Wasaga Beach Council Highlights - From the March 26, 2019 meeting - Town of Wasaga Beach
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Wasaga Beach Council Highlights
From the March 26, 2019 meeting
Wasaga Beach council approves The budget for operating expenditures is
budget for 2019 $40.1 million. The operating budget
earmarks funds for the hiring of additional
Members of Wasaga Beach town council staff in strategic areas across multiple
approved the 2019 budget, a financial road departments to improve the level of service
map for the year ahead. provided to our residents.
“It is my belief the 2019 budget represents Funds are also set aside to work with
a responsible and prudent use of public developers in building projects in our
funds,” Mayor Nina Bifolchi said. “We have community that meet council’s priorities of
done our utmost to ensure we are tackling providing more affordable housing and
projects that matter to the residents of our diversifying the tax base.
community. We are investing in all areas of
our town and I am proud to say that we are For full details on the budget see here:
moving Wasaga Beach forward.” http://bit.ly/2V2SvJQ.
For 2019, the tax rate increase is 2.91 Detachment commander
percent on the municipal portion of the tax presents overview of local
bill. The impact of the increase on the policing
average assessed home in Wasaga Beach is
$51.92. The overall tax increase may be less Detachment commander Phil Brown spoke
once the county and education tax rates are to Committee of the Whole on Feb. 21.
included. Mayor Nina Bifolchi provided council with a
The total operating and capital budgets is report of Brown’s presentation to
$64 million, an increase of $9 million when committee.
compared to the 2018 budget. His presentation highlighted the role of
policing, core services, civilian governance,
1|Pagedetachment composition, partnerships, and Gateway committed to setting
other aspects of OPP operations. up shop in Wasaga Beach
The inspector then took a variety of Rob Mitchell, director of communications
questions from committee. for Gateway Casinos and Entertainment
The report was received for information. Ltd., appeared before Committee of the
Whole at the Feb. 21 meeting, Mayor
You can watch the presentation here: Bifolchi said.
http://bit.ly/2U3n4D1. It starts around the
one-minute mark. Mitchell noted that Gateway is committed
to Wasaga Beach and they hope to make an
Ontario Lottery and Gaming announcement on the casino site soon.
Corporation presents
During his presentation, Mitchell provided
information on operations background on Gateway’s operations. The
Representatives from the Ontario Lottery company has grown across several
and Gaming Corporation spoke to provinces since its inception.
Committee of the Whole on Feb. 21. Gateway offers four casino brands with
Mayor Nina Bifolchi gave council a synopsis each including different restaurant
of the presentation. amenities.
Jake Pastore and Tyjondah Kerr from OLG New facilities – such as the one slated for
gave an overview of the crown agency’s Wasaga Beach – are state-of-the-art and
put forward the best that engineers have to
operations.
offer, create jobs, and local business
This included background regarding the relationships.
corporation, legislative framework, OLG’s
modernization efforts, its sponsorship work, The committee received the presentation
and operations regarding casino gaming. for information.
The presentation helped outline the role You can watch the presentation here:
the OLG plays in casino operations http://bit.ly/2U3n4D1. It starts around the
throughout the province. 1:22-mark.
Committee then asked questions and Work continues on new tourism
received the presentation for information. brand for Wasaga Beach
You can watch the presentation here: Staff and outside partners continue to work
http://bit.ly/2U3n4D1. It starts around the on the creation of a new tourism brand,
52-minute mark. Mayor Bifolchi informed council members.
2|PageShe noted that economic development And they approved urban design guidelines
officer Ellen Timms presented an update on for the downtown too, providing guidance
the exercise during the Feb. 28 Committee to private interests for the long-term
of the Whole meeting. development of Beach Areas 1 and 2 and
the Main Street area.
The town is working with marketing group
Cundari, the County of Simcoe, and RT07 to The new council wanted the opportunity to
create a new brand that will help grow review all of this information to ensure it
Wasaga Beach’s tourism economy. properly reflects the community’s vision for
these lands.
Committee received the report for
information and directed staff to develop Council members provided staff with
the brand to the final creative stage. several comments. Based on the feedback,
staff will provide council with
Ensuring Wasaga Beach has a recommendations through the Official Plan
solid foundation review process, which is currently under
way. No changes were proposed to the
Mayor Nina Bifolchi noted that at the Feb.
implementing Zoning By-law or Urban
28 Committee of the Whole meeting
Design Guidelines.
progress was made to advance
development at the beachfront and Council approved the direction taken at
downtown. committee.
At the meeting, committee members Environmental assessment work
reviewed and discussed a staff report on
continues at beachfront
possible changes to planning policies that
apply to the downtown and beachfront Mayor Bifolchi said that work continues on
areas. the environmental assessment for the
downtown and beachfront road network.
