an Integrity Commissioner for the Town of Parry Sound and to authorize the execution of an agreement with Suzanne Craig.” I’m glad to see Ms Craig continues as the Town’s ombudsman. Her review of a complaint last year let the Town off on a technicality; you haven’t done something wrong if there isn’t a rule/law prohibiting it.

There is more but you will need to take a look at the agenda to see if there is anything I missed that is important to you. I did notice that the agenda now does not allow content copying. I’m not sure if this is, or isn’t, deliberate; but it really doesn’t work. It only makes it a bit more work to prepare this Parry Sound Council Preview.

See you Tuesday night.

The Jewel of the Jewel? (Parry Sound in Glorious Colour)

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Council Meeting Reflections – November 17, 2015

18 Wednesday Nov 2015

Posted by in Parry Sound, Reflections, Town Council

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As I have mentioned previously it is my intention to report on the proceedings of Parry Sound Council meetings by exception, when something interesting transpired. That is the case with this past Tuesday’s meeting. A meeting I expected to be over by 8:30 ended at 9:00. The reason? Free Parking. I’d like to share my observations and thoughts.

As you probably know by now Council has punted the issue of Free Parking downfield for another six months. Or perhaps you might say they ‘iced’ the issue. I was surprised, I had expected that it would be approved. I even went so far as to offer my support for Free Parking in a deputation with the suggestion we not spend $60,000 annually on a parking attendant. On principle I have opposed Free Parking from the start but have come to realize that if managed properly, with limited expenses, it might be a boon to the Parry Sound Downtown Business Association. At this time, and with the impending departure of the medical clinics, they probably need all the help they can get.

The Parry Sound Downtown Business Association did a short deputation in support of Free Parking. They indicated it was well received by the public and the merchants, and they supported its continuation. At the same time they said that the costs for Free Parking really could not be borne by the DBA members because it would raise their current DBA assessments by as much as 60%.

Well the agenda item was kicked off by Councillor Saulnier objecting to Free Parking on the grounds that the Town could not afford it. He was quite forceful in his objection. That seemed to set the tone for the discussion that followed. I mention Councillor Saulnier by name only because it is germane to a potential issue. My policy is not to identify councillors by name, that can be handled by the ‘traditional’ press if they wish to do so. I’m more interested in policy than I am personality.

Well the discussion went sideways with much more sniping than I have seen to date. Councillors suggested that proper procedure was not being followed, and the process was being subverted. From my seat in the audience I can’t agree. There were a number of items under the Free Parking resolution that really needed to be addressed separately. As was mentioned at the meeting, the resolution was more of an ‘omnibus’ type of document that should have been presented as a series of separate resolutions and directions.

In the end Council did agree to approve some minor permit issues related to parking, but the whole issue of Free Parking was put off for six months. One Councillor was ready to reject it outright, and there was another Councillor who wanted to understand how Free Parking would fit into the overall rejuvenation of the Downtown. In the end it was agreed that Free Parking would be ‘iced’ for six months while the Parry Sound Downtown Business Association and Staff prepared a plan for the Downtown’s rejuvenation, and how Free Parking fit in. Good luck with that. It will require multiple meetings, a consultant, and probably $30,000 to properly be prepared. It’s not that simple or easy to produce an integrated strategic plan for what is a real challenge.

But back to why I mentioned Counillor Saulnier by name. I think he has a conflict, that may not rise to the level of ‘pecuniary’ interest, but creates an issue that puts into question a truly impartial perspective. That is not to suggest his strong conviction the Town cannot afford Free Parking is not sincere. But there is an issue with his personal business interests and the Free Parking issue that create an apparent conflict.

