Members Present: Mayor Milt McIver, Deputy Mayor Debbie Myles (via Zoom), Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden, Councillor James Mielhausen, Councillor Megan Myles
Staff Present: Peggy Van Mierlo-West, Chief Administrative Officer, Cathy Addison, Clerk, Tessa Swanton, Deputy Clerk, Carol Hopkins, Bylaw Enforcement Officer (via Zoom), Wendy Elliott, Chief Building Official (via Zoom), Kiersten Thompson, Public Works Administrative Assistant
Others Present: Will Meneray (via Zoom), Michael Wynia and Marissa Handley, Skelton Brumwell & Associates Inc. (via Zoom)
Note: Some members of Council and staff were present in the Council Chamber and the meeting was held via zoom, an electronic platform, for members of the public to attend.
Note: In the absence of the ability to vote by a show of hands, in accordance with By-law No. 2021-08 Section 3-64.3, Council votes will be recorded for resolutions presented at electronic Council meetings.
Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof
Mayor McIver called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and Council members were reminded to disclose any pecuniary interest and the general nature thereof that may arise during the meeting.
Councillor Myles declared a pecuniary interest on “Agenda Item #2- STA by-law because I own/operate a tourism accommodation in the Municipality”.
Councillor Mielhausen declared a pecuniary interest on Agenda Item #2 as “I am involved in a STA business”.
Approval of the Agenda
Resolution #11-01-2021, Moved by L. Golden, Seconded J. Mielhausen
THAT the content of the agenda be approved, as printed.
The Clerk proceeded to call and record the votes of Council:
Councillor Golden: Yes
Councillor Mielhausen: Yes
Councillor Myles: Yes
Deputy Mayor Myles: Yes
Mayor McIver: Yes
The Clerk announced that the motion was carried.
Carried
Consideration of Agenda Items
1. Strategic Plan
Final Report and Work Plan- Will Meneray
Mayor McIver welcomed Will Meneray to the meeting via Zoom.
CAO, Peggy Van Mierlo-West, advised that the process has involved a final report and Work Plan (presented at today’s meeting), three public consultation sessions, an online survey, and Zoom meetings. She stated that the final report and Work Plan were reviewed by the Senior Management Team and includes detailed timelines and performance indictors.
Will Meneray proceeded to summarize the project and the following discussion was noted:
• An online survey was distributed in the summer of 2020
• A session was held in the fall of 2020 to review strategic priorities followed by public consultation
• The new Strategic Plan was reviewed by staff in early 2021
• Specific initiatives were identified by staff through consultation and incorporated into the Work Plan
• Staff are still determining how to measure the success of achieving each priority
• Some projects/initiatives include master plans that require updating by the Municipality and some are experiments to explore
• There are projects/initiatives to be completed in the short and long term which contributes to good strategic planning
• The Work Plan establishes timelines for projects and assigns project owners (municipal staff)
• Some projects have been included in the 2021 Budget and will be included in quarterly reports presented to Council
• Following approval of the new Strategic Plan, the four strategic priorities will be placed at the bottom of all staff reports
• The Municipality will start preparing an annual report to the public indicating the status of projects/initiatives
• The Strategic Plan can be amended and reviewed annually during budget deliberations; initiatives can be changed or removed
• Consider looser language in the Strategic Plan to provide flexibility
• Focus on outcomes
• Elaborate on the “How we will measure” column, specifically for Priority #3 Sustainable Environment and Infrastructure
• Set realistic projects/initiatives and take staff workload into consideration
• The potential “Bruce Peninsula Future Skills and Entrepreneurship Centre” would be unique to the area and beneficial as the closest post-secondary education centre is approximately 1 hour away
• The potential “fixer / concierge” model would involve the public contacting the Economic Development Officer to discuss business ideas
• Amend the Strategic Plan to have broader actions and more specific measurements
• Elaborate on housing under Priority #1 Strong and Resilient Economy and create metrics
• Use clearer language to describe the 20-minute community concept under Strategic Priority #3 Sustainable Environment and Infrastructure
• Include a section at the beginning of the Strategic Plan noting that the plan can be amended if necessary
• Water quality is important to residents and visitors; consider a report regarding water quality
• A separate attachment specific to a measurement program for the Strategic Plan is an option
• The CAO will contact the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority and request any information they can provide specific to Northern Bruce Peninsula
Resolution #11-02-2021, Moved by D. Myles, Seconded by M. Myles
That Council receives the Strategic Plan documents as information.
The Clerk proceeded to call and record the votes of Council:
Councillor Golden: Yes
Councillor Mielhausen: Yes
Councillor Myles: Yes
Deputy Mayor Myles: Yes
Mayor McIver: Yes
The Clerk announced that the motion was carried.