Specifically, these polices are part of what is
called Official Plan Amendment 52 (OPA). She noted that at the Feb. 28 Committee of
the Whole meeting director of public works
Adopted by the previous council in June
Kevin Lalonde updated committee on the
2018, the OPA established a policy
work.
framework for the creation of a strategic
growth area for Wasaga Beach. Referred to Committee directed staff to proceed with
as the “downtown node” this area includes the EA, but asked that a broader look be
revitalization of Beach Areas 1 and 2. taken so that council is provided with road
alignment and streetscaping options as well
Last year, council also approved a zoning
as other tools that would ensure that road,
bylaw to create development standards.
3|Pagepedestrian and bicycle features are As well, they were directed to start the
incorporated in future designs. process to explore public parking at the
beachfront and how best to deal with this
Council approved the direction given at
need.
committee.
Also, committee directed staff to provide an
Town positioning for update to the list of technical studies that
development at beachfront would have to be completed to ensure the
beachfront properties are development
Mayor Bifolchi told council that CAO George
ready.
Vadeboncoeur presented a report at the
Feb. 28 Committee of the Whole meeting Council approved the recommendations.
that examined the town’s future role at the
beachfront. Beachfront relationship with
province changing
During the discussion, committee indicated
it does not believe the town should The town will advise the province that it
continue to own property at Beach Area 1 wishes to terminate the Wasaga Beach
and in turn be responsible for the expense, Provincial Park Agreement.
maintenance, and operations of the
Council approved the direction on Tuesday
properties. The general feeling is this does
night after receiving recommendations
not reflect responsible use of taxpayer
from the Feb. 28 Committee of the Whole
dollars.
meeting.
Committee recommended staff consider
The notice will inform the province that the
options to divest the property.
town wishes to terminate the agreement at
They also directed staff to look at creating the end of October 2019.
parcels of land “significant in size” so that
The basis is the high cost of the agreement.
development is not piecemeal. The town
The total cost for 2018 is almost $500,000.
will retain land for Festival Square.
Council also directed staff to discuss the
Committee also directed staff to define a
continued delegation of authority to
request for expressions of interest process
approve special events at the beachfront
for the disposal of the properties and to
and the provision of assistance with
provide council with timelines.
maintenance. This may lead to a new
Committee confirmed that it wishes to agreement to cover these elements.
retain the Beach Area 2 property. Staff
were also asked to provide a report on
options to improve amenities at Beach 2.
4|PageLocations short-listed for new The platform can allow stakeholders to
arena and library provide feedback, ask questions, share
ideas, and participate in polls and surveys.
Building a new arena and library continue to
be one of town council’s top priorities for The information gathered can help council
this term. when making decisions about policy,
programs, and services.
Council approved a short-list of sites for a
new library and twin pad arena. The lists During the trial period, one key project the
were determined at the March 7 town will use the platform for is to engage
Committee of the Whole meeting. the public on the Official Plan Review.
There is now a list of seven potential sites The cost of the trial is $4,500. See here to
for a new library. The town already owns read a staff report about the platform:
one of the sites. http://bit.ly/2Flci24.
For the arena, there is a list of six sites, of At the end of the trial, staff will report to
which two are town-owned. committee and seek further direction.
The sites identified on each list are located Town supporting fundraiser for
in the central, east and west parts of the Canadian Cancer Society
town.
Council approved providing a portable stage
Staff will develop tools to further evaluate to Collingwood Collegiate Institute (CCI) for
the sites on both lists and report back to its Relay for Life event on May 31.
committee.
The event is a fundraiser for the Canadian
Town launching trial run with Cancer Society.
community engagement Students from Jean Vanier Catholic High
platform School and CCI will take part, along with
staff and school family members.
As part of an ongoing effort to have better
engagement with the public, council Wasaga Beach Transit numbers
approved a three-month trial with “Bang
steady in February
the Table”.
Council received Wasaga Beach Transit
The company offers an online community
statistics for last month.
engagement platform.
A total of 6,396 rides were taken in
The town will use the platform to provide
February, compared to 7,209 in January.
information about a variety of projects.
5|PageFebruary 2019 numbers were down slightly Tourism initiatives implemented
when compared to the same period a year to support business community
ago, when 6,745 rides were taken.
Council directed town staff to begin
Community outreach program addressing recommendations in the
gets the thumbs up Tourism Destination Management Plan.
Town council approved a community They also approved setting up a tourism
outreach program. advisory committee.
Councillor Stan Wells noted a report on the Council also directed staff to report back
program was presented at the March 14 with a work plan, including costs, to
Coordinated Committee meeting. implement the following Community
Improvement Plan incentives:
The program will involve two formats. One,
dubbed Coffee with Council, will take place Residential/Mixed-Use
indoors at municipal venues and the other, Development Incentive Program;
called Conversation in the Park, will take Tax Increment Equivalent Grant
place outside. program;
Planning and Development Fee
Both formats will allow council members Rebates;
further opportunities to connect with Exemption/Reduction from Parking
residents in their neighbourhoods. Ratio Requirements.
