Tag Archives: Waterfront

Big Sound Marina – Quick Note

23 Friday Aug 2019

Posted by in Boating/Recreation, Parry Sound, Town Council

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I have just had a chance to see the proposed agreement between the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Town of Parry Sound. It looks like a win-win and requires me to revise my initial comments after reviewing last week’s council meeting minutes. (Note: It’s always a good idea to check the source documents when they are made available.)

My reading of the agreement indicates that Big Sound Marina will be transferred to the Town for a nominal sum, $1.00. In addition the Federal Government will provide the Town with a grant of about $1.3 million to pay for the necessary improvements to the marina.

The Town has certain obligations to keep the marina operating for a defined period of time that will with time hit our taxes, but will probably be paid for indirectly by the increased traffic in Town. Overall then, I think it’s a win for the Town. I’m not happy subsidizing rich boaters at the expense of our local community but it seems that this is not the case here.

I would like to congratulate Staff and Council for getting this deal done. With Big Sound Marina under direct Town control I look forward to seeing the bigger vision and plan for the waterfront.

Parry Sound Town Dock – Summer Closure Schedule

11 Tuesday Apr 2017

Posted by in Boating/Recreation, Parry Sound, Reflections

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The Town announced yesterday the days that the Parry Sound Town Dock will be closed to residents and visitors. This is to accommodate the cruise ships.

I am at a loss to understand why people are not permitted to use the Town Dock while these cruise ships are tied up in Parry Sound. I can understand that there might be an hour of so when access is restricted while the vessel ties up and people disembark. Yes, there may be an issue of customs and immigration to deal with on arrival, but once this is settled there shouldn’t be an issue with opening access to the public. The vessel itself has security measures in place, and it’s not as though anyone can just jump aboard from the Town Dock.

I guess we should just shut up and be honoured that these cruise lines have chosen to grace Parry Sound with their presence. I have no issue with their arrivals and vists, and even a brief period where the dock is off limits when there are procedures to be followed, but all day, for eleven days? Perhaps they will be rainy days and there will be no net loss to the hoi poloi.

Or the Town could look into finding a procedure by which access to the Town Dock would be permitted when these vessels are tied up. If no one asks or complains, it’s easier to keep doing what they have been doing than it is to figure out a workable option of sharing the Town Dock. And of course there is always the stock answer of, “oh, but that’s out of our control – sorry”. Nah, not really sorry.

From the Town’s website.

2017 Cruise Ship Visits

This summer the Pearl Mist and the Victory 1 will return to Parry Sound and be in port at the Town Dock on the following dates:

Pearl Mist:
Monday June 5 – 8:30am – 5:00pm
Wednesday June 14 – 8:30am – 7:00pm
Sunday June 25 – 8:30am – 6:30pm
Thursday July 6 – 8:00am – 7:00pm
Monday July 17 – 8:30am – 5:00pm
Wednesday July 26 – 8:30am – 7:00pm
Sunday August 6 – 8:30am – 6:30pm
Thursday August 17 – 8:00am – 7:00pm
Saturday August 19 – 9:00pm to Sunday August 20 – 6:30pm
Thursday August 31 – 8:00am – 7:00pm

Victory 1:
Sunday June 4 – 5:00am – 6:30pm
Friday August 25 – 7:00am – 11:00pm

Don’t Let the Wake Slap You on Your Stern on the Way Out

Council Agenda Preview – June 2, 2015

01 Monday Jun 2015

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The theme for Tuesday’s meeting is water. Water for drinking and water for swimming.

The Public Works report recommends that the Town stop fluoridating the Town’s water supply (9.3.2). The agenda includes a deputation by Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health, regarding fluoridation in the Town’s water supply (5.2). The content of the deputation was not included with the council meeting package. The Public Works opinion on fluoridation seems to boil down to the fact that they can’t make a recommendation on the basis of the medical or scientific information, but fluoridation is a cost to the Town and it is a challenge to implement. So if there is no clear medical reason to continue, they recommend stopping. There will be a period for public comment on the proposed change. I have an opinion, but it’s not worth sharing.

The other water related agenda item concerns a public pool. The Town is being asked to support a Carling Township initiative (5.2) requesting the Near North School Board consider including a pool and recreation complex with the future K-12 school. I have an opinion on the general merit of a pool that I shared in a post last week. Talk fortunately is cheap. Let’s pay more attention once it starts to get remotely serious. Internet for nothing and a pool for free? (Apologies to Dire Straits.) You can’t blame the municipalities for asking.