Councillor Saulnier is a co-owner of Georgian Bay Airways which is located in the Town Dock area along Bay Street. His business is part of the Parry Sound Downtown Business Association, but that area of the DBA does not have metered parking. A resolution in 2014 to meter that area was roundly opposed by the business community and hastily dropped. The Georgian Bay Airways business depends in part on people parking in the area and dropping hundreds of dollars for an airplane ride. A buck or two for parking probably wouldn’t be an issue, just an inconvenience. Georgian Bay Airways also sells ice cream and drinks in the summer months to a population for whom metered parking would be more of an issue, perhaps not in terms of cost, but convenience. They probably couldn’t as easily afford to pay for a ticket. And if meters were to be installed on Bay Street I imagine people would start parking in the Island Queen lot, which would require the owners of that business to enforce parking for clients and in the end do nothing but generate ill-will with visitors and surrounding businesses. I would suggest that if Councillor Saulnier continues to argue against Free Parking that he demand metered parking be installed along Bay Street and in the Town parking lot beside his business. To do less would be hypocritical and appear to be self-serving. I suspect that this area, if metered, would turn a very nice profit given the large number of visitors there in the summer. Or it could stifle business and screw everybody.

I will make the prediction that the Town will adopt Free Parking, it just will be a very tortured process to get there. If we are to expect a report in six months that suggests it will be delivered the end of May next year. What is to be done in the meantime? Free parking? Council has previously approved Free Parking until the end of January and probably will need to pass a resolution to extend it to the end of May. But of course the end of May will be when the report is submitted; expect another two months to digest and debate the report. So we probably need to extend free parking to the end of July. Well, we can’t change parking rules in the middle of the tourist season so it needs to be extended to the end of September. Then why not to the end of the year?

I don’t support the concept of Free Parking in principle, but it really will not be that expensive if the Town manages it properly. This implies parking compliance is managed by exception. Ticket the chronic offenders. They will become very obvious, very quickly. In speaking to people after the meeting they mentioned that there are few chronic offenders who don’t mind getting a ticket. My answer to that is make the towing of offenders an option. Get ticketed for the fourth time in a 30-day period and you get towed. That may not prevent all abuse by downtown business people, but it will surely limit it to three times a month. And that probably can be absorbed by the system without inconveniencing visitors and clients.

Let’s not debate global warming, I mean Free Parking, let’s understand that it is going to happen. Let’s spend time and effort on understanding how to best manage it.

Between a Rock and a Salt Pile (Parry Sound in Black and White)

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Council Agenda Preview – November 17, 2015

14 Saturday Nov 2015

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The agenda is once again on the light side in terms of the number of items, although there are a couple of items of the agenda that will have longer term implications for the Town; Trails Master Plan adoption (9.1.1) and Free Parking Downtown (9.2.1),

I still have an issue with the Trails Master Plan. The recommendation is to change the name of the Rotary Algonquin Regiment Fitness Trail to Waterfront Trail. This is to make it shorter and more easily fit on signs. In my opinion this is a slap in the face to the Rotary Club and the Algonquin Regiment whose support was critical to the creation of the trail. If the name needs to be changed for the sake of brevity lets call it the Rotary Algonquin Regiment Waterfront Trail. This can then be shortened to Waterfront Trail without any confusion unless we plan on having multiple Waterfront trails. Would Staff suggest that the future Francis Pegahmagabow Monument be renamed to the “Indian Monument” so that it will fit better on signage? Come on, let’s remember to properly honour the organizations and individuals who have contributed to our Town and our Country. I think we are creative enough to solve simple signage challenges. We are, aren’t we? Disclosure, I have no affiliation with either the Rotary Club or the Algonquin Regiment Fitness Trail, although I do appreciate their many contributions to Parry Sound and Canada.

The Free Parking direction tidies up what was presented to Council in October. I don’t support free parking, but it seems you can’t fight Town Hall. Well I guess you can as we have seen, but as the French would say, “J’ai d’autres chats à fouetter”. I do have a bit of a rant below in 9.2.1, and will be making a deputation on this subject.

