Council News

FROM THE SEPTEMBER 27, 2021 COUNCIL MEETING

NIAGARA REGION - ONE TO FIVE YEAR TRANSPORTATION CAPITAL BUDGET OUTLOOK

Carolyn Ryall and Frank Tassone from the Niagara Region provided an overview of the capital programs included in the 1 to 5 Year Draft Capital forecast; changes could be made when doing the 2022 Budget. Some of the highlights were:

Network expansion - Regional Road 20 Smithville by-pass study;
Intersection improvement program - Regional Road 14 (Thirty Road) and Young Street;
Intersection improvement program - Regional Road 24 (Victoria Ave) at Regional Road 63 (Canborough Rd) – design phase;
Roads rehabilitation program - Regional Road 2 (Caistorville Road) - Regional Boundary to Concession 1 Road - design to commence in 2022;
Roads rehabilitation program - Regional Road 20 (West Street) – South Grimsby 5 to Wade Rd – detailed design underway;
Roads rehabilitation program - Regional Road 20 (St. Catharine Street) - Griffin Street to Industrial Park – detailed design underway;
Roads rehabilitation program - Regional Road 63 (Canborough Road) – streetscaping preliminary design underway;
Roads rehabilitation program - Regional Road 69 (Twenty Mile Road) from Regional Road 24 (Victoria Ave) to Mountain Road
Structure rehabilitation program – a number of structures are scheduled for rehabilitation/replacement over the 1 to 10 year budget

Some safety initiatives were also discussed including: Vision Zero Road Safety - seeking approval all 12 Municipalities; Pavement Line Marking and Crosswalks; Speed Display Trailer; Sign Installations

JOINT ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (JAAC) UPDATE

Ms Kelly, JAAC Board member reviewed a PowerPoint presentation describing the functions of the JAAC which consists of seven municipalities working together to ensure compliance with the AODA. The Committee performs audits of municipal facilities including parks and trails as well as buildings. In 2021, the Committee audited 5 facilities per municipality. They also created training modules for staff. The committee has a new logo, community flag and a Facebook page. There is an Accessibility Award for businesses that score 80% or higher which has been given to 10 businesses to date. Ms. Kelly noted that the goal is for Ontario to be fully accessible by 2025 and the JAAC is asking for Council’s support and assistance in this endeavour.

AMO RESOLUTION – NATIONAL DAY OF TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

That, the correspondence received from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), received August 23, 2021 be received; and,

WHEREAS the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its final report on June 2, 2015, which included 94 Calls to Action to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation;

AND WHEREAS the recent discoveries of remains and unmarked graves across Canada have led to increased calls for all levels of government to address the recommendations in the TRC’s Calls to Action;

AND WHEREAS all Canadians and all orders of government have a role to play in reconciliation;

AND WHEREAS Recommendation #80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission called upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process;

AND WHEREAS the Federal Government has announced September 30th, 2021, as the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (National Orange Shirt Day) and a statutory holiday;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Township of West Lincoln does hereby commit to recognizing September 30th, 2021, as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (National Orange Shirt Day) by sharing the stories of residential school survivors, their families, and communities.

URBAN BOUNDARY EXPANSION –MASTER COMMUNITY PLAN

The Township of West Lincoln has hired AECOM, Wood and GSP Group to undertake a Master Community Plan and Subwatershed Study for the Township to study potential urban expansion to the settlement area of Smithville to accommodate future growth to 2051. Mr. Steve Wever of GSP group presented a status update of the project to Planning/Building/ Environmental Committee which included a presentation on the preliminary concept plan. The preliminary concept plan includes areas for residential and employment uses to accommodate future residential and job growth. It also includes natural heritage systems, parkland, trails, community facilities and areas for agriculturally based businesses. A PIC was held on October 6, 2021 and the final recommendations of the Master Community Plan and Subwatershed Study are to be presented to Planning Committee on October 12, 2021 and sent to the Region for consideration as part of their new Official Plan and Municipal Comprehensive Review work.

RURAL SETTLEMENT AREA REVIEW

The Township has retained Mr. Dan Currie of GSP Group to undertake a review of the existing rural settlement boundaries with specific regard to providing additional land area for rural employment uses. Mr. Currie provided a presentation to Committee showing candidate sites for rural employment expansion specifically surrounding the hamlets of Grassie, Fulton, Grimsby Road 12 and Bismark. The work that Mr. Currie is working on also ties into work Township staff are completing for potential rural residential growth opportunities. This work will be presented to Committee on October 12, 2021 and sent to the Region for consideration as part of their new Official Plan and Municipal Comprehensive Review Work.

GARDEN SUITE OFFICIAL PLAN POLICY AMENDMENT

Council approved Official Plan Amendment No. 61 revising Section 18.4 of the Official Plan to allow Garden Suites for a maximum of 20 years (from the previously allowed maximum of 10 years) to bring the Township’s policy into alignment with Provincial policy.

NEW BY-LAW: NON-PARKING ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY BY-LAW

Council approved By-law 2021-84 “a non-parking administrative penalty by-law” to be enacted to transfer the prosecution of enforcement from Provincial Offences Court to an Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS), an internal process that creates a more streamlined, customer service approach, while also holding defendants accountable through the issuance of a penalty notice.

2021 HOT MIX SPOT REPAIR

Council awarded the tender submission for the 2021 Hot Mix Spot Repair on various roads to Griffin Construction in the amount of $134,552.50 plus HST.

ROSTER LIST FOR WIND PROJECT TREE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM

Council authorized staff to enter into and execute purchase orders to B.A. Loney Services Inc.; CSL Group Limited; Division 2 Contracting Limited; and Earthgen International Ltd. for the Wind Project Tree Replacement Program to a total upset limit of $624,000 which represents the funds received from the proponent of the wind project.

DENNIS DRIVE PLAYGROUND AUTHORIZATION

Council awarded the RFP submission to Play Power in the total amount of $123,784.68 (plus HST), for the supply and installation of playground equipment at the Dennis Drive Playground.