The Town also received a lengthy response from Canadian Pacific Railways in response to the Town’s concerns about crossing blockages and excessive speed. It’s worth reading but it’s only found in the full agenda package. It’s available upon request from the Town, or from this site at the ‘TOPS Agenda Packages’ page (see the top menu).

Sounding like a broken record, I suggest you at least review the Council agenda summaries available at the Town’s website before each meeting to see if there are items of importance to you and which weren’t covered in this preview post. You have the opportunity to make a short deputation at the council meeting if you want to express an opinion, or provide additional information, prior to Council discussion and vote. It’s harder to get things changed once they have been approved.

Correspondence

4.2 – Randy Marsh, Director, Government Affairs, CP Rail. Re: Response to Letter sent regarding track speeds, track maintenance and train braking systems. It’s long and it’s worth reading.

Deputations

5.1 – Brenda Ryan, Chair of the Waterfront Advisory Committee Re: Slide show presentation of Town Dock Improvements – Phase 1. The committee has been busy and it will be interesting to understand their vision and recommendations.

5.2 – Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health. Re: Fluoridation in the Parry Sound’s Drinking Water System. I suspect this presentation will support fluoridation, but let’s wait and see.

Consent Agenda

8.2 – Area Pool and Recreation Complex. Resolution. Whereas the Township of Carling has circulated a resolution in support of an opportunity to incorporate an area pool and recreation complex into the site planning for the new K-12 School which will serve not only the students the entire community of West Parry Sound, attached as Schedule “A”; Now Therefore Be It Resolved that the Town of Parry Sound supports the Township of Carling’s resolution and urges the other West Parry Sound Municipalities to join them in support of this and in requesting that the Near North Board of Education consider a process for collaboration regarding this concept; and Further that this resolution be copied to the Near North District School Board.

Resolutions and Direction To Staff

9.1.1 – Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program. Resolution. That Council of the Town of Parry Sound supports the joint application with the Municipality of McDougall, for funding under the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program for the Parry Sound to McDougall Trail Link Canada 150 Anniversary Project.

9.3.2 – Fluoride in Town’s Drinking Water. Direction. That Council direct staff to notify the Ministry of Health that it is the Town’s intention to cease adding fluoride to the Town of Parry Sound’s municipal water system, effective September 1, 2015; and That a 21 day Notice Period be invoked to provide the public an opportunity to provide input; and That the report and recommendation be considered at the July 7th Council meeting. That staff be directed to prepare a bylaw authorizing the ceasing of adding fluoride to the Town’s municipal water system. It would be a little cheaper to stop fluoridating (about one-third the cost of the hanging flower baskets), but would it be better, or even as good? That’s a question Council will be hard pressed to answer. I don’t think any of them have relevant medical or scientific training, and the Public Works report largely relates to the practical implementation of fluoridation, not its impact on health (for good or ill).

9.4.1. 9.4.2, 9.4.3 – Resolutions. Waterfront Advisory Committee Terms of Reference. Town Dock Improvements – Phase I. Big Sound Marina – Dock ‘B’ Redevelopment. A series of resolutions concerning the Waterfront. You’ll need to read the agenda package to get the details. There is movement and improvement.

By-laws

10.5.1 – Business Improvement Area (BIA) Levy By-Law. It’s up 5.8% this year. The cost will be on the order of $300 to $600 per building owner (probably more for those with multiple tenants and higher value). The council package has a summary of where the money is spent.

See you Tuesday night.

Going Grey. Fitting in with the Town’s ‘senior’ theme?
(Parry Sound in Four Colour)

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Council Meeting Notes – March 3, 2013

04 Wednesday Mar 2015

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Last night’s meeting dragged on to 8:35 PM, just a wee bit past the later end of what I had thought. The reasons included the two deputations that Council let go on a little longer than usual, and the animated meeting reports from a couple of the Councillors. All-in-all there were few surprises but some encouraging trends. In one Council report there was mention of preliminary discussions regarding the relocation of provincial services away from the Parry Sound Waterfront and the Shell Oil waterfront property being ready for development.


Deputations

5.1 – Iain Flemming, Festival of the Sound (FOTS). Contributions of the Festival of the Sound to the Town of Parry Sound. Mention was made of the Festival’s upcoming 36th season and that FOTS was identified by CBC as one of the top summer festivals in Canada.