Letters

4.1 – Dan Dugan, Parry Sound District Manager, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Re: Notification that MNRF will not be pursuing a wetland evaluation located in the area of Louisa Street, as previously stated in April of this year. The MNRF has basically said – we’ll forgo formally evaluating the land on the understanding that Parry Sound will provide appropriate stewardship for this sensitive wetland. And they seemingly intend to hold the Town responsible for any deviation from best practices.

Resolution and Direction to Staff

9.1.1 – Trails Master Plan Adoption. Resolution. That Council adopt the Trails Master Plan, as prepared by Plan by Design, 2015 and as attached in Schedule “A”. Direction (For Direct Staff Follow-Up): That staff be directed to prepare a Trails Master Plan implementation plan for Council’s consideration. This is a reasonable plan in my opinion. The issue of ATV access for Parry Sound residents was punted for future discussion as part of a by-law that would lift the current ATV restrictions in Town. Seems reasonable in my opinion. The issue of private trails was also punted. Yup, if you close your eyes there really isn’t an issue. If you keep them closed for too long you tend to fall asleep. Bad things happen if you fall asleep on the job.

9.2.1 – Free Parking Downtown. Direction. That Council direct staff to amend the Traffic By-law to:

  • Allow permit parking: 12 parking spaces in St Andrews Lot; 8 parking spaces Gibson Street Lot; 8 parking spaces Miller Street Lot; 6 parking spaces in James Street Lot and 3 on Gibson Street (behind the Post Office)
  • Allow for 6 residential overnight tenant permit parking spaces on Mary Street adjacent to the Post Office (taxi stand)
  • Allow for the procurement of a day use parking permit (contractors, film crew etc.) at $8.00/day/parking space and $4.00/half day/parking space
  • To allow for the continuation of free parking – 2 hours on street and 3 hours in the municipal lot and to make it an offence if an individual re-parks their vehicle within a designated zone or street.
  • To create designated free long term parking: 7 parking spaces on Mary Street, 8 parking spaces on north Miller, 30 spaces on south Gibson Street: and

Further that Council direct staff to create a policy pertaining to the procuring of short term (daily) parking permits for contractors, special event organizers, film crews and day users, etc.; and That Council direct staff to commence the process to hire a contract Parking Attendant on a one-year contract to complete enforcement of the time limit regulation. This process would include a job description and a review of said job description by the Hay Group with this position being implemented in January of 2016.

Let’s not call it ‘free parking’. It’s taxpayer subsidized parking. The cost for 2016 will be on the order of $150,000, with $60,000 budgeted for staff to ensure that ‘free parking’ is not abused. Come on folks, if it’s going to be free then let it be free and wide open. If the merchants want to use the parking spots for their own use, and inconvenience customers and clients, let them. I’m sure they will figure out pretty quickly that they are slitting their own wrists and undermining the purpose of ‘free parking’. And if visitors and customers want/need to park for more than three hours to shop, attend a movie, or wait for a physician appointment let them. If we are going ‘free’ let’s also allow the system to self regulate. Why spend $60,000 on a parking attendant for ‘free parking’ when that money could be used to support local organizations. And do parking attendants really make $60,000 per year? That seems a pretty rich salary, presumably including benefits, by my estimate of what employees in the private, but perhaps not public, sector are paid in the Parry Sound area.

By-laws

10.2.2 – Amendments to Traffic By-law. Being a By-law to amend the Traffic Bylaw 2013-6205, a bylaw to regulate and control traffic in Parry Sound. There are a number of issues addressed with this by-law amendment, most notably providing for pedestrian safety in the area of the new school on Beatty Street. See the full agenda package for the details.

I will be at the meeting this Tuesday and expect to make a deputation on the issue of free parking, and the $60,000 cost to monitor compliance. Sigh!

There is more on the agenda than what was mentioned above, including approvals for cleaning contracts and such. Check out the full agenda in the link in the menu above if you want to know everything. Or contact the Town of Parry Sound and have them send you a copy of the full agenda package.