Carried
Having declared a pecuniary interest, Councillors Myles and Mielhausen did not participate in the following portion of the meeting.
2. Draft Short Term Accommodations By-laws
STAs With Classifications
STAs Without Classifications
Mayor McIver welcomed Michael Wynia and Marissa Handley from Skelton Brumwell & Associates Inc. to the meeting via Zoom. Will Meneray continued to participate in the discussion.
Discussion ensued regarding the short term accommodations (STA) draft by-laws and Consultation Plan. The following was noted:
• Not all rentals should be included in the same category as there are different scales and uses
• Once an STA reaches a certain level, such as Class C, it is considered a business and new builds constructed for the purpose of STAs should be allowed in certain zones only
• Residential areas need to be protected
• Implement fines for noncompliance with zone requirements
• STAs are part of the tourism sector and contribute to the economy
• Consider limiting the number of licenses issued to one owner
• Are we limiting the number of STA licenses issued by the Municipality?
• Work together to establish rules to protect the future of our community
• It is apparent that people are interested in purchasing multiple properties in Northern Bruce Peninsula to be used as STA commercial businesses
• Large commercial enterprises are becoming popular based on financial opportunity and low risk
Clerk, Cathy Addison, exited the meeting at 10:10 a.m.
Public Works Administrative Assistant, Kiersten Thompson, joined the meeting at 10:11 a.m.
• Multiple rental units exist on properties creating potential issues
• Two classifications may be sufficient
• A $3,000 fee for Class C is appropriate
• The public can respond to the by-laws
• One by-law includes classifications as there are many types of operations occurring in the Municipality
• Public consultation reflected that there are different scales of operations and levels of impact on the community
• Concentrate on the draft by-law that utilizes classifications
The following was noted regarding the proposed Consultation Plan:
• Three focus groups will be created to gather input on the proposed by-law from a variety of stakeholders: Bruce Peninsula Cottagers Association, Industry & Community Services Working Group, and MNBP Residents Associations Working Group
• Online consultation will also occur where members of the public can submit their input via the Let’s Talk NBP (Bang the Table portal)
• Additional training may be necessary regarding utilization of Bang the Table; provide instructions to the public and a telephone number to call for assistance
• Online consultation will be open from April 2nd-30th, 2021
• A report will be prepared by Will Meneray in early May 2021 summarizing all feedback
• Skelton Brumwell & Associates Inc. and Will Meneray will make revisions as directed by Council based on public consultation
• Consider a graduated approach to implementing the by-law
Mayor McIver thanked Will Meneray, Michael Wynia, and Marissa Handley for their work on the project.
Resolution #11-03-2021, Moved by L. Golden, Seconded by D. Myles
That Council receives the Draft Short Term Accommodation By-laws as information;
And that Council approves the Consultation Plan.
The Deputy Clerk proceeded to call and record the votes of Council:
Councillor Golden: Yes
Deputy Mayor Myles: Yes
Mayor McIver: Yes
The Deputy Clerk announced that the motion was carried.
Carried
Other Business
There was no Other Business for Special Council Meeting No. 21-11, March 22, 2021.
Correspondence
1. Siskinds the Law Firm- Short Term Accommodations- Licensing- Public Consultation Request- Consultant to review and take into account during public consultation
Resolution #11-03-2021, Moved by D. Myles, Seconded by L. Golden
That the correspondence be received as information as printed and circulated.
The Deputy Clerk proceeded to call and record the votes of Council:
Councillor Golden: Yes
Deputy Mayor Myles: Yes
Mayor McIver: Yes
The Deputy Clerk announced that the motion was carried.
Carried
Councillors Myles and Mielhausen resumed participation in the meeting at this time.
Reading of By-Laws
Resolution #11-05-2021, Moved by L. Golden, Seconded by D. Myles
By-law No. 2021-29
Being a By-Law to Confirm the Proceedings of the Special Council Meeting of The
Corporation of The Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula Held Monday, March 22, 2021
That the listed by-law(s) be given 1st, 2nd, and 3rd reading, and enacted.
The Deputy Clerk proceeded to call and record the votes of Council:
Councillor Golden: Yes
Councillor Mielhausen: Yes
Councillor Myles: Yes
Deputy Mayor Myles: Yes
Mayor McIver: Yes
The Deputy Clerk announced that the motion was carried.
Carried
Adjournment
Resolution #11-06-2021, Moved by L. Golden, Seconded by J. Mielhausen
THAT the meeting adjourns at 10:39 a.m.
The Deputy Clerk proceeded to call and record the votes of Council:
Councillor Golden: Yes
Councillor Mielhausen: Yes
Councillor Myles: Yes
Deputy Mayor Myles: Yes
Mayor McIver: Yes
The Deputy Clerk announced that the motion was carried.
Carried