5.2 – Anne Bossart. Update on activities at Tower Hill Heritage Garden. The deputation reviewed the volunteer driven improvements to the garden over the past three years and plans for 2015. Plans for 2015 include more renovation and maintenance highlighted by the development of a formal lilac garden. People wishing to donate support, financial or physical, can get further information at the Tower Hill Heritage Garden website.


Resolutions and Direction to Staff

9.2.1 – Winter Access to William Street. Resolution. CARRIED. This item generated much discussion from one Councillor who felt that the requested access could be provided without engendering much, if any, risk to pedestrians. In the end Council decided to accept Staff’s recommendation but requested that suitable consideration be given to providing a safer situation at the site when the Town makes planned upgrades to the street in the next year or two. Staff noted that cars have been ‘clocked’ at 100 kph in that area. Folks, this is a busy pedestrian area, let’s slow down. While we’re talking about it, how about slowing down on all of the streets in town?

9.2.2 – Pre-budget Approval – Replacement of 2004 7-Ton Truck. Resolution. CARRIED.


By-laws

10.2.1 – OCIF Funding Contribution Agreement – William Street. CARRIED. This is the project that might allow for the better pedestrian facilities mentioned in Item 9.2.1.

There was more; check the Town’s website in a couple of days for a full copy of the minutes, but there is nothing additional I consider to be ‘material’. Next up is a Council meeting on the 17th, St. Paddy’s Day. Be there and be sure to wear green. There are plans for a Town strategic planning session on April 22nd at the Stockey Centre, details to follow. Everyone is invited to attend.

Meanwhile, Down at the Waterfront (Parry Sound Night Crawling)

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Council Agenda Preview – June 18, 2013

16 Sunday Jun 2013

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Revised – Item 10.3.1. The original post stated that this item related to the Town’s tax rates, which was incorrect. Item 10.3.1 refers to the property levies for the Downtown Business Association businesses (also known as the Downtown Parry Sound Improvement Area).

This week’s agenda is light in terms of items and interesting topics. But there are a couple of issues that people may want to pay attention to. Two items on the closed agenda are worth noting – the Town seems annoyed with a local taxi company, and there is something going on with regards to the Granite Harbour development concerning property. The taxi company issue is also on the open agenda. The remaining public meeting agenda items are largely focused on day-to-day issues and some tidying up.

2.1.1 – is a public meeting held prior to the regular public meeting of Council to consider a zoning by-law amendment of property related to the proposed ‘Age in Place’ development on College Drive beside Canadore College being.

Correspondence and Deputations

No correspondence is noted.

5.1 – is a deputation proposing community investment of time and effort in the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Skateboard Park.

Consent Agenda

8.1 – extends the HOLDCO (Parry Sound Power) board appointments of three current board members through the end of the year, presumably to ensure continuity in partnership discussions with Lakeland Power.

Resolutions and Directions to Staff

9.1.1 – is a follow up to the taxi issue scheduled for the closed session of Council. Apparently one or more drivers for Parry Sound Taxi have been charged by the OPP. This information was not reported to the town as required by the taxi company’s municipal license. The town is essentially proposing to censure the company for this failure to comply with it license and suggesting that their license will be suspended on another such occurrence. The Town only found out this information by reading it in the local newspaper. It’s worth noting that this taxi company proposed several months ago to take on all responsibility and liability for it’s operations and remove the Town from the taxi driver approval process. It seemed that they were willing to police themselves while maintaining high levels of compliance and passenger safety. Well that doesn’t seem to be the way they actually operate as evidenced by their failure to report the OPP filing of charges to the Town.

9.2.1 – this is a follow on to an agenda item several months ago concerning the realignment of the Downtown Improvement Area boundaries. This Direction requests Staff to return to Council with a by-law for their consideration that amends the boundaries as suggested last Fall, and subsequently amended, by the Downtown Business Association.

9.4.1 – is a Direction for Council to establish a committee to review a new Parry Sound sign on Highway 400.

9.4.2 – is a resolution approving the 2013 Municipal Assistance Program allocations. This is a $15,000 fund in support of community non-profits and economic development agencies. The Mayor and Councillors are being asked to provide their individual preferred allocation of funds for each of the applicants prior to the meeting. These figures will be tallied and averaged to provide the final allocations. I wonder if the individual Councillor allocations will be made public. No, there really is no need to do this and I’m not suggesting it. But it would be interesting to see where individual Councillors think the money should be going.

By-Laws

10.2.1 – is a by-law to execute an agreement for the $25,000 CN grant in support of the Mission Park rehabilitation project.