Eyes Wide Open (Parry Sound in Full colour)

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Council Agenda Preview – November 3, 2015

01 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by in Parry Sound, Town Council

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Tuesday’s meeting is remarkably light in terms of agenda items and critical decisions. There are a couple of things that are worth mentioning.

We are developing an engaged citizenry. A number of initiatives that have been brought before Council in terms of letters and deputations will be reviewed and, as appropriate, acted upon. The issue of the one bag garbage limit, 4.2, will be on Council’s agenda in the New Year. Council will also consider a road repair, 4.4, as part of the 2016 budget deliberations. And the big one, 5.1 the water fluoridation issue, has met the requirements to trigger consideration of a referendum process. But it’s not as simple as it might seem, there needs to be the involvement of McDougall as they are supplied by Town water. I suggest you look at the full agenda package to understand the requirements and the current circumstances surrounding this issue. While I am not in agreement with the suggestion to discontinue water fluoridation, I do support and encourage residents of Parry Sound to provide input to Town Staff and Council.

Also a new feature of the council agenda – “Response by Town Staff”. In some cases the agenda will make note of the Staff response to a letter. That’s the case this week with items 4.2 and 4.3, which outline Staff’s plans to address the issues raised.

Letters

4.1 – Doug Graham, Resident, Re: Follow-up Letter after meeting with staff regarding location of proposed giant hockey stick.

4.2 – Leslie Panipak, resident Re: Concerns regarding the 1 bag limit for apartments is not being universally applied. Would like a review of the by-law governing the bag limit. Response by Town Staff – A review of the by-law will take place in the new year.

4.4 – Wendall Fisher, Chair, Parry Sound Area Active Transportation Re: Safety concern for cyclists on Parry Sound Drive between the Mall and the municipal boundary at Smith Cres. Response by Town Staff – Some remedial repair was done. Hoping to budget for a complete asphalt restoration in 2016, budget permitting.

Deputations

5.1 – Andrea McIntyre, Parry Sounders for Progressive Water Management Re: Film entitled, “Our Daily Dose”, by Jeremy Seifert.

Resolutions and Direction to Staff

9.3.1 – 40 Km / Hr Speed Limit – Town Streets. Direction. That upon recommendation of the 8-80 Advisory Committee Council direct staff to prepare a Report & Recommendation on the feasibility and implications of reducing speed limits to 40 kph on Town streets. I like the idea but I wonder about enforcement. Riding a bike along Bowes Street can be a scary adventure when cars are heading into town. It takes a conscious decision by drivers to apply the brakes when rolling downhill to stay under 50 kph; 40 kph will take real attention. Does the Town get a split of the proceeds from speeding tickets? It might make up for some of the lost parking revenues. 

9.3.2 – 2015 – 18 Strategic Plan. Resolution. That upon the recommendation of the Strategic Plan Ad-hoc Advisory Committee, the 2015 – 2018 Strategic Plan be adopted, attached as Schedule “A”.

9.3.3 – Referendum (Plebiscite) – Discontinuance of Fluoridation of Town’s Drinking Water. Resolution. That Council for the Town of Parry Sound acknowledge receipt of the Report and Recommendation (R&R) regarding a possible petition by 10% or more of Parry Sound’s and McDougall’s electorate to remove fluoride from the drinking water system, attached as Schedule “A”; and that a copy of this R&R be provided to the Council of the Municipality of McDougall for their information. Take a look at the full agenda package for more information on this issue. There is more than can be easily summarized in this post.

By-laws

10.4.3 – Lease agreement with MPAC for office space at 52 Seguin St. Being a By-law to authorize the execution of an agreement with the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) for the leasing of office space at the Town of Parry Sound Municipal Office.

That’s about all there is of note. I won’t be at the meeting on Tuesday evening because of other commitments.

Showing It’s Age and in Need of Support (Parry Sound in Colour)

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