The sessions would also allow, when Council taking steps to address
required, the opportunity to convey specific affordable housing
municipal information.
Council directed staff to put together a
Staff are currently working on a schedule work plan, inclusive of costs, to implement
and list of venues. This will be brought to a Community Improvement Incentive town-
Coordinated Committee for consideration in wide for affordable housing.
April.
Promoting and facilitating the construction
Town council investing $39,500 of affordable, attainable, and safe housing
in community grants for 2019 is one of council’s 11 priorities for the 2018-
2022 term.
Members of council OK’d community grants
totalling almost $40,000 for this year. Council also directed staff to report back
with the specific policy amendments to the
The grants were approved based on a Official Plan that would be required to
recommendation at the March 14 implement the incentive.
Coordinated Committee meeting.
6|PageTown gets behind local business Wasaga Beach the place to be
owner planning to host for good music
parachuting championships
The Georgian Triangle Music Festival will
The 2019 Canadian National Parachuting run Aug. 23-24 in Wasaga Beach.
Championships Flight Festival will take place
Council approved the event after receiving a
at the Wasaga Sports Park from Aug. 31 to
recommendation to do so from
Sept. 6.
Coordinated Committee.
Council members approved hosting the
The town will invest sponsorship dollars for
event at the municipal site.
live entertainment at a cost of no more
The festival is in its 60th year and more than than $1,500.
100 skydive participants are expected for
Venues for 2019 include Boston Pizza, The
the event.
Beach Bar, and the Wasaga Beach Youth
Leslie Farkas and Richard White, Centre.
representatives of Skydive Wasaga Beach,
This marks the seventh year for the festival.
appeared before Coordinated Committee
on March 14 to present information about Volleyball fun happening at the
the festival. beach this summer
Council approved use of the sports park for The Not-So-Pro Volleyball Tournament will
the championships based on a run July 19-21 at the main beach.
recommendation from committee.
Council approved hosting the tourney after
Truck rally gets the nod for July receiving a recommendation from
Coordinated Committee.
The F-Series Truck Rally will take place in
the First Street Parking Lot on July 27. This marks the 19th year for the
tournament.
Council approved hosting the event after
receiving a recommendation to do so from The event averages 1,000 to 1,500 people.
Coordinated Committee.
Spikeball returns to Wasaga
The rally will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Beach for 2019
The town will provide in-kind services of
The second annual Spikeball Tournament
$93.50. This represents the application fee,
happens July 13 to 14 at Beach Area Two.
as well as the use of tents, tables, and
chairs.
7|PageCouncil approved hosting the event based Facilitating the construction of affordable
on a recommendation from committee. and attainable housing is one of council’s
priorities for this term.
Spikeball is a sport gaining in popularity.
The sport can be played by most people and Tuesday night, council directed staff to look
can promote active living. toward housing approaches taken in other
jurisdictions to serve needs.
Spikeball is played in two-player teams,
using a ball and round hula-hoop sized net. Staff were also directed to look for
opportunities to work with the private
The 2018 event was a success.
sector to recruit developers or operators
Housing study received for who can meet the demand for housing.
information New procedural bylaw approved
The South Georgian Bay Tourism Industry Council passed a new procedural bylaw that
Workforce Housing Research and Business governs meetings of council and its
Case study was received for information. appointed committees.
Council received the study following a The last procedural bylaw was implemented
presentation on it by Andrew Siegwart of in 2016.
the Blue Mountain Village Association and
Josh MacLeod of NBLC Consulting. To review the new bylaw and an
explanatory note about some of the
In a related report to council, town changes see here: http://bit.ly/2FrPkFb.
economic development officer Ellen Timms
said the study identifies the lack of The new bylaw is inline with one of
affordable housing as the most pressing council’s priorities for the term: Implement
obstacle to workforce attraction and changes to council’s governance structure
retention in the region. to improve accountability and transparency.
She noted the study suggests municipalities Town council passes new
and partners develop frameworks to create business licensing bylaw
diverse forms of attainable housing
development through land use and zoning A new business licensing bylaw was
bylaws, development charge incentives, approved by council on Tuesday night.
property tax incentives, and innovative The new bylaw is simplified for ease of use
housing models. and the licensing process is easier.
For a list of other changes see here:
http://bit.ly/2FrPkFb.
8|Page___________________________________ -Wasaga Beach Council Highlights is produced monthly by the town’s Communications Department. -For the official record of council’s meeting, please see the minutes at www.wasagabeach.com. -You can watch the meeting here: https://www.rogerstv.com/show?lid=12&rid= 72&sid=5800&gid=310813 -Follow the Town of Wasaga Beach on Facebook and Twitter. 9|Page
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