10.3.1 – is a by-law to formalize the 2013 levy rates for the Downtown Business Association. (Corrected)

10.4.1 – this by-law is for a five-year lease agreement extension with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans/Small Craft Harbours regarding Big Sound Marina and the Town Dock. No, we don’t own the docks, we lease them from the federal government. The new agreement adjusts some minor terms and conditions.

10.4.2 – another by-law, this one authourizing the sale of the ‘old Pump House’.

10.5.1 – a by-law to execute an agreement with the Recycling Council of Ontario.

I told you there wasn’t very much. See you Tuesday.

Pulling together as a Team (June 2013)

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERANote: Not all agenda items are covered here. I typically skip those items that have little material impact on the town. These items include simple requests for Tag Days (permission to canvas), Awareness Weeks/Months, road closures for civic events, and the like. Want to see everything that is on the agenda? The full agenda can be found at the town’s website (http://townofparrysound.com/pagesmith/14).

Council Agenda Preview – December 18, 2012

16 Sunday Dec 2012

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After a very full agenda last meeting, the December 18th session isn’t quite as packed. The whole issue of the 2013 budget though still looms large over council and staff.

Those of you who spend time on Tower Hill have doubtless noted the many trees that have been cut down in the last couple of weeks. And there is more work to be done. There were many dead trees on Tower Hill, apparently done-in by pine bark beetles and the stress of the drought this past summer. It will be interesting to see what the town’s plans are to replace the trees. Not all of the trees should be replaced but it would be a shame to leave it as denuded as it is now. This is an investment that will take decades to be fully realized. I’ve been told that the best time to plant a tree is thirty years ago. The second best time is now!

Agenda Highlights:

4.1 – concerns a resident letter to council with comments on the Official Plan. There are some very good comments that I expect the Community Development department will consider for inclusion in the current draft of the plan. The Official Plan is much more important than most people realize because once reviewed and approved by the province it is no trivial task to get approvals for deviations.

8.1 – is a resolution in support of the Township of the Archipelago’s statement related to their concerns about the low water levels in Georgian Bay. In addition to general statements of concern they are requesting the suspension of certain environmental restrictions to permit blasting and dredging of shoreline within the Archipelago. Low water levels are certainly a concern for many. Like droughts, the current low water levels may be a normal deviance from the average, or they may be an indicator of even greater changes as a consequence of global climate change. Let’s be sure not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

9.1.1 – this is a resolution for the Public Works department to make preparations to take advantage of a provincial infrastructure program known as MIII Capital Program Funding. The town has identified more than $8 million worth of projects related to waste water and water supply upgrades that would qualify.

9.3.1 – is a direction relating to the town property on George Street. The direction involves sending a letter to the provincial government requesting the restrictive covenant on these properties be lifted to permit their sale as property lots by the town.

9.4.1 – is a resolution regarding recognition certificates and plaques. It seems that school kids get gold stars while adults get plaques.

9.5.1 – is a resolution supporting revisions to the current draft of the Official Plan that would permit the Old Pump House to be used for a variety of non-residential purposes including:
i) Tea room
ii) Waterworks heritage interpretive museum
iii) Non-licensed restaurant establishment
iv) Artists’ in-residence studio
v) Home-based business
vi) Boutique bed and breakfast

I  expect this revision to the Official Plan will be done in parallel with preparations to put the property on the market.

10.3.1 – is a by-law permitting six separate residential units in the existing building at 48 Cascade Street.

10.3.2 – is a by-law permitting the sale of town properties on Emily Street and Railway Avenue.  Item 10.3.3 is a by-law moving forward the process to sell the  Old Pump House property.

10.4.1, 10.4.2 – are by-laws related to the Finance, Administration and POA Court Services department establishing billing and collection procedures for water and waste water services, and the setting of an interim tax levy for 2013 pending the approval of a final budget.

10.5.1 – is a by-law to enter into a 5-year agreement with Festival of the Sound to rent the CP station for use as its headquarters.

That’s it. I don’t see anything too controversial on the agenda. I hope we will be getting good news about heat at the Bobby Orr Community Centre. Here’s a direct link to the agenda that is hosted at this site if you want to see what what else is being reviewed. Unfortunately you still need to go the library or town hall to see the council package.

See you at the meeting. I’ll also be attending the public meeting of Parry Sound Power (correction – Parry Sound Hydro Corporation) the day before (December 17th, 6:00 PM at town hall.)

Bridge Art – Think Big

Giving a Hand